Kara Rochelle

DERBY ­— State Representative Kara Rochelle (D – Ansonia/Derby) coordinated an effort earlier in June to advocate for federal funds for Connecticut's small- and mid-sized hospitals that were excluded from vital financial assistance provided through the $10 billion COVID-19 High Impact Allocation.

She sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar in June advocating for the inclusion of Griffin Hospital and hospitals like Griffin in the distribution of $103 billion in unobligated funds in the Health Providers Relief Fund. This letter has received support from several Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the Connecticut General Assembly.

"Despite a $6 million decrease in revenue, Griffin Hospital made significant investments to expand its capacity to test and treat patients. The Hospital faces several financial challenges, which will persist long after this emergency declaration," said Rep. Rochelle. "Without assistance from the state and federal governments, Griffin Hospital, which is the 104^th Assembly District's largest employer, may have to further reduce its COVID-19 response. Connecticut cannot afford vulnerabilities in its health care system and our residents cannot afford to lose their jobs. I am fighting and organizing to do all that I can to support this economic lifeline through this public health crisis and its aftermath."

Rep. Rochelle has been working with U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro's and other members of Connecticut's federal delegation to secure vital funding to ensure Griffin Hospital, and others like it, are not left behind in the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April, 12 Connecticut hospitals received just over $290 million in assistance authorized by the $10 billion COVID-19 High Impact Allocation. Hospitals eligible for the funding had to have 100 or more cases of COVID-19 by April 10. This cut-off date excluded Connecticut's 17 small- and mid-sized community hospitals, like Griffin Hospital, which reached the 100-case mark on April 21.

Griffin has seen over 153 cases of COVID-19 at a cost of $23,000 per patient on average. Due to reduction in revenue, hospital leadership is worried they will be required to reduce the hospital's coronavirus response, which could mean more lay-offs. At the onset of the pandemic, Griffin furloughed 102 of its 900 workers.  

Rep. Rochelle understands the integral role small- and medium-sized hospitals have played in the state's response to the coronavirus as well as their role in expanding access to health care across the state. Connecticut has the eighth highest death rate related to COVID-19 in the United States, trailing behind New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. As of July 8, 4,343 COVID-19-associated deaths have been reported in the state.

 

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