DOVER — The new and highly debated Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board now has five out of seven of its needed governor-appointed members after they were confirmed by the Senate in an extraordinary session on Monday.
The nominees, now board members, include current and retiring Delaware Secretary of Finance Richard Geisenberger, Kent-Sussex Industries CEO and former Woodbridge Superintendent Heath Chasanov, former Nanticoke Hospital executive Thomas Brown, former Delaware Secretary of Finance David Singleton and former Delaware State University Board Chair Dr. Devona Williams.
Much like the controversy around the legislation that established the review board in the first place, the vote to confirm Governor John Carney’s nominations was split along party lines. Members of the Republican Caucus decided to abstain from voting on the five nominees while Lieutenant Governor-elect and current Senator Kyle Evans Gay was absent altogether. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative-elect Sarah McBride made the trek to Dover for one more sitting session as a state senator for the day.
“This is one day I’ve dreaded facing five great people because of the principals of this board,” Sen. Gerald Hocker (R-Ocean View), said on the Senate floor while announcing the minority caucus’ choice to abstain. “I will go not-voting because I do not believe in what this state is doing.”
Hocker raised several thoughts for the group to consider, such as the pending lawsuit lodged by ChristianaCare on the issue of constitutionality of the bill itself. He also foresaw many new challenges, as the nominees were made by a lame-duck governor and Governor-elect Matt Meyer may want to handle things differently.
“I personally believe this board will never be formed. To me, it’s putting the cart before the horse. It hurts me to be able to stand here to say that I can’t vote today for five great people because of the principal that I don’t think it is necessary, and I really don’t think will happen,” he continued. “Having seven businesses of my own, I would hate to think that the government could interfere with anybody and they’re interfering with nonprofit hospitals; it’s wrong.”
Sen. Eric Buckson (R-Little Creek/Magnolia) stood up in support of Hocker’s statements, adding that he is not convinced the board is not ready.
“The litigation that it faces, I believe, is legit and we should allow that process to play out. My understanding is that it’s under an expedited state of review as it stands right now,” Buckson said.
Every Republican in attendance stayed true to the movement to abstain from voting on the nominees, including Hocker (R-Ocean View) and Brian Pettyjohn (R-Georgetown) who also did not vote during the Senate Executive Committee which reviewed the candidates prior to a vote by the full senate.
Democratic members of that committee include Chair Sen. David Sokola (D-Newark-Pike Creek), Vice Chair Sen. Bryan Townsend (D-Newark-Glasgow) and members Sens. S. Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman (D-Wilmington), Sen. Russell Huxtable (D-Milton/Rehoboth Beach) and Sen. Marie Pinkney (D-Newark).
The Republican Caucus issued a statement after the confirmation hearings, questioning the timing of the appointments. Carney, who will resign in early January to be sworn in as the next Mayor of Wilmington had appointed five of the six positions, leaving the board incomplete.
“We believe it would be more appropriate for the incoming Meyer Administration to oversee the full appointment process. For these reasons, we have chosen to abstain from these votes,” the statement reads.
Delaware Healthcare Association President and CEO Brian Frazee, who will sit on the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board as a non-voting and unpaid member, told the Delaware Business Times after the confirmations that his organization still opposes the appointments due to the pending litigation and incoming administration, but remains steadfast in the shared goal to preserve access and quality in Delaware’s health care systems while working to collaborate with state leaders to improve costs across the state.
“We’ve been having very productive conversations with the incoming governor and the house and senate leadership. No promises have been made, just to be clear, but we do have shared goals to make the bill stronger and better. We’re hopeful that we will continue those conversations at this point,” he told DBT. “Our opposition to these appointments was all about the process, not the people.”
Before the Diamond State Hospital Review Board can start its business, the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) Health Care Spending Benchmark Subcommittee must finalize exactly how the state will measure acceptable growth in health care spending. Those meetings are expected to conclude this month.
