Opinion: CT doctors unite to oppose bill limiting how out-of-network physicians are reimbursed

Stamford Advocate – Wednesday, June 4, 2025
By Group of CT doctors

As physicians, our No. 1priority is always the well-being of our patients. That is why we stand united in our collective opposition to House Bill 6871 (“An Act Limiting Out-of-Network Health Care Costs”) and any efforts to include language in a budget implementer, that if passed, will limit access to physician specialists in Connecticut. House Bill 6871 would place unfair limits on how out-of-network physicians are reimbursed, limiting patient access while doing nothing to reduce insurance premiums. If this bill passes, Connecticut’s patients will suffer the consequences of this poorly conceived legislation.

At its core, House Bill 6871 would give even more power to Connecticut’s health insurers that already dominate the system. Physicians have little ability to negotiate with these massive companies. Payments to physicians are staying flat or even going down, while the cost of running a practice keeps rising. This is pushing physicians to retire early, leave Connecticut, or decide not to practice here at all. As more physicians leave or choose not to come, it becomes harder for Connecticut’s patients to access the care they need.

Access to medical care is already a significant issue in Connecticut. Need a neurosurgeon or other specialist? You will likely end up waiting longer than you should. If House Bill 6871 passes, access will get even worse. Patients will have diminished access to specialists to treat injuries, cancer, broken bones, and other emergencies. Hospital stays will be longer, and medical costs will rise.

Instead of focusing on physicians, why isn’t our state looking at the record profits of our health insurers? UnitedHealth Group, for example, reported $14.4 billion in profits (not revenue) in 2024. As a state, we cap the profits of our energy companies to curtail utility costs for our residents, yet the health insurers in Connecticut are permitted to make astronomical amounts off the backs of patients. This is where the state should be focusing efforts to rein in healthcare costs.

Let’s not forget the COVID-19 pandemic, when physicians showed up every day to care for patients, often putting themselves at risk. Imagine how different it would have been without our physicians. House Bill 6871 will drive physicians out of the state and make it even harder to recruit new ones to Connecticut. Keep in mind that, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, we already rank a low 47th out of 52 states and territories in retaining physicians that we train in our state.

Together, we represent thousands of physicians throughout Connecticut, and we are sounding the alarm. Patients deserve access to the care they need, and if passed, House Bill 6871 will make it harder to get that care. Is this the legacy our state leaders want to create? As physicians, we take an oath to do no harm. Our state leaders should do the same.

Atique A. Mirza, MD, president, Hartford County Medical Association

Khuram Ghumman, MD, president, CT State Medical Society

Royd Fukumoto, MD, president, CT Chapter, American College of Surgeons

Boris Goldman, MD, president, CT Society of Plastic Surgeons

Listy Thomas, MD, president, CT College of Emergency Physicians

Lars Helgeson, MD, president, CT State Society of Anesthesiologists

Daniel Tobin, MD, governor, CT Chapter, American College of Physicians

Irfan Chugtai, MD, president, CT Association of Physicians of Pakastani Descent of North America

Dante Brittis, MD, president, CT Orthopaedic Society

Todd Falcone, MD, president, CT ENT Society

James Ouellette, MD, president, Eastern CT Medical Association

Brian Riley, DO, president, American College of Ob-Gyns, CT Chapter

Sachin Parekh, MD, president, CT Academy of Family Physicians

Cara DeBenedictis, MD, president, CT Society of Eye Physicians

Phil Kerr, MD, president, CT Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery Society

Guy Manetti, MD, president, CT Urology Society

Joseph Feuerstein, MD, president, Fairfield County Medical Association

Paul Schaefer, MD, board member, CT Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Access this article at its original source.