“Affordability, equity, and access must remain our focus.”
WALLINGFORD – The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) released the following statement regarding the Public Informational Hearing that took place today, August 20, 2024 on Health Insurance Rate Filings for 2025:
“Governor Lamont and Connecticut hospitals worked together last year toward our shared goal of improving healthcare affordability, passing legislation that further advanced Connecticut as a leader in healthcare cost transparency and patient protections. In the state’s most recent report on the healthcare cost growth benchmark for 2022, the state data showed that medical spending, which includes hospital spending, increased by just 2.6% from 2021 to 2022 – lower than the benchmark target of 3.2%. Today’s hearing highlights the importance of everyone, including the health insurance industry, working together to slow the rate of healthcare cost growth.
“Connecticut lawmakers and the governor have implemented some of the most comprehensive laws related to affordability and hospital payments in the nation, but the effects of historic inflation on families and caregivers alike, Medicaid rates not covering the cost of care, and burdensome insurance practices like prior authorization that add cost and delay care remain significant and force caregivers toward higher commercial payments. Addressing rising commercial healthcare costs will require action to eliminate national health insurance company administrative practices that raise costs and ensuring that the state Medicaid program pays rates that actually cover the cost of care.
“Connecticut hospitals provide high-quality care to anyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability to pay. We must continue pursuing policies that will help improve affordability without jeopardizing the world-class healthcare delivery offered to every resident or reducing access to critical healthcare services, especially in underserved communities. Affordability, equity, and access must remain our focus, and we look forward to continuing to partner with state leaders committed to advancing these shared goals.”
