Piscopo Op-Ed: Concern Over Malloy Hospital Bill Veto
A few months ago, I wrote about the importance of our community hospitals as vital pillars of our communities. They provide us with a complete range of patient services from emergency medical services and treatment, to everyday care and programs, including highly specialized treatment, such as oncology and cardiology. Our community residents are able to receive the highest level of medical and surgical care, in addition to advanced diagnostic imaging and tests in order to help us all achieve our optimum level of health and wellness.
Last week, the governor vetoed a bill, SB992, which would have allowed non-profit hospitals to operate as for-profit entities, even though his administration negotiated with legislative leaders and Waterbury-area legislators on the bill’s passage. His controversial decision puts in jeopardy, joint ventures that both Bristol Hospital and Waterbury Hospital were planning with Vanguard Health Systems Inc.
Governor Malloy’s veto of the hospital legislation that had been approved by both the CT State Senate and House will have adverse effects on all hospitals in Connecticut, and their ability to provide quality medical services in the future. This will only continue to promote increasing medical costs for our citizens and chill future financial savings and service improvements throughout Connecticut.
Hospitals are already managing reductions in state funding as a result of the governor’s budget that cut funding for hospitals by $550 million. We are now only just beginning to realize the implications that these cuts will have to hospital budgets, as they struggle to manage on constrained budgets. Many of my fellow colleagues joined me during the budget debates in sounding the alarm that terrible consequences would result from these cuts, in the way of job losses and program cuts. Waterbury Hospital, recently announced it would cut 83 jobs due in part to a state funding reduction. And just last week, Danbury and New Milford Hospitals announced that a minimum of 116 jobs will be eliminated as a result of the Malloy budget.
Our hospitals are already feeling the pressure from budget cuts. It’s disgraceful that pressures from union leaders will cause further significant financial troubles to Bristol and Waterbury Hospital as a result of Malloy’s veto decision on legislation that was to provide financial stability to both Hospitals.
Please feel free to contact me about this or any legislative issue by calling my office 800-842-1423 or email john.piscopo@housegop.ct.gov.
Stay informed: www.cthousegop.com
Sincerely,
John Piscopo
State Representative, 76th District