CT GOP Senators: Underpayments to MDs, health care clinics require bipartisan solutions

For Immediate Release

Republican State Senators React to Report
on Medicaid Underpayments to CT Healthcare Providers

Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield), State Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock), a medical doctor who serves on the Public Health and Appropriations Committees, Sen. Lisa Seminara, (R-Avon), Ranking Senator on the Human Services Committee, and Sen. Heather Somers, (R-Groton) Ranking Senator on the Public Health Committee, and Sen. Eric Berthel (R-Watertown), Ranking Senator on the Appropriations Committee issued the following statement regarding a Department of Social Services report that shows that Connecticut’s Medicaid program pays doctors and health care professionals significantly less for medical care, including mental and behavioral health services, compared to other states.

“The findings reported by the Department of Social Services are not a surprise. Doctors, dentists, health care professionals, and health care clinics have been underpaid for years for the important and necessary care they provide to the people of Connecticut who are low-income or in under-served communities. This also extends to ambulance services. Costs of providing this care continue to grow. The number of people needing care keeps increasing. The types of care are becoming more complex, such as chronic diseases, mental/behavioral health, and pediatric services.

“Republicans are engaged on this issue, working in a bipartisan way to find meaningful solutions for stakeholders and the public. This is the serious challenge is before us. The Appropriations, Human Services and Public Health committees are meeting. Republicans are involved actively in the debate and decision-making about how to pay for Medicaid services, not just in the short-term, but also in the long-term in responsible ways.”

Sen. Somers added, “As someone who has been working on this issue for years, I know that we simply can’t retain and recruit health care professionals when they are not being adequately reimbursed.  When our Medicaid payment rates are well below our surrounding states, it is naive to believe Connecticut will be the state that healthcare providers decide to work in.”

###