Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-259-R1

Redraft GOV 259

GIC Oversight

Mr. Tarr, Mrs. Dooner and Messrs. Durant and Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0910-0200, by inserting the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended for the office of the inspector general, in consultation with the center for health information and analysis, shall conduct an investigation and submit a report to the house and senate clerks, the joint committee on health care financing and the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) a detailed accounting of expenditures made by the group insurance commission in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, including expenditures supported by supplemental appropriations; (ii) an analysis of the commission’s compliance with chapter 32A of the General Laws and applicable procurement and fiscal management requirements; (iii) a review of spending on activities not specifically required by statute, regulation, or contractual obligation and how such spending has changed over time; (iv) an analysis of cost drivers including pharmacy benefit spending, high cost claimants, administrative expenses, and reserve utilization; (v) an assessment of premium and plan cost trends over the preceding 3 fiscal years, including comparisons to statewide health care cost growth benchmarks published by the center for health information and analysis; and (vi) recommendations to ensure fiscal stability, reserve adequacy, and compliance with said chapter 32A; provided further, that the group insurance commission shall comply with all requests from the office of the inspector general or the center for health information and analysis for any information deemed necessary to conducting said investigation and submitting said report, including, but not limited to, requests for the production of records; and provided further, that a preliminary report shall be filed not later than September 30, 2027 and a final report shall be filed not later than March 1 2028"; and by striking the figure "$6,476,307" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$6,776,307".

Moves to further amend by inserting after section _ the following new section:-

“SECTION _. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of transitional assistance shall submit a request to USDA-FNS under Section 17(b) to exclude SNAP benefit use for candy and soft drinks. The department shall develop an implementation plan to determine ineligible products."