State of Connecticut

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STATE CAPITOL
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591

ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER

REPRESENTATIVE KARA ROCHELLE VICE CHAIR
104TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT HOUSING COMMITTEE

LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, ROOM 5005 MEMBER

CAPITOL: (860) 240-8585 COMMERCE COMMITTEE
TOLL FREE: (800) 842-8267 HIGHER EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
FAX: (860) 240-0206 COMMITTEE
E-MAIL: Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Dear Secretary Azar,

Connecticut has been devastated by the COVID-19 emergency. It has had the third highest death rate in
the country as of May 4, 2020 and New Haven County ranks 27th among the country's 3,100 counties with
COVID-19 cases. To help ease the financial fallout of the virus, 12 Connecticut hospitals received
$290,680,678 in assistance authorized through the $10 billion COVID-19 High Impact Allocation. While
this allocation is generous, Connecticut's 17 small- and medium-sized community hospitals, which are in
desperate need of federal assistance, were excluded. Among these hospitals is Griffin Hospital, a 115-bed
community hospital situated at the heart of Derby, Conn., which is located at the western fringes of New
Haven County.

Despite its smaller size, it has played a significant role in the Lower Naugatuck Valley's response to the
virus and the state's ability to defeat it. In March Governor Ned Lamont asked hospitals to expand their
capacity to admit infected patients. Despite a $6 million gap in revenue, Griffin answered by investing
$1.7 million – over half its capital budget for the fiscal year – in improvements, which included
converting a shuttered medical unit into a negative pressure wing and purchasing equipment to expand
testing and treating COVID-19 patients.

Like many small- and medium-sized hospitals throughout the state, Griffin did not see the influx of
COVID patients until after the April 10 cut-off date used by the Department in the High Impact area
allocation formula and was therefore ineligible for aid. Due to the virus' migration pattern throughout the
state, Griffin did not reach the 100-case threshold until April 21. In total, Griffin has admitted 153
infected, at a cost of approximately $23,00 per patient. If current trends persist, Griffin leaders are
concerned the hospital will have to further reduce its COVID-19 response, which is counter intuitive to
Congress' intent to maintain the health care workforce.

Already Griffin has furloughed 102 of its 900 workers, and without intervention, more staff may be laid-
off. With the 5th highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the U.S., Connecticut cannot afford
vulnerabilities in its health care infrastructure. Griffin Hospital is also the region's largest employer,
serving as both a health care and economic lifeline, in a community with its host and directly adjacent
towns being ranked 5th and 1st for economic distress in the state, pre-COVID-19. The economic fallout to
this region resulting from the COVID-19 emergency is overwhelming and further destabilizes the fragile
balance of the local economy.

I urge that of the $103 billion in unobligated funds in the Health Provider Relief Fund, you include
estimates for the hospitals that were excluded from the funding due to the April 10 cut-off date.

SERVING ANSONIA & DERBY

Connecticut's community hospitals have been integral in the state's response to the COVID-19 emergency
and will continue to play a significant role. I urge you and other federal agencies to intervene and help
provide the fiscal relief that will strengthen and maintain the state's health care infrastructure.

Sincerely,

State Representative Kara Rochelle State Representative Rosa Rebimbas

Proudly serving the 104th Assembly District Proudly serving the 70th Assembly District

State Representative Geraldo Reyes State Representative Josh Eliot

Proudly serving the 75th Assembly District Proudly serving the 88th Assembly District

State Representative Dorinda Borer

Proudly serving the 115th Assembly District
State Representative Toni Walker
Proudly serving the 93rd Assembly District

State Representative Robyn Porter State Senator James Maroney

Proudly serving the 94th Assembly District Proudly serving the 14th Senatorial District