CEO Notes

John Murphy, MD, President and CEO, WCHN

As you know, our dealings with the State are an almost endless roller-coaster ride. Every time we think we make progress, we hit another curve. And we have no way to predict how the ride will conclude. All we can do is manage for the worst as we continue to deliver the best to the people who depend on us.

If the Governor’s budget reflects his positions, he continues to oppose hospitals, providers and patient care. His first version of the budget revealed in February included Medicaid provider cuts and, for WCHN, a $20 million increase in the hospital tax. At the same time, we had more than 400 bills to monitor and mitigate for potential effects on the Network and our Medical Staff.

With a Democrat-led Executive branch, House and Senate, we knew we had a tough fight ahead. We engaged all of our stakeholders and targeted legislative leaders in our area and across the state with factual information on the need to protect patient care and the severity of the consequences that the proposed budget cuts and legislation would bring. Senior leaders and physician champions spent days lobbying in Hartford as we promoted our legislative agenda in a statewide advertising campaign in conjunction with the CT Hospital Association. We also implemented their “Voter Voice” e-campaign tool to send messages to the Governor and delegates.

Thanks to those of you who sent emails, testified and placed calls on our behalf.

Now that the session has ended, and we have final bill language and budget projections, we understand the devastating impact of new legislation, regulations and budget.

On one hand, we made some progress:

• Restored Medicaid providers rates
• Mitigated harmful hospital regulations
• Avoided a property tax
• Secured an exemption (on the first $1million in revenue) on the new surgical center tax, and
• Realized new funding for mental health initiatives.

But we also face:

• Deeper hospital taxes amounting to $39 million annually for the next two years - an additional $9.1 million annually over prior year beginning July 1, 2015
• New surgical center taxes, and
• Costly and inefficient hospital and staff regulations.

Despite the progress, the overall impact is severe. Take a look at the health and hospital regulations. And, if you’d like to know how your delegate voted on the budget and increased taxes and cuts, click here for the House, and the Senate voting records.

We’re not ready to give up the fight for what’s right. With your help, and that of staff, community and industry agencies like the Fairfield County Medical Association, we will continue to make progress. We have more work to do. We still need and appreciate your continued support to help advance our agenda to improve access, systems of care and reimbursements for care.

The November elections will be critical for our collective future.

I want to sincerely thank you for continuing to provide the care as the State can make it more difficult to sustain the care. We know why we’re here. And we just have to keep letting them know why our communities need us to stay here.

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