Federal, State Policies Examined at CTAHE State of the State of Connecticut Healthcare

Dozens of hospital and health system leaders, as well as other healthcare executives, from across the state attended the Connecticut Association of Healthcare Executives (CTAHE) 2026 State of the State event on Tuesday, January 27, at the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) in Wallingford.

CHA’s Karen Buckley, vice president of advocacy, Brian Cournoyer, director of government relations, and Paul Kidwell, senior vice president of policy, presented on a variety of topics, including a review of the 2025 Legislative Session, the policy and political climate, expectations and policy goals for the 2026 Legislative Session, and an analysis of how H.R.1 and other federal policies, including expired health insurance exchange subsidies, are impacting Connecticut hospitals.

The CHA team explained that recent federal policy decisions — particularly Medicaid cuts and the failure to extend enhanced health insurance subsidies — harm Connecticut hospitals, patients, and communities and will lead to missed preventive care, higher emergency department utilization, and worse long-term health outcomes.  Reductions in coverage escalate uncompensated care, strain hospitals that must treat all patients regardless of ability to pay, and drive higher costs across the healthcare delivery system and the volume of uninsured and underinsured patients.

CTAHE represents professionals who manage the business affairs of healthcare organizations throughout the state.  Organization membership comprises hospitals, health plans, health systems, independent physician associations, industry partners, and universities.  CTAHE is a chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), an international professional society of more than 40,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems, and other healthcare organizations.