Clinicians, unions and reentry groups urge $37 million boost for DOC health services

Good evening. Dozens of Department of Correction clinicians, union representatives and reentry providers told the Appropriations Committee that chronic understaffing, long wait lists and aging equipment are compromising care for people incarcerated in Connecticut and pressed lawmakers to add money to the governor’s biennial budget proposal.

The most specific request came from Becky Simonson of SEIU District 1199, who urged “an increase of $37,000,000 for the DOC inmate medical and mental health services” to address what she described as “a staffing crisis” that leaves many sick people waiting months for care. Simonson told the committee the department currently shows roughly 456 health‑care vacancies and that a DOC staffing plan submitted under Public Act 2021‑33 called for 284 additional health positions.

Those numbers were echoed and amplified by clinicians on the front lines. “Incarcerated individuals deserve access to full health care,” said Dr. Gerald Valletta, principal physician at Garner Correctional Institution, describing a patient population with high rates of untreated chronic illness, substance use disorders and severe mental‑health needs. Dr. Peter Jamieson, an optometrist who serves multiple DOC facilities, said three eye doctors cannot adequately care for “over 11,000 inmates,” and that some patients have waited a year or longer for specialty appointments.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the problem is not a shortfall of goodwill but of capacity. Several speakers described how delays turn treatable problems into emergencies, increase use of outside emergency rooms and carry downstream costs for the state. Clinicians and union leaders said better staffing and equipment would reduce overtime, improve retention and lead to more timely, constitutionally required care.

Key testimony and examples

- Becky Simonson (SEIU District 1199) told the committee that dental waits exceed 18 months in places and that there are only two optometrists for the nearly 11,000 people in DOC custody, forcing months‑long delays for basic eye care.

- Dr. Gerald Valletta (principal physician, Garner Correctional Institution) described a patient panel with high medical and behavioral health acuity and said insufficient staffing means providers must triage only the sickest patients.

- Dr. Peter Jamieson (DOC optometrist) said persistent vacancies have left the system unable to retain specialists; the last two optometrist positions went unfilled for 24 and 18 months, respectively.

- Janina Betoia Luz (radiology technologist) and Brian Barcelo (principal radiologic technologist) testified that radiology positions are difficult to fill, that some facilities rely on outside vendors for x‑rays and that using vendors can double per‑patient costs and delay integration of imaging into DOC records.

- Dental staff including Danielle Blanchette (registered dental hygienist) and Dr. Leslie Bumpus (lead DOC dentist) said staff pay lags private‑sector rates, contributing to vacancies and long treatment wait lists; Robinson facility’s current dental wait list was described as “over 450”.

- Mental‑health clinicians including Christina Welty Lake (licensed clinical social worker, Bridgeport) and Diana Palumbo (licensed professional counselor, McDougall‑Walker) described caseloads of 70–150 clients for clinicians who say a reasonable workload is far lower. Welty Lake said patients in restrictive housing can remain isolated for days while waiting for prescriber evaluation.

Discussion vs. formal action

No committee vote occurred at the hearing. Witnesses asked the Appropriations Committee to increase the DOC health services line in the biennial budget and to prioritize recruitment, retention and equipment replacement. Those requests were framed as budget recommendations and policy priorities; no formal motion or committee direction was recorded at the hearing.

Clarifying details from testimony

- Staffing: witnesses cited roughly 456 DOC healthcare vacancies and said DOC’s staffing plan called for about 284 additional positions (testimony from Becky Simonson). - Dental backlog: multiple witnesses said dental waits exceeded a year in some facilities and cited a Robinson facility treatment list “over 450” (Danielle Blanchette). - Specialty access: testimony said there are two state optometrists for ~11,000 people in custody (Becky Simonson) and that some optometrist posts remained vacant for 18–24 months (Dr. Jamieson). - Radiology outsourcing: outside vendors were named as covering facilities lacking technologists; a witness said vendor fees run about $80 per inmate for portable services at one site, “double” the in‑house labor cost (Janina Betoia Luz).

Speakers (selected)

Greg Borelli — senior assistant state's attorney, president, Connecticut Association of Prosecutors (spoke earlier on criminal justice staffing but present at hearing) Becky Simonson — vice president, SEIU District 1199; labor representative for DOC health care staff Dr. Gerald Valletta — board‑certified internal medicine physician; principal physician, Garner Correctional Institution Dr. Peter Jamieson — optometrist, Department of Correction (York, Corrigan, Brooklyn facilities) Brian Barcelo — principal radiologic technologist, Department of Correction Janina Betoia Luz — radiology technologist, DOC Danielle Blanchette — registered dental hygienist, DOC (Karl Robeson Dental) Dr. Leslie Bumpus — lead dentist, DOC women’s facility Christina Welty Lake — licensed clinical social worker, Bridgeport County Jail Diana Palumbo — licensed professional counselor, McDougall‑Walker Correctional Facility Mary Ellen Silva — APRN, New Haven County Correctional Facility Dr. Frank Malitz — principal physician (orthopedics) and DOC medical staff representative

Authorities referenced in testimony

- statute: Public Act 2021‑33 (referenced by multiple witnesses when discussing staffing plans) - other: Governor Lamont FY26–FY27 biennial budget proposal (referenced repeatedly by witnesses requesting funding adjustments)

Proper names (from transcript)

[{"name":"Department of Correction","type":"agency"},{"name":"SEIU District 1199 New England","type":"organization"},{"name":"Connecticut Association of Prosecutors","type":"organization"},{"name":"JPay","type":"business"},{"name":"Robinson Correctional Institution","type":"facility"},{"name":"Garner Correctional Institution","type":"facility"},{"name":"Public Act 2021-33","type":"other"}]

Ending

Witnesses asked the Appropriations Committee to fund immediate hires, improve pay to keep specialists and technicians, replace or repair aging equipment and reduce reliance on outside vendors. The committee did not vote at the hearing; members will consider funding as part of the broader biennial budget process.