SB 1113, An Act Concerning Workforce Development Initiatives In the State

TESTIMONY OF CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SUBMITTED TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Thursday, January 30, 2025

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning SB 1113, An Act Concerning Workforce Development Initiatives In the State. CHA supports the bill.

Connecticut hospitals and health systems care for patients, strengthen the state’s economy, and support vulnerable communities across the state. Every day, they work to improve healthcare access, affordability, and health equity. Even as they face ongoing challenges, hospitals provide world-class care to everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospitals also support an exemplary workforce as the largest collective employer in the state, contribute significantly to the state’s economy, and invest in their communities addressing social drivers of health.

Connecticut has an exceptional healthcare workforce that is committed to serving patients every day. A robust and growing healthcare workforce is required to support healthcare delivery throughout Connecticut. Unfortunately, our current system is not training or attracting enough individuals interested in healthcare careers that are in demand.

Connecticut hospitals are working to support their workers and are on the forefront of creating new ways to keep hospital workers resilient and enhance retention and recruitment. Providing financial incentives, identifying opportunities for career advancement, and supporting continuing education are important ways hospitals are bolstering the workforce. Additionally, hospitals are partnering with colleges and technical schools to develop curriculum and training to support future healthcare needs, and they are identifying the clinical placements that will be needed to support this enhanced training.

CHA has also built a strong partnership with the Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS), working together to support initiatives that rapidly retrain Connecticut workers for jobs in healthcare (CareerConneCT), create regional sector partnerships to enhance collaboration in communities across the state, and develop healthcare career pathways for high school students.

Together, we can build on the investments already made to expand educational and training opportunities, ease the path to careers in healthcare, support workforce retention, and enhance the safety of current and future healthcare workers. We must maintain our progress in supporting and growing the healthcare workforce. SB 1113, legislation requiring the Board of Regents for Higher Education to conduct a study regarding workforce development issues in the state, would contribute to the all-hands-on-deck approach we need to meet the employment demands in the healthcare field. CHA supports this effort and encourages the committee to take action in support of the legislation.

As the committee and General Assembly consider additional ways to support the healthcare workforce, we request your consideration of the following:

  • Continue to review and update existing state laws to enhance protections for the healthcare workforce against violence in healthcare settings
  • Provide funding to support workplace violence prevention
  • Provide funding for recruitment, retention, and training for healthcare workers and for relief from the increased costs of contract labor and crucial staffing premium pay
  • Support approaches to create healthcare career pathways that help reduce barriers to careers in healthcare
  • Support state approval of interstate licensing compacts
  • Examine how modifications to regulations regarding education and experience would increase the number of healthcare educators and candidates for employment

Additionally, we encourage the committee to review the Comptroller’s 2025 Healthcare Cabinet Report and its workforce recommendations. CHA supports the report’s recommendations, which call for providing tuition repayment and loan repayment for individuals pursuing careers in healthcare and the creation of a healthcare innovation fund modeled after the successful structure of the Manufacturing Innovation Fund to support the growth of Connecticut’s healthcare workforce needs in in-demand fields such as respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, pharmacy and emergency medical services.

We look forward to continuing to work together to support and expand Connecticut’s healthcare workforce.

Thank you for your consideration of our position. For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.