WALLINGFORD – The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) released the following statement in reaction to the findings of the Connecticut Healthcare Cost Growth Benchmark Report previewed at today’s Healthcare Benchmark Steering Committee meeting:
“The results of Connecticut’s first ever Healthcare Cost Growth Benchmark Report demonstrate the significant impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on patients and their access to care. As the findings demonstrate, in 2020 as the pandemic raged, families across Connecticut deferred needed care. In 2021, when people started feeling comfortable returning for the essential procedures and care they needed but had deferred, they were often times sicker. Putting off nonemergency healthcare resulted in the worsening of chronic and acute health conditions which require more resources to treat, and led to a surge in healthcare need and pressure on an already strained system. The result is a two year average annual rate of growth of 2.7%, according to the Office of Health Strategy (OHS).
“Based on today’s presentation and questions asked, the OHS has additional work to do so that we can better understand their data and we look forward to those conversations. We agree with the Governor that everyone needs to be part of the solution on healthcare affordability. Connecticut hospitals work every day to deliver exceptional, accessible quality care for everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability to pay. Unproven ideas that would restrict access to healthcare services or destabilize the healthcare delivery system must be avoided. We look forward to working together on solutions to ensure every person in Connecticut has access to quality, affordable healthcare.”
