News Governor Healey signs a $60.9 billion FY ’26 budget 

On July 4, Governor Maura Healey signed off on a $60.9 billion annual budget, an increase of $3.3 billion over fiscal 2025. 

The budget includes $207 million for the Chapter 257 Reserve, representing an increase of $34 million, or nearly 19.65%, from FY ’24. (The Council compared the Chapter 257 line item to the FY ’24 budget, rather than the FY ’25 budget, because the number of Chapter 257 rates reviewed by EOHHS alternate in proportion every other year). 

The full text of the FY ‘26 budget is available online. The budget was released a week after the Conference Committee released its $61.01 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2026. Gov. Healey reduced the Conference Committee’s budget proposal by $130 million, which included cuts to several human services line items the Council tracks: 

  • EHS line item 4000-0051 – Family Resource Centers – was reduced by $500,000 to a total of $0. 
  • MassHealth line item 4000-0641 – Nursing Home Supplemental Rates – was reduced by $25 million to a total of $625.07 million. 
  • MCB line item 4110-1000 – Community Services for the Blind – was reduced by $300,000 to a total of $8.8 million.  
  • DPH line item 4512-0200 – Bureau of Substance Addiction Services – was reduced by $2.5 million to a total of $184.6 million.  
  • DPH line item 4513-1020 – Early Intervention Services – was reduced by $1.5 million to a total of $37.7 million.  
  • DMH line item 5055-0000 – Forensic Services Program for Mentally Ill Persons – was reduced by $1.5 million to a total of $17.4 million.  
  • DMH line item 5095-0017 – Loan Forgiveness Program – was reduced by $3 million to a total of $0. 

The Providers’ Council is reviewing the budget for other major changes to human services accounts or line items, and it will provide more information to our members as it is received. 

The preliminary Providers’ Council budget analysis is located on the Council’s website www.providers.org. If you have questions about the FY ’26 budget or the budget process, please reach out to Caroline O’Neill at coneill@providers.org. 

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