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Base Adequacy Funding: Last year
the General Assembly provided the first installment of base adequacy funding to
colleges and universities. This infusion of funds was essential to stabilizing
tuition rates and higher education budgets. An increase in general fund
support was includes in the 2005-06 budget of $10.5 million for higher education
institutions. The 2005-06 increase is $313,300 for VCU, with a base
adequacy total of $15,411,200. Currently, Virginia Commonwealth
University’s state funding shortfall is approximately $50 million per year, even
after
receiving $22 million for the biennium.
 Indigent Care Funding: Senior
staff from Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System have
worked diligently in recent years with state and federal officials to identify a
consistent revenue stream for health services for indigent and underinsured
patients. At present, the VCU Health System should receive 100% of costs for
serving these patients over the next two years. Staff will continue to identify
long-term funding solutions.
Faculty and Staff Salaries:
Compensation for faculty and staff continues to be a high
priority among Virginia’s colleges and universities. In 2005, the General
Assembly adopted a 4.2% statewide average salary increase, with VCU receiving a
4.5% increase, for teaching and research faculty effective November 25, 2005.
A 4.0% increase was adopted for administrative faculty, adjunct faculty and
graduate assistants. Effective November 25, 2005, classified staff with at
least a "Contributor" rating on their performance evaluation will receive a 3.0%
salary increase. In addition, classified employees with at least five
years of state service will receive $50 per year of service as a compression
adjustment factor. We hope that the General Assembly will continue to provide
additional funding to regain competitive salaries with our peer institutions.
Maintenance Reserve:
VCU received a total of $6,198,168 in general funds for maintenance reserve
projects in the General Assembly budget. This is a positive step to address the
renovation needs of countless buildings on both the Monroe Park and Medical
Campuses. VCU will continue to bring attention to the maintenance reserve needs
of our aging infrastructure to state decision-makers.
Financial Aid: Additional funding
has been provided in the Governor’s 2005 budget for financial aid, including
financial aid for graduate students. In the Governor's 2005-06
budget, the General Assembly retained the general fund increase for VCU of
$807,803 for student financial assistance for undergraduates.
Charter
University (HB
2866 and
SB 1327) – The Restructured Higher Education
Financial and Administrative Operations Act, formerly known as the Charter
University legislation, was adopted by the General Assembly. The legislation
went through dramatic changes prior to the passage of the final version.
Essentially the universities will be able to negotiate flexibility/autonomy from
state oversight if they agree to certain conditions/reporting. The key
provisions are:
- Board of Visitors affirms broad goals
- SCHEV develops performance criteria
- Six-year enrollment, academic, and financial
plans requires of each institution
- Three approaches to decentralization
- Basic delegated authority (minimum level
required) – Level 1
- Memoranda of Understanding – Level 2
- Management Agreement – Level 3
- Effective dates
- July 1, 2005 – planning and development cycle
begins
- July 1, 2006 – effective date of Level 1, 2 or 3
authority
- July 1, 2007 – earliest that financial incentives
realized
Assignment of Benefits (SB
904) – The original intent of the assignment of
benefits proposal was to direct health insurers and related organizations to pay
out-of-network physicians directly. It also contemplated addressing the
situation whereby an out-of-network physician was paid less by the health
insurers utilized the business practice of “balance billing” the shortfall back
to the patient. The medical and insurance communities were fully engaged on
this matter. The final compromise requires the health insurers to disclose on
the Explanation of Benefits the name and address of the physician who is to
receive money sent to the patient.
Tort Reform (HB
2659 and
SB 1173) – The General Assembly adopted omnibus
medical malpractice legislation that includes several significant issues,
including:
-
Certification of expert witness opinion at
time of service of process
-
Admissibility of expressions of sympathy
protected
-
Competency evaluations of certain
practitioners
-
Medical malpractice claims data reported to
insurance commissioner
-
Allowing a physician to testify about his
patient for the defense
-
Revises the definition of medical
malpractice to exclude contract claims regarding patient care
Stem Cell Study (HJ
588) -- Establishes a joint subcommittee to study
medical, ethical, and scientific issues relating to stem cell research conducted
in the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall examine the medical, ethical,
and scientific policy implications of stem cell research, and the efficacy of
research using both adult and embryonic stem cells.
Dr. Thomas F. Huff will represent VCU on
the subcommittee.
Museum of the Confederacy
(HJ
747) -- Establishes a joint subcommittee to
examine the cost and feasibility of relocating the Museum and White House of the
Confederacy. Don Gehring will represent VCU on
the subcommittee.
Other Legislative Matters
of Interest
If you have questions, contact Don Gehring (dcgehrin@vcu.edu)
or
If you have questions, contact Don
Gehring (dcgehrin@vcu.edu)
or Mark Smith (mesmith@vcu.edu).
Our office phone number is: 804-828-1235. |
