Governor Dannel Malloy – On a Mission to destroy Connecticut’s hospitals
The story behind the story…
September 2015: Less than two months after signing into law a new state budget that raised taxes and cut spending, a state budget that Governor Dannel Malloy claimed was balanced and would maintain the state’s vital services, came the news that a massive budget deficit was opening up for this fiscal year and would be even bigger in the next fiscal year.
In response, Governor Malloy announced a series of emergency budget cuts, the largest aimed at Connecticut’s hospital. Malloy proposed cutting reimbursements to hospitals by another $240 million over the two year period.
The state funding is provided to help hospitals pay for the care they provide to poor and uninsured patients, including those who use the federal government’s Medicaid program.
In response, the Connecticut Hospital Association wrote;
“We are outraged that the Governor would slash Medicaid funding that is desperately needed to care for the most vulnerable people in our state. With nearly one in five Connecticut residents on Medicaid, withdrawing even more funding from the state’s obligation is outrageous. It puts a tremendous additional strain on healthcare providers, who already provide services with reimbursement that is nowhere near the actual cost of delivering that care.”“Sweeping cuts to this vital program will hurt patients and their communities, and further cripple our state’s economy.”
December 4, 2015: When the Connecticut General Assembly meets next week to adopt a budget deficit mitigation plan designed to close the projected state budget deficit – a budget deal that remains secret – it is widely expected that a portion of the cuts to Connecticut’s hospitals will be restored.
So what is the real situation about hospital funding in Connecticut?
The story itself provides an extraordinary glimpse about how Governor Malloy and the Governor Dannel Malloy - On a Mission to destroy Connecticut’s hospitals - Wait What?: