The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides critical services for the Commonwealth and is the largest segment of the executive branch, accounting for nearly half of the Commonwealth’s operating budget each year. HHS facilities are numerous: more than 750 buildings, encompassing over 10 million square feet of space, are spread over 39 state-owned properties. These structures include hospitals, clinics, long and short-term care facilities, offices, and support facilities such as power plants and garages. Many of these facilities operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, year-round.
The level of funding for health and human services capital projects over the next five years compared to projected fiscal year 2010 spending is reflected in the chart below.
Investments in FY11 are highlighted below and continue to be concentrated in the construction of a new hospital, while advancing the Administration’s efforts toward addressing the backlog of physical plant needs in the state’s health and human service facilities.
$72 million of construction spending will continue on the new 320 bed state-of-the-art psychiatric facility on the grounds of Worcester State Hospital – a $302 million project that will replace and consolidate two outdated existing Department of Mental Health facilities. The project has been designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification under the rating system for New Construction and Major Renovations. The new facility's design is a national model that fosters recovery and rehabilitation with a 260-bed adult hospital, a 30-bed adolescent inpatient facility and 30 adolescent intensive residential treatment beds.
Fast-track renovations to two buildings at Wrentham Developmental Center for the Department of Developmental Services to provide residential facilities in support of the closure of the Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham.
$20 million for urgent repair and replacement needs at various HHS facilities, including oxygen delivery, fire safety upgrades, ventilation, and heating and cooling systems.
Continuation of a strategic master plan to assess HHS’s needs for state-owned assets and community-based services. The master plan seeks to better match the state assets with the agencies’ missions and to reduce capital repairs and operating costs in order to target HHS dollars to the provision of programs and services.