Senate confirms hospital cost review board with no Republican support

The Delaware Senate confirmed a newly formed hospital review board during an extraordinary session Dec. 16, with no Republican support.

The Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board was created last session through legislation intended to bring down hospital costs by reviewing hospital budgets.

No hospital supported the legislation, and since then, ChristianaCare – the state’s largest healthcare system – has filed a lawsuit against regulations that give the state-appointed board the ability to review private hospital financial information.

None of the six Senate Republicans voted to confirm board members – Richard Geisenberger, Heath Chasanov, Thomas Brown, David Singleton and Devona Williams.

Senate Republicans issued a statement following the session saying their decision to abstain was not a critique of the nominees but over concerns about the timing of the appointment and the law that created the board.

“The law, passed as House Bill 350, faced unanimous Republican opposition in the House and Senate when it was debated, and its constitutionality is now being challenged in court by ChristianaCare. We believe it’s premature to move forward with implementing the law, including seating the board, until the lawsuit is resolved,” the caucus said. “Additionally, we question the timing of these appointments. Gov. Carney, who will leave office in January, is filling five of the six available appointed positions, leaving the board incomplete. We believe it would be more appropriate for the incoming Meyer Administration to oversee the full appointment process.”

In addition to the hospital cost review board, the Senate confirmed Bonnie W. David as vice chancellor of the Court of Chancery; Eric Davis as Superior Court judge; Paula Ryan, Paraskevi Wolcott, and Sonja Wilson as Family Court judges; and Joseph Spagnolo as Justice of the Peace.

Michael Houghton was confirmed for the Delaware River and Bay Authority; James Simmons for State Board of Education; and Benjamin Black for the Professional Standards Board.

For the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association, the following were confirmed: the Rev. J. Christian Beretta, Bradley Bley, Jay Bastianelli, Freeman Williams, Kristin DeGregory, Trisha Stiles, Kathleen Kenney, Amber Hickman-Taylor and Chad Jones.