HARTFORD, CT — The debate over Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails has resurfaced in recent weeks as Democratic leaders, advocates, and community organizations call for a declaration of fiscal emergency in response to rising state-level needs and looming federal funding cuts.

 

At the center of the conversation are growing concerns that the current budget framework — designed to stabilize the state’s finances — may now be limiting Connecticut’s ability to respond to unmet needs in areas such as education, healthcare, housing, and social services.

Dozens of healthcare providers descended on the Legislative Office Building Thursday, with a united message: increase Medicaid reimbursement rates.

 

“It’s time for the state to meet the needs of its Medicaid program, which underpins the structure of healthcare in Connecticut, and ensure it is paying fairly for the care provided to patients by all caregivers, including at hospitals,” said Jennifer Jackson, CEO of the Connecticut Hospital Association. “It is imperative that we collaborate to fortify the healthcare delivery system here in Connecticut, advancing policies that drive the achievement of quality, equity, affordability, and accessibility goals.”

  

On Thursday, 59 residents, including state hospital officials, EMS providers, physicians, and others, signed up to testify before the legislature’s Appropriations Committee on House Bill 7254, which would require a report on Medicaid rates.

Lawmakers’ proposal to slash billions in Medicaid spending would be disastrous for home- and community-based services (HCBS) providers and their clients, researchers from Harvard University said in a recent academic article.

 

“Drastically reduced spending could especially harm the growing population of older adults who depend on Medicaid for home and community-based services (HCBS), which already have long waiting lists and workforce shortages in many states,” they said. “Evidence indicates that the vast majority of older adults who can no longer care for themselves prefer HCBS support to live in their homes and communities rather than entering nursing homes.”

 

Congress specifically aims to eliminate $880 billion from the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s discretionary spending. The committee’s purview includes $8.6 trillion in federal outlays, of which $8.2 trillion is allocated for Medicaid. As such, Medicaid would be the likely target of any implemented cuts.

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) – The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement in response to the Senate action on the FY2025 Budget Resolution text.

 

We are concerned with the magnitude of Medicaid reductions implied by this framework. Though we acknowledge that there have been no final decisions made regarding the programs and policies where these reductions will be achieved, we want to emphasize that Congress must protect access to essential Medicaid funded home and community-based services (HCBS) for eligible individuals. At the same time, we support efforts to improve program integrity to ensure that resources are directed to those who are eligible and require supports. Rather than reducing funding in ways that could limit services, eligibility, and provider payments, we encourage a focused approach that safeguards Medicaid dollars for those it is intended to support.

As workforce shortages persist in health care, some operators are struggling to recruit and retain essential members of their care teams — hospice aides.

 

The demand for hospice aides is expected to grow in the coming years. However, factors such as turnover, retirement, slow wage growth and immigration policy could complicate hospice’s ability to fill those positions. 

Workforce growth and referral relationship development are among the most significant determinants of sustainability and scale in the palliative care space. Opportunities abound for providers with a stronghold on successful payment and retention strategies.

 

Having sufficient staff is key to building a palliative care program, according to Dr. Kerry Moss, palliative care medical director for Connecticut Children’s. 

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