Latest news with #PublicHealthCommittee
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bill allowing CT minors access to reproductive care without parental consent passes
The Connecticut Senate approved bipartisan legislation Tuesday in a 31-5 vote that would allow minors under the age of 18 to access prenatal care, contraceptive counseling and pain management during pregnancy without the consent or notification of their parents or guardian, according to the bill's analysis. The bill heads to Gov. Ned Lamont's office for his signature. HB 7213 passed the House on May 1 in a 117-27 vote and also passed the Public Health Committee by a 19-11 vote on March 27. 'By increasing the breadth and scope of services accessible and available to minors in Connecticut supporting reproductive health care – most seriously focused on preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, encouraging safe sex and ensuring access to care and resources during pregnancies and labor – we take a step to not only keep our youths safe but provide them with stronger health throughout their adult lives,' said Sen. Saud Anwar, Senate chairman of the Public Health Committee. Anwar said the bill is not about abortion, referring to abortion services for minors which were enacted into law in 1994. The bill also prohibits physicians and other health care providers from sharing any information about these services or related consultation with the minor's parent or guardian without the minor's express consent, according to the bill's analysis. While most senators supported the bill, several Republicans cited concerns with taking away parental consent for contraceptive counseling and prenatal care, arguing that the government is intruding on parental rights to guide their children. 'We are going to grant a minor child 13 to 14 the ability to consent to include whether or not they are going to have contraception,' said Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott. 'We are writing laws that are making it so easy to replace the parents with the government. I don't ever want to replace the right for parents to be involved in their children's lives with the government.' Anwar said there is a whole effort around the bill aimed at reducing abortion. 'It is increasing access to contraception,' he said. Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, also shared concerns about the bill. 'I have always been an advocate for parental notifications for medical outcomes,' he said. Sen. Henri Martin, R-Bristol, also voiced his opposition to the bill, explaining that he believes that the family institution has eroded for decades, putting blame on what is going on at the Capitol as the cause. 'I believe that our values have been eroded because of the deterioration of the family institution,' he said. 'I do not think the legislation we are passing today fixes it.' Several health organizations supported the bill including the Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers; Fair Haven Community Health Care; the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center; the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, viewed the bill as pro women, pro baby and pro saving lives. 'I think the part that is particularly important to me is the ability for minors to receive prenatal care,' she said. 'Prenatal care saves lives. Prenatal care is essential to detect complications early.' Anwar cited data from the Connecticut 2023 School Health Survey finding that 30% of high school students reported having sex, with 10% of 12th graders with four or plus sexual partners and only 10% used dual protection. He added that data also showed that 11% used no protection for pregnancy. 'From a public health perspective we have the responsibility to have counseling and services available,' Anwar said for contraceptive use. He said 21 states including Washington DC allow minors to consent to contraception services and 34 states have minor consent to prenatal care. He also cited other medical studies that found that of those teens using clinic-based planning services only half received contraception if parents were notified. Sen. Paul Honig, D-Harwington, also supported the legislation. 'It's unthinkable to imagine forcing a young person to give birth without adequate pain management treatment simply because they did not first secure parental notification,' he said. 'This legislation will ensure that no one is subjected to such draconian barriers to care, all while broadening access to contraceptive counseling and prenatal services that are critical to the health and well being of young patients.' Further, the provisions in the bill do not affect a provider's obligation to make a report to the Department of Public Health or the Department of Children and Families or any other report or disclosure that may be required under state law, the bill's analysis also states.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Private equity created a ‘nightmare' in CT hospitals, staff say. Lawmakers seek to prevent a recurrence
Connecticut lawmakers and officials are seeking through several proposed bills to restrict private equity's role in Connecticut hospitals. But there are differences of opinion of how far regulations should go. 'We've all seen what can go wrong when private equity is allowed to strip mine our local hospitals and health care institutions,' said Attorney General William Tong. 'And we've seen growing challenges with access and affordability of care due to unprecedented levels of consolidation in health care delivery in Connecticut.' Tong added, 'there is no question that Connecticut can and should strengthen oversight and transparency around these transactions and acquisitions.' Gov. Ned Lamont said in an email that the state needs to have a role in overseeing large financial transactions involving health care practices and facilities 'to ensure the crucial services these facilities provide continue to be readily available for our residents.' The governor said there has been a real change in how the health care system is being operated with an increased share owned or managed by out-of-state, for-profit companies. 'By updating our laws, we can enable the state to have proper oversight of significant health system transactions and ensure that our systems continue to provide quality, accessible, and affordable health care for all,' the governor said. Sen. Saud Anwar, Senate chairman of the Public Health Committee, adamantly wants to restrict private equity firms from buying hospitals in the state. Under one bill, private equity could hold only a minority role in the outpatient setting, an arrangement which would require a management agreement with medical groups. 'I think passing these bills is the responsible thing to do under the current circumstances where we have three hospitals that have been bankrupted by private equity and also the infrastructure of radiology services in the state of Connecticut has been harmed by private equity,' Anwar said. 'So much more harm to our patients has happened through private equity takeover of health care entities.' The impact of private equity in health care has been on display in Connecticut recently as Prospect Medical Holdings, a private equity company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this past January. An investigation of the United States Senate Committee on the Budget conducted last year that included Prospect found that private equity in health care prioritized profits over patient care. Prospect, which operates Manchester Memorial, Rockville General and Waterbury Hospital, has faced fiscal challenges in many of its hospitals in the state, from delayed payments to physicians and vendors to a shortage of health care providers. Private equity regulation There are currently four bills regarding private equity up for consideration by the state legislature. SB 1507 prohibits private equity companies and real estate investment trusts from acquiring or increasing direct or indirect ownership interest in or operational or financial control over a hospital or health system, according to the bill's analysis. The analysis states that the bill also requires the Office of Health Strategy to evaluate whether the attorney general should be allowed to petition the Superior Court to appoint a receiver to manage hospitals in financial distress or operational crisis. HB 6873, the governor's bill, which focuses on the strengthening of the review of health care entity transactions, would expand the list of transactions that require prior notice to the attorney general, according to the bill's analysis. It requires parties to give notice for a material change transaction or a series of them over a five-year period involving a health care entity with total assets or annual revenues or anticipated annual revenues of $10 million or more, the analysis states. This notice is required for private equity entities, but not venture capital firms exclusively funding start-ups or other early-stage businesses, the analysis further explains. Material change transactions include a corporate merger, the acquisition of 20% or more of an entity's assets or operations or the formation of certain types of entities such as a management services organization for the purpose of administering contracts with providers, carriers or certain others, according to the bill's analysis. 'We have an opportunity to have a look at some of the transactions which could result in the challenges with monopoly of the market,' Anwar said. 'We need to look at some of those aspects. Also a part of the bill is the restriction of insurance companies to own practices.' Other bills related to private equity include HB 7050 and SB 1539, which refer to the modification of the state's Certificate of Need program for health care entities. Those programs are administered by the Office of Health Strategy and Health Systems Planning Unit. HB 7050 would allow the HSPU to implement an expedited CON review process for applications for services, facilities or equipment that address an unmet need in the applicant's geographic area, according to the bill's analysis. SB 1539 also requires CON approval if a private equity company acquires a controlling interest in a health care facility, the analysis states. Anwar cites one important aspect of the bill which prohibits the HSPU from granting a request for intervenor status in any public hearing for a group practice's CON application. 'If some small group practice is going to open we don't want intervenor status for large hospitals,' he said. 'That is reducing opportunities for entrepreneurship because we are seeing clinicians leave our state.' Prospect The call to restrict private equity is in response to the effect of Prospect Medical Holding's impact on its three hospitals, leaving state officials raising concerns about profits being maximized over patient care. The state Office of Health Strategy's latest Annual Report on the Financial Status of Connecticut's Short Term Acute Hospitals found that Prospect lost $86.4 million in Fiscal year 2023. In 2022, Yale New Haven Health agreed in a tentative agreement to purchase Prospect's three hospitals for $435 million but that deal has been bogged down in lawsuits and Yale recently said the deal was no longer possible due to 'mismanagement.' Meanwhile, bids are open for all three hospitals with a deadline of May 18. In the meantime, nurses and unions at several of Prospect's hospitals in the state have told the Courant that their hospitals have been decimated, with some worried about the quality of care as they wait for a new owner to purchase the hospitals. Ed Gadomski, Connecticut Healthcare Associates Internal Union Organizer, who represents the nurses and technicians at Waterbury Hospital, says almost all of its departments are understaffed with nursing-to-patient ratios well over the appropriate levels set by the Hospital Staffing Committee, which he has filed a complaint with the Department of Public Health that the hospital is violating the Hospital Staffing Law. He has yet to hear from DPH on the matter, he said. He added that antiquated supplies are used to treat patients and the Operating Room has a 50% vacancy rate. 'If they bring in another private equity owner, I believe there will be a mass exodus of staff because no one is going to stick around for a second nightmare,' Gadomski told the Courant. 'Private equity in our eyes are all the same. They prioritize profits over patient care.' Gadomski said due to the understaffing it raises the risk of medical errors occurring, a major concern that is often on the forefront of his mind. Zirui Song, associate professor of health care policy and medicine at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, said staffing cuts have been a common strategy after private equity acquisition of acute care hospitals. 'We believe from the academic standpoint, one of the primary explanations behind the findings of increased patient harm and increased transfer of patients to other hospitals and the reduced capacity to deliver care on the front line is the staffing cuts,' he said. In an article in JAMA collaborating with several other doctors, Song found that based on an observation of 10,091 hospitalizations, 'Medicare beneficiaries admitted to private equity hospitals experienced a 25.4% increase in hospital-acquired conditions compared with those treated at control hospitals.' The article found there was also a 27.3% increase in falls and a 37.7% increase in central-line bloodstream infections at private equity hospitals. 'On balance the evidence on private equity acquisitions of hospitals to date shows that these acquisitions are associated with increased hospital profitability, increased hospital charges, increased preventable patient harm and reductions in staffing,' Song told the Courant. Sale leaseback agreements Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, co-chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee has also raised concerns about private equity, with the Government Administration and Elections Committee passing a bill that would ban the licensing of health care entities that have engaged in sale leaseback transactions involving a hospital. Anwar said he expects to include language from that bill in the final bills on private equity. In 2018, Prospect, then majority-owned by private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners, took out a $1.1 billion loan to fund a $457 million dividend for its executives and investors, the CT Mirror reported. The following year, to pay for the loan, Prospect sold the land and buildings from hospitals it owns in Connecticut, California and Pennsylvania to Medical Properties Trust for $1.4 billion, then leased back those hospitals from the trust, CBS News reported as cited by the CT Mirror. Medical Properties Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, or REIT, has built a $19 billion business on transactions like the one with Prospect, known as 'sale-leasebacks,' the CT Mirror reported. 'I do not think there is any conceivable way that any sale leaseback transaction could benefit the provision of health care in a hospital setting,' said Blumenthal. 'The only possible effect of the transaction is to load up the health care owner with debt to extract profit from the hospital at the hospital's expense.' Massachusetts passed a law in 2024 that restricts the main campus of a hospital from being sold to a real estate investment trust. Restricting private equity Business owners and corporations have concerns about the complete restriction of private equity in health care. While the Connecticut Hospital Association said in a statement that 'unregulated private equity has led to negative outcomes in the state' it also cautioned that any 'solution should avoid unintended consequences, such as discouraging modest yet important investments that can support and sustain health care delivery in Connecticut.' Dr. Joe Cappa, a board certified gastroenterologist, wrote in his testimony in opposition to SB 1507 that the bill 'poses an existential threat to the continued existence of independent practices like mine.' 'The moratorium on future investment would ultimately lead to independent practices like mine selling to hospitals,' he said. 'This is the exact opposite of what the state needs.' Amanda Gunthel, president of the Connecticut Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, wrote in her testimony against SB 1507 that the bill 'could make it incredibly challenging to respond to the tightened credit markets and high interest rates that continue to negatively impact the health care industry.' Anwar said he expects the bills to come before the legislature in the next two weeks. The CT Mirror contributed to this report.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
HFMD situation in Selangor under control, showing signs of recovery
SHAH ALAM: The hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) situation in Selangor is under control and showing early signs of recovery following coordinated control measures. State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Selangor recorded 39,233 HFMD cases as of Epidemiological Week 19 (EW19/2025), which ended on May 10. She noted a significant rise in cases between EW1 5 and EW19, particularly after the first week of the Aidilfitri celebration. 'This increase is attributed to more active movement of people, social visits, close interactions among children in crowded settings such as relatives' homes, and the sharing of food and toys. 'Another factor is the lax screening at childcare facilities, which has hampered efforts to detect and isolate symptomatic children,' she said in a statement today. Jamaliah added that nine cases involving the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) variant were reported - seven in Sabak Bernam and two in Hulu Langat. One patient in Sabak Bernam was hospitalised and has since fully recovered, while the others received outpatient treatment. She said most HFMD clusters occurred in childcare and early education centres, including nurseries, kindergartens, preschools and tuition centres (42.8 per cent), followed by primary schools (five per cent), day care centres (three per cent), and secondary schools (0.2 per cent). The remaining 49 per cent were home-based. As of EW 19, a total of 627 premises were closed - 192 voluntarily and 435 under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342). 'Voluntary closures involved 63 nurseries, 81 kindergartens, 25 government-run preschools (tabika), 15 preschools, one care centre, six primary schools and one other premises. 'Enforced closures included 168 nurseries, 157 kindergartens, 69 tabika, 29 preschools, two care centres and 10 primary schools,' she said. Jamaliah said the Selangor Health Department has instructed for increased sample collection, especially at institutions and among hospitalised patients, to improve monitoring and detection of virus variants. She advised parents not to send symptomatic children to care or educational centres and to ensure they remain at home until fully recovered to prevent further transmission. Operators of early childhood education centres are also urged to refuse entry to symptomatic children, conduct health screenings at entry points and maintain a high level of hygiene. She added that the state government, through the Public Health Committee, will distribute educational materials on HFMD, including information on symptoms and preventive measures, to nurseries and kindergartens in high-incidence areas. 'This initiative aims to strengthen community awareness and preparedness. The state government remains committed to working closely with the Selangor Health Department and all relevant agencies to control the outbreak effectively,' she said.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Selangor HFMD cases under control, signs of recovery
SHAH ALAM: The hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) situation in Selangor is under control and showing early signs of recovery following coordinated control measures. State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Selangor recorded 39,233 HFMD cases as of Epidemiological Week 19 (EW19/2025), which ended on May 10. She noted a significant rise in cases between EW1 5 and EW19, particularly after the first week of the Aidilfitri celebration. 'This increase is attributed to more active movement of people, social visits, close interactions among children in crowded settings such as relatives' homes, and the sharing of food and toys. 'Another factor is the lax screening at childcare facilities, which has hampered efforts to detect and isolate symptomatic children,' she said in a statement today. Jamaliah added that nine cases involving the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) variant were reported - seven in Sabak Bernam and two in Hulu Langat. One patient in Sabak Bernam was hospitalised and has since fully recovered, while the others received outpatient treatment. She said most HFMD clusters occurred in childcare and early education centres, including nurseries, kindergartens, preschools and tuition centres (42.8 per cent), followed by primary schools (five per cent), day care centres (three per cent), and secondary schools (0.2 per cent). The remaining 49 per cent were home-based. As of EW 19, a total of 627 premises were closed - 192 voluntarily and 435 under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342). 'Voluntary closures involved 63 nurseries, 81 kindergartens, 25 government-run preschools (tabika), 15 preschools, one care centre, six primary schools and one other premises. 'Enforced closures included 168 nurseries, 157 kindergartens, 69 tabika, 29 preschools, two care centres and 10 primary schools,' she said. Jamaliah said the Selangor Health Department has instructed for increased sample collection, especially at institutions and among hospitalised patients, to improve monitoring and detection of virus variants. She advised parents not to send symptomatic children to care or educational centres and to ensure they remain at home until fully recovered to prevent further transmission. Operators of early childhood education centres are also urged to refuse entry to symptomatic children, conduct health screenings at entry points and maintain a high level of hygiene. She added that the state government, through the Public Health Committee, will distribute educational materials on HFMD, including information on symptoms and preventive measures, to nurseries and kindergartens in high-incidence areas. 'This initiative aims to strengthen community awareness and preparedness. The state government remains committed to working closely with the Selangor Health Department and all relevant agencies to control the outbreak effectively,' she said.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Austin Public Health outlines $15 million in funding, over 50 jobs lost due to federal funding cuts
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Public Health (APH) leaders last week outlined the impacts of cuts to federal funding during a regularly scheduled Public Health Committee meeting. Changes in funding at a federal level could translate to the loss of around $15 million and more than 50 jobs at APH. APH Director Adrienne Sturrup gave a presentation breaking down the impacts at an April 2 Public Health Committee meeting. The agenda and full details of what happened at the meeting can be viewed online. The presentation can be viewed in full below. APH-fed-funding-changesDownload According to Sturrup, APH's 2025 fiscal year budget includes $39,435,490 in federal grant funding, which is about 30% of the budget (the full budget is $131,504,306). However, Sturrup said that represents 51% of the department's Full-Time Equivalent employees, or FTEs. Sturrup said that based on what APH knew at the time of putting the presentation together last month, 63 FTEs were lost in FY25. Of those, 35 were lost in the fall of 2024 'due to grant reductions that supported key public health operations.' APH was able to absorb 23 of those positions into vacant roles or find alternate funding sources for them. The remaining five of those were eliminated. Sturrup said the department knew that it was expected to lose an additional 28 positions this spring and summer that were connected to the 'COVID-related dollars that we're phasing out,' but there were new reductions that APH was not prepared for. She said the unexpected reductions impacted the following programs and number of staff members: Refugee Medical Services Clinic: 13 employees The Breathe With Pride Tobacco Cessation Program: 2 employees GoATX Program: around 25 summer youth interns, 3 full-time staff COVID vaccination program: 7 staff Diabetes care program: 2 staff Sturrup added that APH has identified an additional $7.8 million in funding at risk, which would impact an additional 57 FTEs. She said those numbers are based on 'everything we're hearing from our partners throughout the region an other health departments in Texas, as well as the things that we're hearing on the news.' Some of the projects the upcoming potential cuts could impact include APH's work around health equity and staff training work around health equity. Sturrup said that includes some of APH's HIV and STI work, youth programs, and COVID-19 surveillance. If all of APH's grant funding was lost, it would mean the department would be decreased to 314 FTEs overall. Potential funding impacts highlighted in the presentation included: 373,200 WIC food benefit packages to mothers and children 296,971 Free vaccine supply through federal Vaccine for Children Program 126,476 Individuals and Families supported through Neighborhood Services and Public Health Nurses 17,084 Sexual Health and TB Clinic Appointments 8000 Refugee Health Screenings Sturrup said APH is working with the city manager's office to care for staff members and get them placed into other departments. 'This is kind of the, the situation we're in. I've, I've called it death by a thousand cuts,' Sturrup said. 'The department has been working to prioritize because we know that local dollars cannot fill the gap, um, of federal funding.' Sturrup said APH is putting together information to give a recommendation to the city manager and community on how to move forward. Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes spoke after the presentation, highlighting the impact of the immediate loss of funds. 'I just want to underscore the information that was just provided to us,' Fuentes said. 'We've, we have experienced $15 million of immediate loss in federal funding that's impacting how we serve our community. That's about 50 employees, a mix of full-time and temporary.' 'We know that our public health department has about $40 million that they receive on an annual basis in grants,' she continued. 'Knowing the loss that we already have in Austin, knowing that it could get much worse, I think it makes our upcoming budget deliberations even more challenging because we're having to make decisions, budgetary decisions in our community amidst this chaos and confusion from the federal government on a daily, if not hourly basis.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
