[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6659559,"mediaKeyId","2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71","parentId",2453198,"title","Urgent crisis centers for youth ask for $9.4 million in DCF grants to sustain services","audioSeconds",11883,"startMs",361000,"endMs",12244000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71&start=361&end=12244","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71/thumbnail_361000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6659559/Connecticut/Urgent-crisis-centers-for-youth-ask-for-94-million-in-DCF-grants-to-sustain-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659559-ca7bee9cd5fbb7dfc8c98b481306e6ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149949&Signature=IVDTF7~ITLqJUU9vh0~dwUE0lSsuTRLnhjxArhrqLnxpE~wcqkLY7H-tXcK1dMT6i4XBoythIbCL9Qxh6u3Ba4IiiqvLgvJh6FguzjJrHmpwHtEh48X5VfTPwwqIfxUI0gBsfepe1bj450e5bz0ENDxh9VxKJULPYFhBHuh~HcAQG0pjDBiLyLIggB86Kh~t2-WHfuSTKUOTHPgnPEj82gom0F3JAOOZUCPKGkAySj3PF0Pp52ts77XesMle1pZwFoDm09CGG~e9BZ7II8ae4VmiUyHFSdDszW5fqQdSiVLMCAEw3T4UnutuCGv56mhEGXm3pD0db54N5Z60sbtKGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Connecticut House Of Representative Appropriations Committee","date","2025-03-01T04:50:42.4Z","article","Executives from Connecticut community providers told the Appropriations Committee that Urgent Crisis Centers (UCCs) for children are an effective and cost‑saving component of the state's behavioral‑health safety net and asked the committee to fund $9.4 million per year to sustain the three existing centers.

Gary Steck, CEO of Wellmore Behavioral Health, and representatives from Child and Family Agency and Civic Health described the early outcomes from the three centers: reduced emergency department visits, rapid connection to outpatient services and high rates of linkage to follow‑up care. Child and Family Agency testified that among youth seen by UCCs, roughly 91% were connected to ongoing care and only 4% required emergency department transfer; speakers said the centers are far less costly than ER treatment for behavioral health crises.

Witnesses said the UCCs were initially established with ARPA funds and now require stable DCF grant funding to continue operations and to explore additional revenue such as private insurance. They asked the Appropriations Committee to include $9,400,000 in the DCF budget for FY26 to support operations and bridge the gap as the state transitions funding from federal pandemic dollars.

Providers described rising demand: one witness said visits to UCCs increased 33% in January 2025 compared with January 2024. Testimony emphasized rapid access—some children can be seen within two hours in emergent cases—and described reduced hospital boarding and quicker stabilization in the community.

Committee members heard appeals that sustaining the UCCs would reduce emergency department strain and better serve children in crisis; there were no formal budget actions recorded during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","APP Human Services Subcommittee Public Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Leaders from Connecticut's three community-based urgent crisis centers told the Appropriations Committee the centers have reduced emergency department visits and saved lives but require $9.4 million annually in DCF grants to remain viable.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Connecticut","taxId",15021,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6659564,"Birth‑to‑3 providers urge full, immediate funding and object to proposed tiered credentialing",3423,9449000,12872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71&start=9449&end=12872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71/thumbnail_9449000.jpg","/articles/6659564/Connecticut/Birthto3-providers-urge-full-immediate-funding-and-object-to-proposed-tiered-credentialing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659564-191d1116e8bacd80f0f35b9e1ba73270/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149949&Signature=aS9q9WUB1hvuAlJKjf7MJXCDkl2RFYaR~iBTojhuIU97wsuMid-EBQjRq1nuABJzB4rhlHu50EiNLtV7VUqLFlBUf8OKTTqj6SAqxzaLZGLf5JDX5LNoFQpkyJFrhAlXXMz9WwMrz~gqaBPTyPzUgOqxDQ9oX--z-NydemRJgPNUiGcWrQEXr6J7UPr2JBU4ReV7EidTdChPBkADozZiwcK37xnwa1TmxQPYA8fPdojXLwxG0VZdnOgmAWI1QM3koMvxgDwOFp7GII~8~oUbvlT3dViHSSSTV7hFEnlxauRHowd4v3iUrMg89U01SsLdX7XJrkTEhrSWuiC9dl5HDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of multiple Birth‑to‑3 programs and early‑intervention providers told the Appropriations Committee that current staffing shortages and a lack of rate increases have left the system fragile and unable to meet demand.

Speakers said the program has not had a rate adjustment in several years while referrals and clinical demand increased; they asked the committee to implement the rate increases recommended in the state’s rate study beginning in fiscal year 2026, to appropriate the funding in both years of the biennium and to preserve the existing general administrative “gap” payment ($200).

Providers opposed a newly proposed multi‑tiered professional credentialing scheme, saying the requirement would be burdensome, not reciprocal with other states and would further hamper recruitment and retention. “We hire licensed, highly credentialed clinicians and educators with master’s and doctorate degrees,” one director said; adding new credentialing requirements would not address pay and would raise administrative burden.

Witnesses described the program’s operational dynamics: staff travel to family homes and community locations, often facing cancellations and uncompensated travel time; the gap payment covers some of those nonbillable costs. Several providers said the alternative at the committee’s disposal—delaying or diluting rates—would increase waits for evaluations and reduce hours of direct service for children during a critical developmental window.

Birth‑to‑3 advocates asked lawmakers to fund a professional rate of $167 per hour (as recommended in the rate study) with the existing gap payment retained, to appropriate funds in FY26 and FY27 and to reject the additional tiering proposal in favor of a more straightforward professional/nonprofessional structure.","Connecticut Birth‑to‑3 providers told the Appropriations Committee that the governor’s proposed tiered rate model and a cut to the general administrative ‘gap’ payment would harm services and urged immediate funding for FY26 and a flat professional/nonprofessional rate structure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6659570,"Providers across sectors ask Appropriations to shore up Medicaid rates and budget supports",6866,5056000,11922000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71&start=5056&end=11922","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71/thumbnail_5056000.jpg","/articles/6659570/Connecticut/Providers-across-sectors-ask-Appropriations-to-shore-up-Medicaid-rates-and-budget-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659570-7c0db85d70878b1e0eb29130c9d173cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149949&Signature=UKDNTTlCvDQcAatb1JacsG~QPk~7ne8FbpbjiJ1mHhOWc-~n5ANIyyQNtkM9fInhADsnHdAKgFBwQItnsnNKD0Er2m5w6jOld14kAOKrjFTQE3aAhcDP-FCJCyIAsGCvNxM~301A87jJPWaKbcCsd6gL5l3VX08U1KbvktygGNTAghT9VaSOgSYzCYNd4Di7oVwG6zoZSV9S-YlRXAX7BZWq~pF3on5G8-sefTDZY2yShlAN2vLa74NEMEOM9DVqgVLIg7kuGpkYkRj8XnTDq2hypBBzR925FqXznjzgKU8Pklhjshg4snuqwgdLdP07Z6XQGCFhoCM37KLgHAI3XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hospital leaders, physicians, community health centers, home‑health agencies, behavioral‑health providers and EMS officials testified that Medicaid payments remain well below the cost of care and that the governor's proposed budget fails to address those gaps sufficiently.

Representatives of Connecticut Hospital Association and multiple hospitals described a structural shortfall in Medicaid payments and urged predictable rate adjustments. “Medicaid pays about 62¢ on what it actually costs to provide that care,” said Michael Bellett, chief financial officer of Stamford Health. Hospital representatives opposed changes in the governor's proposal to increase the hospital tax in a way they said would not remedy the underlying Medicaid shortfall.

Primary care and community‑health center leaders said Medicaid rates are 20–25% lower than peer states and that centers lost money on each Medicaid visit. Katie Curran of Connecticut Institute for Communities said her center lost revenue and had to reduce staff and benefits to stay solvent. Clinicians and the Connecticut State Medical Society asked for a larger, multi‑year investment in physician Medicaid rates; the society said the governor’s proposed $60 million over three years was insufficient and urged at least $200 million.

Home‑health agencies and providers of behavioral and outpatient mental‑health services told the committee low rates have caused staffing shortages and program cuts. Day Kimball Home Care described a drop in nursing staff and home care aides since 2015 and asked for scheduled increases and add‑on payments for high‑risk cases. Child and Family Agency and other behavioral‑health nonprofits asked for a collective $264 million increase for nonprofits including a 6% Medicaid rate increase in FY26 and an 8% increase in FY27 to stem turnover and waiting lists.

EMS leaders cautioned against proposed rollback of the 2024 Medicaid rate increase for ambulance transports. Patrick Ciardullo, CEO of New Britain EMS, said average Medicaid reimbursement per transport was $313 and covered only 63% of actual transport costs. EMS providers and the Connecticut EMS association asked the committee to preserve recent increases and reject proposed cuts that would reduce ambulance readiness and staffing.

Orthopedic surgeons and ambulatory surgery representatives emphasized low Medicaid reimbursement for procedures and hardware, which they said pushes patients to more expensive hospital settings when implants are not covered. Dental and audiology providers likewise urged higher rates to preserve services; Community Health & Wellness Center said it had suspended dental services because of $350,000 in annual losses for restorative care.

Witnesses repeatedly linked low reimbursement to staff turnover, program closures, longer wait lists and greater use of emergency services. They urged the committee to prioritize Medicaid rate increases and to protect supplemental payments so safety‑net providers can maintain services while the legislature considers longer‑term Medicaid redesign.","Clinics, hospitals, home‑health and behavioral‑health providers warned the committee that current Medicaid reimbursement levels and proposed budget changes threaten access to care and urged sustained or increased funding across multiple programs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6659575,"Immigrant advocates press Appropriations Committee to expand HUSKY coverage to age 26",15658,926000,16584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71&start=926&end=16584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2453198-f78066c99b872d9f2c4ca400f9d6af71/thumbnail_926000.jpg","/articles/6659575/Connecticut/Immigrant-advocates-press-Appropriations-Committee-to-expand-HUSKY-coverage-to-age-26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659575-e803a51d8f1df378a8b58960f1d1212c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149949&Signature=Vl4bKqqKZ-s1IPljvh88rP-y3-r06bsmSladqwjUN~ApSId5miHX~Z44RRu9qxaKsVZRBFaxZ5k47QLjV39VYcDgk-u6fMvbEP5csYPNClLHFtsoFdyzochhkOWo8fXrDl6mw1nQ0WL4iNLesL4eGiG~HJgBEgf9o9ykuTYt9SNMjV3lEDB-sGFWTknMXI8MWD8KpOh6c4voooioT4b1Aw8UKKGU~Q2YU4uGWfrtUCanlYLO~ayyyUlMUz2INHaIBLxeLCCh606YMc3oNnkrZmhi0tE9uAG80R0C5DDtHdWVQ07Yn~kz3eS1nA6KGjCIvUz9VwVf8m89p0Oo7vCxag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents, students and health professionals urged members of the Appropriations Committee during public comment to fund HUSKY eligibility for all income‑eligible Connecticut residents regardless of immigration status up to age 26 and to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates.

Speakers said extending HUSKY would improve access to preventative and specialty care for immigrants and young adults who otherwise delay treatment or seek care in emergency departments. “Allowing access to health insurance would make it easier for people to deal with health and medical issues,” student John Lopez told the committee. Several speakers described family members who postponed care because of cost and urged lawmakers to use surplus funds and the rainy day fund to preserve coverage if federal dollars fall short.

Proponents argued the change would produce public‑health benefits and long‑term savings by reducing emergency care and untreated chronic illness. A number of young immigrants who testified said the lack of consistent coverage impeded school attendance and work. Healthcare professionals who testified said early and continuous access reduces severe outcomes and downstream costs.

Committee members heard multiple accounts: students (John Lopez, Bridal Linchica, Natalie Chica, Johanna Morel), organizers (Yenimar Cortez, Maria Jose Ramirez), clinicians (Dr. Karthik Rohatgi) and community members (Evelyn Lucas Moran, Monica Feijalvo) described personal and clinical harms from the existing eligibility limits. Several witnesses also asked the legislature to create a plan to eventually open HUSKY to all ages without immigration‑status restrictions.

Supporters also emphasized that raising Medicaid reimbursement rates is necessary to ensure HUSKY enrollees can actually get care if eligibility is expanded. Multiple clinicians and clinic directors warned that low reimbursement limits provider participation and creates access barriers even for current enrollees.

The public comment period produced no formal action by the committee; witnesses asked lawmakers to include the HUSKY expansion and provider rate increases in the fiscal package under consideration.

Funding details raised in testimony included requests to cover expansion up to age 26 this year and to develop a plan for broader access in subsequent years. Witnesses referenced the governor's budget (HB 6864) while asking the Appropriations Committee to revise funding priorities to preserve and expand coverage.","Dozens of witnesses urged the Connecticut Appropriations Committee to fund an expansion of HUSKY Medicaid eligibility to income‑eligible immigrants through age 26 and to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to improve access to care.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Urgent crisis centers for youth ask for $9.4 million in DCF grants to sustain services

Birth‑to‑3 providers urge full, immediate funding and object to proposed tiered credentialing

Providers across sectors ask Appropriations to shore up Medicaid rates and budget supports

Immigrant advocates press Appropriations Committee to expand HUSKY coverage to age 26