Gov. Ned Lamont and other state officials spoke about the potential impact federal cuts to Medicaid will have on Connecticut residents on March 3 at Charter Oak Health Center in Hartford. A group of health centers filed a petition with the state seeking a boost in Medicaid reimbursement rates on March 10.
Connecticut’s poorest and sickest residents may soon be facing more obstacles to getting care, according to the community health centers charged with treating them.
Blaming decades of lagging reimbursements from the state, some health centers are scaling back services and bracing for more cuts as President Trump eyes reductions in federal Medicaid funding.
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Now the centers are taking on the state’s Department of Social Services, claiming that the formula used by the agency for reimbursements has left them with mounting losses. A group representing the centers filed a petition Tuesday with the agency in anticipation of a future lawsuit.
“We as health centers just can no longer afford to not get paid (for) appropriate costs when 60% of our patient base are actually Medicaid enrollees,” said Joanne Borduas, board chair of the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut. “We try to make it work, but it has become increasingly more difficult to do that when you're not compensated for the costs that you incur.”
The petition, formally known as a “declaratory ruling,” outlines the losses that Connecticut’s 17 federally qualified health centers say they sustain as a result of the state’s reimbursement rules. The state’s actions conflict with the mandate of the health centers and are “penny-wise and pound-foolish,” according to the petition.
In response to the filing, DSS spokesperson Christine Stuart said, “The department acknowledges receipt of the request and shall be analyzing and responding in due course and in compliance with statutes pertaining to petitions of state agencies for a declaratory ruling.”
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Connecticut’s Medicaid per-visit reimbursement rates are the lowest in the region, according to an analysis cited in the petition. The state’s rate comes in at $163.37 per visit, compared to $297 in New Hampshire, $241.96 in Massachusetts and $196.79 in Vermont.
The disparity in rates hits hardest for costly services like dental care, said Borduas, who also serves as CEO of Torrington’s Community Health & Wellness Center. After years of shortfalls, her center ended its dental treatments last month, services that were used by 1,400 of the center’s 6,700 total patients last year. 

The Torrington center lost $350,000 on restorative dental procedures alone last year due the gap between costs and state reimbursements, Borduas said. As part of cutting dental services, the center laid off four staff members, she added.
Another center in Waterbury has also cut dental services this year, Borduas said, forcing poor patients in Northwest Connecticut to drive more than 40 minutes in some cases to reach dentists who accept Medicaid patients.
“We are all in the situation where we are looking seriously at what are we going to be able to afford to do,” Borduas said. “ Some of us will likely have to scale back services. Some will have to eliminate services.”
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In concert with the petition to DSS, the centers have mobilized to support a bill in the state Legislature that would raise Medicaid rates for a range of health-care providers. 

Testifying before the Legislature’s Human Services Committee on Tuesday, Maggie Moffett of Fair Haven Community Health Care in New Haven spoke of increasingly frantic efforts to seek private funding “to fill the gaps left by insufficient Medicaid rates, funding that is never guaranteed and should never be expected to replace sustainable, predictable state support.”
Yvette Highsmith of Middletown’s Community Health Center warned of more reductions in services at locations including clinics at shelters and inside schools. 
“We’re already seeing some cutbacks and layoffs that are happening at our health centers, and the future would require further reductions in order to access care if we stay on the current path,” Highsmith said. 
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Actions on the state level come as all Connecticut providers anticipate changes coming from Washington, where President Trump has asked for $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade, according to the Associated Press. More than 1.2 million Connecticut residents rely on Medicaid for health care, DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said earlier this month.

A new analysis of the impact of Medicaid cuts on individual states by the Urban Institute looks at the potential impact of proposed rollbacks in Medicaid expansion, projecting a potential $80 billion decrease in overall federal healthcare spending nationwide in 2026. 
Connecticut stands to lose more than $1 billion in Medicaid funds for the non-elderly in 2026, according to the analysis, for a decrease of 3.9% in overall healthcare spending — along with a $456 million revenue hit for hospitals in the state. 
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Of our neighboring states, New York could lose $10 billion, for a decrease in healthcare spending of 7.1 percent, according to the Urban Institute, ranking it in the top 10 states for losses.

Connecticut health center leaders warned of the impact of federal cuts on their services, which were used by 440,000 patients last year at several hundred sites across the state, Bolduas said.
“We can’t know what’s going to happen, but we do know that there’s a freight train coming out of Washington and that we need Connecticut to support us now more than ever,” said Moffett of Fair Haven Community Health Care.
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Brian Thompson, 50, the UnitedHealthCare CEO killed Wednesday in what authorities said was a targeted attack in New York City, had deep ties to Iowa.
Here’s what to know about him.
UnitedHealthCare has its headquarters in the Minneapolis metro, where Thompson lived in the suburb of Maple Grove with wife, Paulette, a doctor, and their two sons.
Thompson grew up in Jewell, in Hamilton County north of Ames, the son of Pat and the late Dennis Thompson. His father attended Ellsworth Community College and Iowa State University and was employed at grain elevators.
Brian Thompson had one brother, who lives in Chicago, according to his father’s obituary.
Thompson’s wife, who goes by Pauley, also grew up in Iowa, where her late father was a doctor in Webster City and later moved to Des Moines.
Thompson’s four sisters-in-law include Des Moines-area resident Maria Reveiz, who is a non-practicing physician, a yoga instructor and a co-founder of the downtown Noce jazz club.
Thompson graduated in 1993 from South Hamilton High School in Jewell. He was an “outstanding student,” according to Principal Todd Coy, then a health and physical education teacher.
His achievements included being an athlete and homecoming king, class president and valedictorian.
According to the Business Record, Thompson also was valedictorian when he graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s in business administration, majoring in accounting.
His LinkedIn profile says he was a Collegiate, Carver, State of Iowa and Faculty scholar and was named outstanding accounting student in his junior and senior years.
After graduating, Thompson moved to Minneapolis to work as a CPA for the accounting firm PwC. There, he was a manager in auditing and later, transaction advisory services.
In 2004, Thompson joined UnitedHealthCare, one of the largest Fortune 500 companies, as director of corporate development. He became a vice president, then chief financial officer over increasingly important sectors of the business before being named CEO of UnitedHealthCare Medicare & Retirement in 2017. In 2019, he became CEO of the company’s government programs.
In 2021, he was chosen to be overall CEO, overseeing a global workforce of 140,000.
“Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed.” — Paulette Thompson, wife, in a statement to Fox News
“He was a wonderful person and a wonderful father, and we are heartbroken and shocked.” — Maria Reveiz of Des Moines, sister-in-law
“He was a good person, and I am so sad.” — Elena Reveiz of Omaha, Nebraska, sister-in-law, speaking to the New York Times
“He was a devoted father, a good friend to many and a refreshingly candid colleague and leader.” — Mike Tuffin, president and CEO of commercial health insurance trade group AHIP
“Brian was an outstanding student. Held his academics as high as any student I’ve been around. Missing a question on a test was something that frustrated him. He was just a great kid to all.” — Todd Coy, principal, South Hamilton High School
“His achievements and character left a meaningful legacy within our schools and community.” — South Hamilton School District statement
“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota. Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
“He was just an incredible guy — nice, resourceful. This is just a total tragedy.” — Steve Parente, a former Trump administration health care official who worked with Thompson, to the Minneapolis Star Tribune
“I knew him to be a visionary leader who developed innovative ideas to take on some of the nation’s greatest challenges. His death is a great loss for our country and for the health care industry.” — Kim Keck, the chief executive of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, to the New York Times

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Here’s How Much Ozempic Costs, With and Without Insurance  Parade Magazine
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The contract at issue is mainly for people with health insurance through their employers. Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans, such as Bravo and HealthSpring, remain in-network at Jefferson.
Jefferson Health, the Philadelphia region’s largest health system, is out-of-network for people with Cigna insurance through their employers after the two parties failed to agree to a new contract, Jefferson said Saturday in an online announcement.
“We understand that this news may cause concern, and we want to reassure our patients that we remain committed to providing high-quality care. We continue to negotiate in good faith with Cigna to reach a resolution that is fair and sustainable for our patients, providers, and community,” Jefferson’s statement said.
Cigna did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
Jefferson blamed the impasse on economics. It said Cigna’s rates have increased only by roughly 3% since 2020, while wages paid to health-care workers have increased by about 20% over the same time period. “Rising costs for labor, medical supplies, and operations make it unsustainable to continue at these below-market rates,” Jefferson said.
Cigna has 38,000 people in Medicare Advantage plans in the Philadelphia area, according to federal data. People in those plans who rely on Jefferson doctors are not affected by Saturday’s announcement.
It is not unusual for contract talks between insurers and health systems to go down to the wire. Last month, Main Line Health warned patients that it might go out-of-network with Cigna, but reached a last-minute deal on a new multiyear contract.
Sometimes health systems go out-of-network but subsequently reach a new contract. Tower Health hospitals and doctors were out-of-network for Cigna members for four months early last year until a new contract was reached.

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By JO LUTZ
Daily Press Correspondent
At Thursday’s meeting, the Grant County Commission declared “extreme or severe drought conditions” in Grant County, imposing restrictions on fireworks.
Gila Regional Medical Center CEO Robert Whitaker also reported the hospital’s monthly earnings and admissions, which are up over this time last year.
“Our ER visits continue to grow, and we do see more and more people in our ER as well as outpatients and clinics,” Whitaker said. “So that’s, you know, as a facility, I guess that’s good.”
The total year-to-date surplus is $2.3 million, compared to $29,000 this time last year. Whitaker said this does not include unspecified amounts from New Mexico Senate Bill 161, an act of the 2024 Legislature which provides subsidies to acute care facilities including Gila Regional, or payments from the state Health Care Authority related to provider assessments.
Whitaker addressed concerns over federal resources, notably forecasted Medicaid cuts and access to grants.
“Within the health care industry, there is a lot of concern with Medicaid right now and Medicaid cuts,” Whitaker said. “If there are Medicaid cuts, that impacts not just our revenue, but the HCA — the state of New Mexico.”
He said that specific financial scenarios would be presented at the next meeting of the hospital board of trustees in a couple of weeks.
Commission Chair Chris Ponce emphasized his preference for this to be done during the public portion of the meeting, not in executive session.
“Being that it’s a county-owned hospital … the Grant County commissioners and the public get a good sense of what you guys are thinking, what’s happening, because Gila Regional is a vital part to our community,” Ponce said. “If it’s going to hurt us in any way, I think that not only the board of trustees, but these commissioners and the public need to be aware of it.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Whitaker said. “At the next board meeting, we do have a scenario analysis of what that impact looks like with us.”
Whitaker added that the state Legislature has been preparing for federal cuts, and is working on a bill to create a trust fund to offset Medicaid cuts.
He also said his facility was experiencing delays with some federally funded communications projects. He had been unable to get in touch with anyone in the federal government about these grants, and had reached out to the New Mexico congressional delegation to see if progress could be made.
District 2 Commissioner Eloy Medina, who is also director of emergency services at Gila Regional, mentioned a new program to transport behavioral health patients, many of whom show up in the emergency room and need to be referred to facilities farther away, with no transport available except law enforcement or an ambulance.
Whitaker elaborated that this was a program rolling out across the state, soon to be operating out of Las Cruces.
“This is the Hospital Services Corporation that’s operating this behavioral health transport under a grant under the Rural Healthcare Delivery Fund with HCA,” Whitaker elaborated. “It’s a one-stop shop. It’s got a number to call, and they’ll arrange and take care of everything. It’s going to be a wonderful service for our community.
On a different behavioral health front, commissioners voted to dissolve the Tu Casa advisory board on Ponce’s recommendation.
“When this started with Tu Casa, I think they served a great purpose,” Ponce said. “I think they met what they needed to meet.”
“So it’s not to say that the behavioral health goals of the community have been met, but the the role of the Tu Casa advisory board has been met,” District 3 Commissioner Nancy Stephens clarified. “I look forward to continuing to find solutions to meet the behavioral health needs in our community.”
Sheriff Raul Villanueva said his department responded to 1,502 calls last month — and of these, 84 were for domestic violence.
“That’s kind of high,” Villanueva said. “For me to see that high of a number for this month, I’m kind of concerned of what really is going on and why we’re getting so many.”
“I’m sure you probably have your own process of assessing the drivers when cases go up,” Stephens said, “but I’m just curious if it’s addiction or mental illness, or problems in the criminal justice system where people aren’t getting processed or referred to treatment. So if you have any kind of thoughts or analysis in the future, I’d be curious to hear that so that we could be more responsive.”
Stephens also had a question about Operation Stonegarden, a joint operation between the U.S. Border Patrol and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department — one of many participating local law enforcement agencies. Villanueva said his department had applied for a $280,000 grant to participate in the program, which would also furnish a fully equipped vehicle and two license-plate readers.
“In the community, there’s rumors that there’s a quota that you have to go out and find people. And I heard [a rumor] that ICE was at The Commons looking for people,” Stephens said. “Is there any pressure, if you get that money, that you have to find a certain number of people?”
Villanueva clarified that his department helps with traffic enforcement between Grant County and the border, and does not do any immigration enforcement.
“We have no expectation to be doing that,” Villanueva said. “We are not even allowed to do it. We are not ICE agents.”
He said he and representatives of other law enforcement agencies met with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security about a month ago, and it was agreed that ICE would inform local departments of any activity conducted in their area. He had not been informed of ICE agents being at The Commons, but said if that were true, perhaps they had informed the Silver City Police Department.
The meeting had opened with public concern regarding the Silver City Police Department, with Delfina Jimenez criticizing the proposed citizen advisory board that would interface with the Police Department to convey concerns from the community. She passed around a notice of intent from the Silver City Town Council to adopt an ordinance establishing this board.
“In my opinion, two of the council members are anti-police and have an agenda against them,” Jimenez said. “They are lay people who want to make it sound like it’s a place to bring issues so that they can find an answer with the Police Department. None of these people on the board are educated on law enforcement. … They are asking no more than one total board member may come from a law-enforcement background. They need to change that wording so that they can have one — at least one — law-enforcement-background person.”
Ponce and District 4 Commissioner Eddie Flores, both former police officers, took up the issue at the end of the meeting during commissioner comments.
Ponce said that allowing civilians into certain law enforcement processes such as discipline could expose the town to liability.
“I don’t see a need for a citizens’ advisory board,” Ponce said. “I think it’s an overreach, and I think that they should just let law enforcement do whatever and then be managed by their town manager.”
“I think a citizens’ advisory board is pretty much for cities that have issues, such as Albuquerque, Seattle, big cities — and they have serious issues,” Flores said. “Here in Silver City, Grant County, we’re lucky that we don’t have those issues.”
Jo Lutz may be reached at jo@scdailypress.com
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