Op-Ed: Collaboration is Vital to Protect Healthcare Access, Advance Affordability
Delivering affordable and accessible quality healthcare remains a top priority for Connecticut hospitals and the people they care for every day, said Paul Kidwell, CHA Senior Vice President, Policy in the CT Examiner.
Responding to commentary supporting federal policy proposals that would impose unnecessary and onerous administrative burden on care providers, Kidwell explained the importance of protecting the ability of hospitals to deliver high-quality care.
“We must avoid policies that put hospitals and high-quality care at risk, even when suggested with the best intentions,” said Kidwell.
“Every day, Connecticut hospitals and health systems serve as safety nets for their communities and provide exceptional care for everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability to pay…At the same time, hospitals and health systems are facing enormous financial strain, workforce shortages, government underpayments, and inflationary pressures on prescription drugs and labor costs. As challenges grow, we must be cautious of policies that don’t address the needs of Connecticut residents and that would only increase costs and barriers to care,” said Kidwell.
Kidwell also raised concerns about federal proposals being considered in Washington.
“The FAIR Act, for example, would impose unnecessary and onerous administrative burden on care providers and needlessly increase administrative costs by requiring billing changes related to the location of care delivery,” said Kidwell. “Hospitals already follow transparent billing rules. The policy is not about increasing transparency. It’s a proposal that has been influenced by special interest groups and pushed in Washington by national insurance companies, at the expense of hospitals and their patients.”
Kidwell called for continued collaboration to develop policies that work for Connecticut families and protect healthcare access for all.
Read the op-ed here.
Giving Tuesday: Partnerships to Address Diaper Need Spotlighted on WFSB Channel 3
CHA was honored to join The Diaper Bank of Connecticut on Giving Tuesday to raise awareness about diaper need and the collaborative work being done by community partners and hospitals to help families across the state struggling to afford diapers.
WFSB Channel 3’s Great Day @9 aired live from The Diaper Bank of Connecticut’s (DBCT) warehouse on Tuesday morning to spotlight how DBCT, Diaper Connections, and community partners are working to address diaper insecurity as a health-related social need.
Janet Stolfi Alfano, CEO of The Diaper Bank of Connecticut was joined by Joe Zuzel, Hartford HealthCare’s Regional Director of Community Health and Khadija Poitras-Rhea, UConn Health’s Assistant Vice President of Population Health.
DBCT estimates that over $5,000 of the funds raised on Giving Tuesday were a direct result of the morning broadcast segment.
Click here to watch the interview with Joe Zuzel and Khadija Poitras-Rhea, co-chairs of the CHA Diaper Distribution Work Group, highlighting how hospitals are working with community partners to address diaper need.
Click here to watch the interview with Janet Stolfi Alfano to learn about the economic and health impact of diaper need on Connecticut families.
To learn more, watch DBCT’s latest webinar "Understanding Diaper Need: Strategizing to Increase Families' Access to Basic Needs in CT" featuring Dr. Selina Osei, CHA’s Director of Health Equity and Community Engagement, and Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford) as well as other expert panelists.
Honoring the Life of Joyce Grayson
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On Tuesday, nurses, advocates, and lawmakers joined together for a vigil to honor the life of Joyce Grayson, the visiting nurse who was killed in the line of work last month during a home visit in Willimantic.
The vigil was organized by the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home and took place at the State Capitol. Since Joyce’s death, advocates have called for increased funding and efforts to continue to advance policies that protect nurses and healthcare providers in all healthcare settings, including home settings.
The vigil included a tribute by the Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard, each holding a white rose. White ribbons reading “Forever in our hearts” were distributed to attendees. Memory/message boxes were also made available for mourners to share notes with the family of Joyce Grayson and colleagues at Elara Caring, Joyce’s employer.
In addition to a career in caring for others as a nurse, Grayson and her husband had six children and helped raise more than 35 foster children, from infants to teens, over the span of two decades as foster parents. At the vigil, Connecticut Department of Children and Families Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes honored Grayson and extended condolences to her loved ones.
Also at the vigil, Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham), Senator Mae Flexer (D-Willimantic), Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown), and Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford) delivered remarks and called for action to support Connecticut’s healthcare workforce.
HIPAA Privacy, Security & Breach Rules: Keeping Current to Remain Compliant
Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Connecticut Hospital Association, 110 Barnes Road, Wallingford
This on-site program will provide a comprehensive review of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Breach Rule requirements for healthcare providers. The session will focus on key trends in regulatory enforcement, data access rights, new challenges in light of the changing national landscape relating to reproductive healthcare services, and the interconnection between HIPAA requirements and the 21st Century Cures Act Interoperability and Information Blocking Rules. The program will also address the importance of prioritizing HIPAA security planning in the face of increasing cyber threats.
Member Fee: $150; Non-Member Fee: $200
Topics of special interest that will be reviewed:
- Major changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule proposed by federal authorities
- Patient and provider access rights, including new Connecticut laws affecting release of information deadlines
- OCR enforcement trends
View Brochure | Event Registration
PROUD Enduring Recorded Sessions
On Demand
Virtual Sessions
As care providers, there is much to learn about helping families managing substance use disorders to be successful. Parents Recovering from Opioid Use Disorders (PROUD) includes an education series for healthcare and service providers, giving them tools to help individuals and families manage the many challenges they face.
The education series includes several recorded, one-hour sessions, open for a year from their recording date. These sessions are free to participants (registration is necessary) and are available on demand to fit into busy schedules.
Click here to learn more.
