Boucher: The Administration’s cuts to Hospitals continue to directly and severely threaten accessibility for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable citizens.

Hartford, CT – State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) released the following statement today re: Governor announced on October 9th that he will be releasing $14.1 million to selected hospitals with a new Small, Independent Hospitals Pool. According to the Governor’s Office, these funds will be made available by reprioritizing the $60.3 million first quarterly payment for the new small hospital pool.

“This latest round of shell games by the administration is once again picking winners and losers. The idea that the governor would hold off on making a first quarter payment to hospitals so that he could “reprioritize” who gets the money is deeply troubling.

“All hospitals will lose funding and the six small independent hospitals that were chosen to receive money will get crumbs.

“This administration is underfunding healthcare for the poor more than any other state in the nation. Connecticut is known for a low Medicaid reimbursement rate. Add that to the recent budget cuts which slashed $240 million from hospitals and our state is far behind the rest of the country in properly funding and caring for residents most in need.

“The governor’s quick ‘solution’ continues to ignore the poor, sick and elderly especially in our cities. These cuts continue to directly and severely threaten accessibility for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable citizens. It could also mean employee layoffs, service reductions, longer wait times, and facility closings. “

Background:

• With these new cuts area hospitals in the 26th district will pay more in taxes to the state.
• Danbury/New Milford Hospital will pay an increase in $17,550,590 in taxation next year over FY 2015.

Norwalk Hospital will pay an increase in $10,381,589 in taxation next year over FY 2015.
These reactive measures underscore the need for a special session to fix the state’s budget problem that grow worse by the month.