1.5 Million Patients Treated in Connecticut Emergency Departments; 245,000 Jobs Supported; $38.7 Billion in Economic Impact; $3.4 Billion in Community Investments
WALLINGFORD – The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) today released three reports including new data on the impact of hospital and health systems’ contributions on the health of Connecticut’s economy and communities. CHA is releasing these reports ahead of the upcoming legislative session, during which CHA will advocate for policies that support the healthcare workforce, strengthen access to healthcare services, expand investments in community health, discourage harmful cuts to hospitals at a time when they are facing significant financial challenges, and improve Connecticut’s Certificate of Need process.
- Connecticut Hospitals Today includes data on Connecticut’s hospitals and the services they
provide and an overview on key issues impacting healthcare in Connecticut - Community Benefit Report includes data and stories from each of Connecticut’s 27 acute care
hospitals on investments in community services, education, charity care, and public health and
wellness - Economic Impact Report details the impact of jobs created, capital improvements, and hospitals’
investments in the state’s economy
“Connecticut hospitals are there when we need them,” said Jennifer Jackson, CEO, CHA. “They provide high quality care for everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay, while extending their positive impact far beyond the essential medical care that they provide. They are among the largest employers in the state supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and their investments help our state’s economy prosper and thrive. They are also valuable resources in the communities they serve, working to address social influencers of health and respond to the critical needs of patients and communities.”
Among the report findings, Connecticut hospitals:
- Provide a total economic impact of $38.7 billion
- Contribute $3.4 billion in community investments
- Support nearly 245,000 jobs, with a total payroll of $20.5 billion
- Provide care to 336,000 admitted patients, providing 1.9 million days of inpatient care
- Treat more than 1.5 million patients in emergency departments
- Provide nearly 10 million episodes of outpatient services
- Invest $267 million in health professions education
- Provide $270.1 million in uncompensated care to support patients who cannot pay
- Provide $1.23 billion in unpaid hospital care to Medicaid beneficiaries and $1.55 billion in unpaid hospital care to Medicare beneficiaries
CHA is releasing these annual snapshot reports ahead of the upcoming Connecticut General Assembly’s legislative session to help inform healthcare-related policy. While hospitals and health systems play a vital role in providing services and benefits to communities, they are also facing extraordinary financial and workforce challenges.
“Connecticut hospitals are cornerstones of their communities, as these reports show, even at a time when they are faced with enormous challenges. Across healthcare, we are seeing critical healthcare workforce shortages, patients with more severe health needs, and pressure from systemic cost drivers, including commercial insurance practices that delay care and increase costs, administrative burdens, and Medicare and Medicaid underpayments. Hospitals are facing staggering financial hardship and negative operating margins, worsened by the pandemic and historic inflation in the cost of drugs, supplies, electricity, heat, infrastructure, and labor,” said Jackson.
“Hospitals have such a significant impact on not only the health of individual patients, but on the overall health of our state’s communities, people, and economy. To protect and preserve this role, we must continue collaborating with community organizations, state government, and local lawmakers – all key partners in providing high-quality, affordable, and accessible care to every patient.”
To learn more, visit CaringforCT.org.