Save Pappas Hospital
It’s price range season on Beacon Hill once more, as Governor Healey rolled out a $62.07 billion FY26 price range proposal which is a rise of $4.3 billion, (7%) over the FY25 Common Appropriations Act present price range of $59.6 billion.
This proposed spending grows considerably over FY 2025 GAA — Governor Healey’s price range contains free neighborhood school, common college meals, whereas she continues to make questionable calls on our well being care system, together with levying a brand new tax on prescription drugs.
Governor Healey has a devastating plan to close down a vital state facility in Canton referred to as the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Youngsters (PRHC), previously referred to as the Massachusetts Hospital College, which is able to certainly have a deleterious impact on the lives of the households it serves.
Healey defended the choice, mere months after the closing of two hospitals previously owned by bankrupt Steward Well being Care, displaying as soon as once more that she is a poor steward of our state funds. She wants to guage what’s vital to the individuals who elected her. This might be an enormous shame if she closes Pappas which has distinctive companies on an attractive campus near Boston that can not be simply replicated, and has served our neighborhood for over a century. It’s an awesome mannequin integrating schooling with medical and therapeutic care offered to many kids, together with those that ultimately went on to attend Milton Excessive College.
Merely trying to relocate these specialised companies just isn’t a viable resolution. The care offered at PRHC spanning medical therapy, therapies, schooling, peer interplay, and inclusion — can’t be replicated elsewhere. Present sufferers at PRHC have entry to equine remedy, a heated pool for aquatics, and a recreation heart with adaptive video games and sports activities.
There are numerous therapies obtainable to the Pappas neighborhood, with an onsite college full with particular schooling professionals from classroom schooling to life expertise transition help, to not point out the proximity to Boston hospitals is a lifeline.
Closing Pappas RHC just isn’t merely a lack of one more healthcare facility within the Commonwealth, however it is going to be a lack of a sanctuary the place kids discover care, hope, and neighborhood.
I urge the management on Beacon Hill to reverse this choice and make sure that PRHC continues to offer the specialised care and help wanted by these kids and their households. These kids are a few of the most susceptible members of our society, they usually deserve higher illustration and advocacy for his or her wants than Gov. Healey is offering.
Gov. Healey has demonstrated repeatedly that she just isn’t a frontrunner who’s “for the individuals” together with throughout her time as Lawyer Common. I encourage State Senator Invoice Driscoll Jr. and State Consultant Richard Wells to advocate for his or her constituents to protect this crucial facility and essential lifeline for a few of our most susceptible kids.
Kerry White
Chair, Milton Republican City Committee
