SB 401, An Act Concerning A Bridge Program To Allow Access To Food, Housing And Health Care Benefits

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Thursday, March 12, 2026

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning SB 401, An Act Concerning A Bridge Program To Allow Access To Food, Housing And Health Care Benefits.  CHA supports the bill.

Connecticut hospitals make our state stronger by delivering nationally recognized, world-class care, supporting jobs and economic growth, and serving communities across Connecticut.  Every day, hospitals improve access, affordability, and health equity — providing care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.  At the same time, hospitals invest in their workforce and local communities, even as they navigate significant financial and federal challenges.

SB 401 will require the Department of Social Services (DSS), in collaboration with the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Housing (DOH), the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and the Department of Labor (DOL) to develop a plan for a state-funded bridge program for persons at risk of losing federal food, healthcare, and housing assistance.

Hospitals see firsthand the impact that loss of coverage and access to basic needs such as food and housing can have on patients’ health. When individuals lose access to safety net supports, they are more likely to delay care, experience worsening chronic conditions, and rely on hospital emergency departments for care that could otherwise be managed in more appropriate settings.

CHA, hospitals, and community organizations across the state are committed to working with state agencies to protect access to care and have been working together to explore sustainable ways to prevent disruptions in coverage and the delivery of healthcare services to vulnerable populations that are at most risk of losing benefits because of federal policy changes.  Developing a coordinated bridge program will help ensure continuity of coverage and access to essential services as individuals strive to meet new federal requirements or transition to alternative supports.

Protecting continuity of care for vulnerable populations will strengthen Connecticut’s healthcare safety net and prevent avoidable adverse health outcomes.

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