Delaware Revamps Healthcare: Costs, Access, and New Options

Delaware has recently enacted significant healthcare reforms, addressing rising costs and expanding services. These changes aim to alleviate financial burdens and provide more comprehensive care options for residents.

New Legislation Aims to Curb Costs

Healthcare spending in Delaware surged by 9.1% between 2022 and 2023, reaching nearly $11 billion, according to the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services’ annual assessment. Per capita spending reached $10,588 in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

Physician-Assisted Death Legalized

Delaware became the 12th state to legalize physician-assisted death after **Gov. Matt Meyer** signed House Bill 140 in May. The Ron Silverio/**Heather Block** End-of-Life Options Act, named after two advocates for the cause, allows terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to request medication to end their lives. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, or sooner if regulations are finalized earlier.

**Rep. Eric Morrsion** (D-Glasgow) successfully passed the bill this session after a veto of a similar proposal last year. At the bill signing, **Susan Lahaie**, widow of **Ron Silverio**, stood with legislators and advocates, holding a photo of her late husband.

“Ron would have said that ‘terminally ill people of Delaware can now focus on living without having to worry so much about how they will die,’” she stated.

Reforming Pre-Authorization Processes

Senate Bill 12, sponsored by State **Sen. Bryan Townsend** (D-Newark), aims to expedite pre-authorization, a process where insurance plans must approve medications, tests, or procedures before coverage. The goal is to reduce delays in patients receiving necessary treatments.

**Julie Prosseda**, a family medicine doctor at ChristianaCare Hospital, expressed her support for the bill, noting the frequent uncertainty patients face regarding medication coverage. Faster pre-authorization aims to streamline medication access for patients.

Medical Debt Protection Measures

Senate Bill 156, sponsored by State **Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos** (D-Elsmere), seeks to shield individuals from the adverse effects of medical debt on their credit reports, preventing discrimination in housing and employment. If signed by **Meyer**, Delaware would become the 10th state to enact such legislation.

The bill prohibits consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt information in consumer reports. Additionally, the state’s grant-in-aid bill allocates $500,000 for medical debt relief, potentially benefiting 17,800 Delawareans below 400% of the federal poverty line with debt exceeding 5% of their income, according to **Meyer**.

Analyzing Healthcare Workforce Needs

To attract more medical professionals, Delaware passed Senate Bill 122, sponsored by State **Sen. Russ Huxtable** (D-Lewes), to assess the state’s healthcare workforce needs. This will enable officials to gather data to inform healthcare policy and understand the supply, demand, distribution, and utilization of healthcare workers.

According to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, 73.5 million Americans live in designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HRSA 2024).

“When we pass Senate Bill 122, we are not only preparing for the future of health care in Delaware, but we are also investing in a system that better serves patients, providers and the public,” **Huxtable** stated at a committee meeting in May.

Opioid Settlement Reform

Legislation passed by the House and Senate reforms the grant approval process for Delaware’s opioid settlement fund, derived from nationwide settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. House Bill 169, introduced by House Speaker **Melissa Minor-Brown**, places approval powers solely with the Delaware Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission. This follows reports of mishandling of the fund last year. Delaware anticipates receiving $250 million in opioid settlement funds through 2038.