HB 5032, An Act Adjusting The State Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2027 (DPH & DMHAS)

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Monday, February 23, 2026

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning HB 5032, An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2027.  CHA supports HB 5032, with respect to the proposals of investment in a pilot program for adult influenza vaccinations as well as support of various programs that improve behavioral health access and parity.

Connecticut hospitals make our state stronger by delivering nationally recognized, world-class care, supporting jobs and economic growth, and serving communities across Connecticut.  Every day, hospitals improve access, affordability, and health equity — providing care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.  At the same time, hospitals invest in their workforce and local communities, even as they navigate significant financial and federal challenges.

Specifically, HB 5032: (1) proposes dedicating almost $900,000 for piloting adult influenza (flu) vaccines for uninsured and underinsured Connecticut residents, and (2) reflects the governor’s ongoing commitment to behavioral health access and parity.

Adult Influenza Vaccinations Pilot Program

The proposal to provide approximately 52,000 flu vaccine doses will prevent countless hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits by individuals who may otherwise not have access to this vaccination.  When states provide free flu vaccines, hospitals benefit from reduced preventable influenza-related admissions and lower strain on inpatient and ICU capacity, since flu vaccination has been shown to prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations annually (an estimated 120,000 in the 2023-24 season) and substantially reduce severe outcomes like ICU admission and death.¹  Free vaccination programs can improve population immunity, decrease emergency care demand, and help hospitals manage their resources more predictably during peak flu season.²  CHA supports the governor’s preventive pilot and the upstream effort to keep Connecticut residents healthy and out of the hospital.  We look forward to working with the Department of Public Health (DPH) on the details and implementation of the program to ensure it will run smoothly for all stakeholders and reduce any potential unintended administrative burdens.

Behavioral Health Access and Parity

Throughout the governor’s budget, there are investments identified that will support ongoing access to services supporting and maintaining essential behavioral health interventions.  The budget proposal looks to allocate dollars to the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) for family support teams and behavioral health classroom consultants; to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) for wrap-around supportive housing for at risk individuals, the 988 crisis support line, and 24/7 access to adult mobile crisis support; and for alternative behavioral health support for at-risk juveniles.  These programs, along with the ongoing financial support of the Behavioral Health Partnership, DMHAS substance use disorder waivers, and school-based health centers, provide early intervention for burgeoning behavioral health emergencies and provide right-sized responses for individuals seeking intervention.  When states invest in comprehensive preventive behavioral health services, hospitals see measurable reductions in avoidable acute care use and resource strain.

Behavioral health-related emergency department visits account for more than 4,700 per 100,000 ED visits nationwide³, and we know that rate and impact is higher in Connecticut, with behavioral health-related visits accounting for a disproportionate amount of ED time and resources.  Community crisis response systems have been associated with reductions in hospitalizations and expensive inpatient care through early intervention and keeping people supported in the community rather than in crisis settings; however, behavioral health needs remain significant, requiring a disproportionate investment of time and resources.

Access to community-based behavioral health services supports timely discharge and community-based disposition planning for high-risk individuals who may otherwise find themselves stuck in an acute level of care.  CHA supports this upstream approach to behavioral health and intervention for Connecticut’s most vulnerable and at-risk population.

Thank you for your consideration of our position.  For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.

¹https://www.cdc.gov/flu-vaccines-work/benefits/

²https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/vaccination/increase-proportion-people-who-get-flu-vaccine-every-year-iid-09/infographic

³https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about-data/emergency-department-visits.html