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Budget Advocacy: Reach out to legislators during Special Session
Budget Advocacy: Reach out to legislators during Special Session
June 9, 2015
***UPDATE | 6/29/2015***
THANK YOU, NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT
The overall state budget cuts to Day Kimball Healthcare have been eliminated! DKH has been awarded $3 million in additional funding in each of the next two years through a state fund developed specifically to provide extra support to small community hospitals. These funds will offset the $5 million in cuts to DKH that were ultimately included in the passed state budget.
This victory is shared by us all. It is owed to the support of all in our community who made their voices heard through thousands of e-mail and paper pledges in our I AM New Day campaign. And it is due to the tireless work of Senator Mae Flexer and Representatives Daniel Rovero, Christine Rosati and Paul Brycki in taking our message to Hartford and advocating for the lives and livelihood of Northeast Connecticut throughout the state budget process.
Throughout the budget process we've stressed that, as a small community hospital and healthcare system, Day Kimball is critical to both the personal health and economic health of our communities.
The awarding of these funds will help us to continue in our mission to keep Northeast Connecticut healthy.
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Send a letter to ask legislators to fix the state budget during the Special Session currently underway. Because as Yogi Berra says, "It ain't over 'til it's over."
More than 2500 of you have sent messages to our legislators during this year's budget planning process. We need to do it again! We've turned the "I AM New Day" campaign back on -- with a new message.
As our legislators enter into a Special Session, over the coming weeks they will complete unfinished business of the regular session, most notable the bills to implement the budget. We need your help once again in raising the voices of Northeast Connecticut on behalf
Calculations provided by Connecticut Hospital Association demonstrate that while the legislators did reduce impact of the original Governor’s budget on Day Kimball Hospital by approximately a million dollars each budget year, we are still facing annual cuts of $2.56 million from the State. Basically,
- Medicaid rate cuts were improved, but still mean $367,000 annual reduction
- Hospital taxes increased by $707,000 annually
- “Low cost hospital pool” was eliminated resulting in approximately $1.4 million annual reduction
So, let’s turn our “I AM New Day” email campaign back on. Send the letter below to the Governor and Senate and House Legislators.
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Dear Legislator,
I need your help on behalf of Northeast Connecticut. Day Kimball Hospital is being harmed by the budget cuts that expands the hospital tax from $269 million to $369 million per year, and cuts Medicaid provider rates by $30 million per year. For Day Kimball this means cuts of $2.56 million for each of the next two years.
As the largest employer in Northeast Connecticut, Day Kimball is not only part of the fabric of the lifestyle of the community, it is critical to the livelihood of the Quiet Corner, and beyond. Day Kimball generates $230 million in annual economic impact as the largest employer in our region as a consumer of goods and services, and by providing pay checks for people to spend in our community and state. If Day Kimball is forced to downsize – and these cuts will force the hospital to make operational cuts of more than $2 million dollars in each of the next two years – we will see people leaving the area for other jobs, the housing market weakened as 82% that work here live here, and our school systems will be at risk. This will be the domino that triggers an avalanche of devastating change to our region.
I appreciate your efforts during this active, dynamic and complex session. It’s critical, however, you continue to advocate for Northeast Connecticut and fix the budget by restoring Medicaid funding for hospitals and lowering the hospital tax during the upcoming Special Session.
I recommit to “I AM New Day” pledge along with the more than 2500 people who have already asked that you keep your promise to be good stewards of the State of Connecticut.
Read about how we recently captured the legislators attention and to better understand what's a risk read a few of the stories below.
