A headline on the entrance web page of the Metropolitan part of a current Sunday New York Times strongly resonated with the neighborhood well being facilities in neighboring Connecticut. “Hospitals Both Strained and Essential” (Nov. 20, 2022) particulars the struggles of New York City’s security internet hospitals to take care of town’s poorest communities.
A poor payer combine — fewer than 15% of sufferers have conventional business healthcare protection — mixed with bodily amenities in dire want of upgrades, salaries and advantages that fail to compete with close by for-profit and tutorial healthcare establishments contribute to the grim outlook. This resonated with us as CEOs of Connecticut’s neighborhood well being facilities as a result of we, too, expertise this on daily basis.
However, because the headline hinted, there may be rising recognition in New York that these amenities are important. As horrific and unsettling because the affect of COVID-19 was, there’s a rising settlement that the lack of life and its related financial affect would have been far worse had it not been for the establishments dedicated to caring for probably the most weak communities. New York management is beginning to “get it” — for the approaching fiscal 12 months, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has “budgeted twice as much and has asked the federal government to increase the Medicaid rates….”
Like the healthcare methods described on this article, neighborhood well being facilities in Connecticut additionally battle with outdated bodily amenities, poor payer combine and wage calls for that fail to maintain tempo with well-resourced healthcare methods.
Collectively, neighborhood well being facilities in Connecticut take care of over 415,000 residents, roughly 11% of the state’s inhabitants. We serve over 250,000 Medicaid sufferers, greater than 25% of the HUSKY inhabitants. Our Medicaid funds are primarily based on a federally mandated system established in 2001 and tied to the 2001 prices of care. Those charges improve yearly on what’s deceptively referred to as an “inflationary” determine, the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
For the approaching 12 months, the MEI is 2.1%, the very best in current reminiscence. Yet as is well-known, inflation presently is over 8%. Last 12 months the MEI was 1.4% when nationwide inflation was shut to five%. Couple these fiscal realities with the truth that well being facilities additionally care for almost all of Connecticut’s uninsured residents and the battle is obviously apparent.
The Lamont administration’s acknowledged dedication to coping with racial inequities is extensively touted; nevertheless, well being facilities have repeatedly requested fee will increase to maintain up with elevated companies and inflation, however requests so far have gone unheeded.
Health facilities present a variety of important major care companies, together with dental care, behavioral well being, substance use problems, imaginative and prescient, care coordination and extra. What’s extra, the standard of care supplied by neighborhood well being facilities is exemplary — the annual Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) report from the state signifies well being facilities exceed statewide high quality measures practically 70% of the time.
State leaders typically level to federal grants as causes for not recognizing the fiscal challenges of the well being facilities. Efforts to level out that grants should not assured revenue, and that they’re often earmarked for a single, time-limited particular venture, usually fall on deaf ears on the Department of Social Services (DSS), the state company with authority over our Medicaid program.
During the COVID pandemic, well being facilities stepped as much as the plate. We examined, vaccinated and handled a whole bunch of 1000’s of Connecticut residents — briefly, we helped hold those that got here to our doorways wholesome throughout one of many worst public well being crises in our nation’s historical past.
We presently face the identical inflationary pressures current all through the nation, certainly the world. It is time for Governor Lamont to heed the teachings realized from New York state and supply a lot wanted help to Connecticut’s security internet system of Community Health Centers.
This opinion piece was drafted and signed by the CEOs of 15 totally different neighborhood well being facilities in Connecticut. Their names are listed under.
Kimberly Beauregard,
InterCommunity, Inc.
Joanne Borduas,
Community Health & Wellness Center of Greater Torrington, Inc.
Karen Daley,
Optimus Health Care, Inc.
Jennifer Granger,
United Community & Family Services, Inc.
Suzanne Lagarde,
Fair Haven Community Health Care
Mollie Melbourne,
Southwest Community Health Center, Inc.
Nichelle Mullins,
Charter Oak Health Center, Inc.
Arvind Shaw,
Generations Family Health Center, Inc.
Melissa Meyers,
Generations Family Health Center, Inc.
Gregory Stanton,
Community Health Services, Inc.
Jeffrey Steele,
First Choice Health Centers, Inc.
Michael Taylor,
Cornell Scott-Hill Health Corporation
Donald Thompson,
KeepWell Health Center, Inc.
Dennis Torres,
Family Centers, Inc.
Sabrina Trocchi,
Wheeler Clinic, Inc.
Kenneth Waller,
Norwalk Community Health Center
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