CT tried to control hospital fees. Patients say they’re still blindsided and wary of seeking care

Connecticut Public – Wednesday, June 17, 2026
By Sujata Srinivasan, Isabelle Marceles, Maysoon Khan

The bright owl patterns on Michele Vincent’s scrubs were a stark contrast to the grey walls in the dental clinic where she works as an assistant. As Vincent set up medical instruments for the doctor to use, she talked about the toll her work has taken on her hands for more than 34 years.

“My right hand, the middle finger there, if I close my hand, it tends to actually get stuck,” she said. “There’s pain by the end of the day.”

That led her to see a specialist at a hospital in New Britain in December 2024. The solution he offered was simple enough. He gave her a cortisone shot and Vincent said it worked to reduce pain and swelling.

Then the bill came. Vincent was charged $225 for the doctor’s services, which she expected.

But on top of that, there was an out-of-pocket charge for $924 tacked on to the bill. It was a facility fee — a separate amount that covers the hospital’s operational expenses, such as building maintenance and equipment.

Across the country, facility fees like the one Vincent received are increasingly common because of consolidation in health care. Hospitals and health systems own many of the clinics where patients are treated. They collect fees to pay for providing care around the clock — even for routine outpatient treatment.

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