Senators Fasano & Looney: Betrayal of Agreement by Connecticut Hospital Association Will Endanger Federal Funds and Hurt Smaller Hospitals

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) today released the following statement regarding the decision of Connecticut’s hospitals to appeal the rate increases previously agreed to by the Connecticut Hospital Association and the administration.

“This is a thoroughly disappointing and shocking development,” said Senator Looney and Senator Fasano. “Democratic and Republican leaders incorporated the agreement negotiated in good faith between the Office of Policy and Management and the Connecticut Hospital Association into the bipartisan budget. The General Assembly has taken significant steps in recent years to ensure the long-term success of our hospitals, which provide access to health care and are economic drivers and job creators for communities across Connecticut. We consistently have supported Connecticut hospitals; however, today we learned that the Connecticut Hospital Association did not even have the respect or the courtesy to come to the legislative leaders to explain why they would contemplate going back on their agreement. We fear this about-face by the members of the Connecticut Hospital Association and betrayal of the agreement will endanger federal reimbursements and hurt the viability of our smaller hospitals.”