DKH Receives Significant Restoration of State Funding: Statement from President and CEO Robert Smanik

At a press event held today at Day Kimball Hospital, State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Killingly) and state Representatives Daniel Rovero (D-Killingly) and Christine Rosati-Randall (D-Killingly) announced that approximately $1.7 million in hospital funding will be restored to Day Kimball as a result of their efforts leading up to yesterday’s special session of the state legislature.

This is in addition to the $2.8 million in small hospital funding that was restored to Day Kimball in October. In total, this means that Day Kimball now faces a $1.1 million reduction in state funding during its current fiscal year, down from $5.6 million in cuts that were included in the state budget rescissions made by Governor Malloy in September.

In response to this news at today’s event DKH President and CEO Robert Smanik said:

“We’re very pleased and relieved that the legislature has restored a significant portion of the cuts to our state funding that were included in the Governor’s rescissions. And we are incredibly thankful to Senator Mae Flexer and Representatives Christine Rosati-Randall and Daniel Rovero for their staunch advocacy of Day Kimball Healthcare during the budget discussions.

Beginning in February of this year we have seen proposals and actions causing traumatic swings in the funding Day Kimball can expect from the state. With the administration’s budget proposal announced in February, we worked together through the legislative session to restore the funding to then again face cuts in September. Our elected officials on both sides of the aisle fought to restore the cuts.

Today I am pleased to acknowledge the persistence and success of Senator Flexer and Representatives Randall and Rovero, for they have distinguished themselves in their support of community hospitals, especially Day Kimball. Although the final outcome of yesterday’s action still results in the hospital receiving less money this year and next when compared to last year, the significant restoration of funds allows for continued confidence in the financial health of Day Kimball.

We will need to stay the course on our efforts to reduce expenses and grow our services, but returning stability to our financial picture is crucial to our success. As Northeast Connecticut’s major provider of health care and our region’s largest employer, the stability, strength and growth of Day Kimball is absolutely crucial to the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

We know the work is not done. The state budget issues persist and the continued cuts to hospitals are not sustainable, yet Senator Flexer and Representatives Randall and Rovero understand this because they’ve taken the time to educate themselves around the extremely complex issues surrounding health care today, and because they know and understand our region so well.

Their dedication and determination in securing this critical funding means that Day Kimball is in a much better position today to continue providing high quality health care to Northeast Connecticut in the months and years ahead. I look forward to their continued leadership and partnership in that effort.”