Sen. Osten, Eastern CT Legislators Tour Local Businesses in Advance of the 2022 Session
State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) and a 19-member bipartisan group of state legislators from Southeastern Connecticut are in the midst of a multi-week tour of large, regional employers to find out what they need from state government in the legislative session that begins in February 2022.
So far, legislators have toured the Coast Guard Academy and the Naval Submarine Base New London. Members of the group are slated to visit Electric Boat and Pfizer in Groton, the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, and the Millstone Power Station in Waterford.
“These are all highly valued employers in eastern Connecticut who have a large economic impact in the region. The short session that begins in 2022 is an opportunity for us, on a bipartisan basis, to introduce whatever legislation is needed to improve their business operations, to fund improvements they’re looking to make, and to address any hiring needs,” Sen. Osten said. “We’re not in session, but we’re still working for our constituents. It’s part of the ongoing partnership that is state government and our local employers and their employees.”
The Southeastern delegation tour is reminiscent of Sen. Osten’s successful 2018 legislative effort to grow Electric Boat’s workforce in Connecticut by nearly 1,900 people and have the company spend more than $800 million in the state by investing tens of millions of dollars in state aid for EB infrastructure improvements, job training, and dredging – much the same way Connecticut has supported Sikorsky in Stratford and UTC in East Hartford.
The Coast Guard Academy employs more than 500 permanent staff in the region and enrolls more than 1,000 cadets. Coast Guard Academy needs include an addition to the waterfront with its maritime center of excellence, a renovated library complex, new classrooms with upgraded laboratory space, and a storage facility for historical documents (i.e. one of the original pamphlets written by Alexander Hamilton that established the Coast Guard).
The Naval Submarine Base is home to 21,000 personnel, including civilian workers and sailors and their families. During their tour, legislators were told of the need for barracks renovations, powerplant upgrades, a new emergency management facility and enhanced physical security measures.
“As much as Stamford and Bridgeport and New Haven have their business needs, and the Hartford region has its business needs, Southeastern Connecticut has its own thriving business infrastructure that also needs the attention and investment that only state-level government can muster. So, we’re doing our due diligence to listen and bring that message back to Hartford in February,” Sen. Osten said.
Senator Lesser Releases Statement on Insurance Department Approval of Rate Increases
Senator Lesser Releases Statement on Insurance Department Approval of Rate Increases
Today, state Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) is releasing a statement following the announcement of Connecticut’s Insurance Department’s approval of rate increases.
“I’m disappointed that once again, Connecticut’s small businesses are seeing major rate increases as the market continues to fail them,” said Sen. Lesser. “Today’s rate increases will hurt our economy, affecting entrepreneurship and economic growth. And rate increases year after year are exactly why we fought so hard to give Connecticut’s small businesses a Public Option, despite the overwhelming opposition of special interests.”
“If there’s a silver lining, it’s that health insurance has recently become much more affordable for families purchasing individual coverage through AccesssHealthCT,” said Sen. Lesser. “The combination of expanded Medicaid, the American Rescue Plan and our new CoveredConnecticut program is making a real difference for families across the state who are seeing much lower premiums and deductibles.”
Senate Democrats Issue Open Letter to State, Local Officials, Recommending They Report Anti-Vaccine, Anti-Mask Harassment, Threats to Police
Senate Democrats Issue Open Letter to State, Local Officials, Recommending They Report Anti-Vaccine, Anti-Mask Harassment, Threats to Police
Today, a coalition of 20 Senate Democrats, led by Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex)), issued an open letter to all elected and appointed state and local officials, who are increasingly made the target of vitriol and harassment by individuals protesting COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine mandates, mask requirements and similar adjustments to everyday made necessary by the pandemic. As these individuals are met with “anger, irrationality and abuse which we fear will soon escalate into physical assaults and violence,” as the letter says, the Senators recommended officials report any and all harassment, threats, intimidation and violence to local police. The open letter was printed in Hearst newspaper editorial sections; please click here to read the Hearst publication.
This open letter comes as incidents in Connecticut and nationwide continue to be disrupted by protestors increasingly angry and aggressive about their beliefs. While everyone has the right to protest, recent incidents include Board of Education meetings and public events shut down due to disruptive, rude and unbecoming behavior in Connecticut, while even worse offenses have been committed in other states. Teachers in Texas and California have been assaulted and even hospitalized over mask rules and members of education boards in various states reported direct threats to their safety. Public officials are increasing the sizes of their security details, threatening social media posts have been investigated by police and the escalation of rhetoric and actions may further continue if unchecked, the Senators said.
The full text of the letter is reprinted in full below.
Today, we are issuing a call to action to all elected and appointed state and local officials to take a stand against the confrontational tactics of the anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers and COVID-19 deniers who are increasingly infecting our public meetings, our public discourse and our public life with an anger, irrationality and abuse which we fear will soon escalate into physical assaults and violence against elected and appointed public officials.
We have already seen evidence of such an escalation across America and right here in Connecticut.
It was less than a year ago when 13 militia members, angry with Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer for her COVID-19 restrictions, plotted to kidnap and then ‘try’ her in the woods of Wisconsin. More recently, since Hawaii announced its vaccine or weekly test mandate, antivaxxers gathered nightly outside the home of Lt. Gov. Josh Green to yell into bullhorns and shine strobe lights into his windows; others distributed flyers attacking him as a “Jew.” Teachers in Texas and California have been assaulted. Board of Education members across America have received death threats, followed out of school buildings and told “We know who you are. You can leave freely, but we will find you.” A Missouri hospital administrator was cornered in a parking garage by a person accusing him of “crimes against humanity.” Free masks handed out at public meetings have been set ablaze by anti-maskers.
Here in Connecticut, we’ve seen Gov. Lamont’s press conference on school health issues interrupted and shut down by anti-maskers who equated Connecticut with Nazi Germany and who followed the governor out to his vehicle, with one parent extending his middle finger to him. Police have been called to contentious public meetings. Some public officials are increasing the size of their security detail. Social media posts referencing legislators have been investigated by the police. One school board meeting was interrupted by protestors shouting through bullhorns, while others have been shut down by anti-mask protestors. A Black Lives Matter supporter was spit on by an anti-vaxxer at a rally at the State Capitol. In May, someone for some reason drove 20 miles from Southington to Hartford to fire six shots at the State Capitol. The lieutenant governor was recently accosted by a man flying vile flags on his pickup truck at a veterans’ event in Norwich.
Protestors in Connecticut are angry and on the edge, and they are getting angrier. In some instances, their words and actions have been praised by certain politicians. This needs to stop. It is only a matter of time until a small, angry group of individuals or one particularly disturbed person who is egged on with disinformation and partisan hubris escalates from spitting and hand gestures and screams of Nazism and criminal behavior to something much more dangerous. The time to prevent any future tragedy is now.
Like our U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign, we are urging state and local elected and appointed officials to report all instances of harassment, threats, intimidation and violence to local police right away for their investigation and disposition. Be it an intimidating social media post, a threatening letter or phone call, a personal confrontation, a sign at a protest threatening retribution, an interrupted public meeting, or something else that your gut tells you is just not right, please report it right away to the proper authorities. Harassment and intimidation in the course of your public duties are not “part of the job”; they are potential crimes that should be reported to police.
Now is the time to take a stand against harassment and intimidation before it escalates into physical violence, injury, and perhaps death.
Sincerely,
Senate President Martin M. Looney
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff
State Senator Norm Needleman
State Senator Will Haskell
State Senator Rick Lopes
State Senator Marilyn Moore
State Senator Christine Cohen
State Senator Patricia Billie Miller
State Senator Saud Anwar
State Senator Julie Kushner
State Senator Matt Lesser
State Senator Steve Cassano
State Senator Derek Slap
State Senator Doug McCrory
State Senator John Fonfara
State Senator Gary Winfield
State Senator Mary Abrams
State Senator James Maroney
State Senator Jorge Cabrera
State Senator Joan Hartley
Senate Democrats Issue Open Letter to State, Local Officials, Recommending They Report Anti-Vaccine, Anti-Mask Harassment, Threats to Police
Senate Democrats Issue Open Letter to State, Local Officials, Recommending They Report Anti-Vaccine, Anti-Mask Harassment, Threats to Police
Today, a coalition of 20 Senate Democrats, led by Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex)), issued an open letter to all elected and appointed state and local officials, who are increasingly made the target of vitriol and harassment by individuals protesting COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine mandates, mask requirements and similar adjustments to everyday made necessary by the pandemic. As these individuals are met with “anger, irrationality and abuse which we fear will soon escalate into physical assaults and violence,” as the letter says, the Senators recommended officials report any and all harassment, threats, intimidation and violence to local police. The open letter was printed in Hearst newspaper editorial sections; please click here to read the Hearst publication.
This open letter comes as incidents in Connecticut and nationwide continue to be disrupted by protestors increasingly angry and aggressive about their beliefs. While everyone has the right to protest, recent incidents include Board of Education meetings and public events shut down due to disruptive, rude and unbecoming behavior in Connecticut, while even worse offenses have been committed in other states. Teachers in Texas and California have been assaulted and even hospitalized over mask rules and members of education boards in various states reported direct threats to their safety. Public officials are increasing the sizes of their security details, threatening social media posts have been investigated by police and the escalation of rhetoric and actions may further continue if unchecked, the Senators said.
The full text of the letter is reprinted in full below.
Today, we are issuing a call to action to all elected and appointed state and local officials to take a stand against the confrontational tactics of the anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers and COVID-19 deniers who are increasingly infecting our public meetings, our public discourse and our public life with an anger, irrationality and abuse which we fear will soon escalate into physical assaults and violence against elected and appointed public officials.
We have already seen evidence of such an escalation across America and right here in Connecticut.
It was less than a year ago when 13 militia members, angry with Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer for her COVID-19 restrictions, plotted to kidnap and then ‘try’ her in the woods of Wisconsin. More recently, since Hawaii announced its vaccine or weekly test mandate, antivaxxers gathered nightly outside the home of Lt. Gov. Josh Green to yell into bullhorns and shine strobe lights into his windows; others distributed flyers attacking him as a “Jew.” Teachers in Texas and California have been assaulted. Board of Education members across America have received death threats, followed out of school buildings and told “We know who you are. You can leave freely, but we will find you.” A Missouri hospital administrator was cornered in a parking garage by a person accusing him of “crimes against humanity.” Free masks handed out at public meetings have been set ablaze by anti-maskers.
Here in Connecticut, we’ve seen Gov. Lamont’s press conference on school health issues interrupted and shut down by anti-maskers who equated Connecticut with Nazi Germany and who followed the governor out to his vehicle, with one parent extending his middle finger to him. Police have been called to contentious public meetings. Some public officials are increasing the size of their security detail. Social media posts referencing legislators have been investigated by the police. One school board meeting was interrupted by protestors shouting through bullhorns, while others have been shut down by anti-mask protestors. A Black Lives Matter supporter was spit on by an anti-vaxxer at a rally at the State Capitol. In May, someone for some reason drove 20 miles from Southington to Hartford to fire six shots at the State Capitol. The lieutenant governor was recently accosted by a man flying vile flags on his pickup truck at a veterans’ event in Norwich.
Protestors in Connecticut are angry and on the edge, and they are getting angrier. In some instances, their words and actions have been praised by certain politicians. This needs to stop. It is only a matter of time until a small, angry group of individuals or one particularly disturbed person who is egged on with disinformation and partisan hubris escalates from spitting and hand gestures and screams of Nazism and criminal behavior to something much more dangerous. The time to prevent any future tragedy is now.
Like our U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign, we are urging state and local elected and appointed officials to report all instances of harassment, threats, intimidation and violence to local police right away for their investigation and disposition. Be it an intimidating social media post, a threatening letter or phone call, a personal confrontation, a sign at a protest threatening retribution, an interrupted public meeting, or something else that your gut tells you is just not right, please report it right away to the proper authorities. Harassment and intimidation in the course of your public duties are not “part of the job”; they are potential crimes that should be reported to police.
Now is the time to take a stand against harassment and intimidation before it escalates into physical violence, injury, and perhaps death.
Sincerely,
Senate President Martin M. Looney
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff
State Senator Norm Needleman
State Senator Will Haskell
State Senator Rick Lopes
State Senator Marilyn Moore
State Senator Christine Cohen
State Senator Patricia Billie Miller
State Senator Saud Anwar
State Senator Julie Kushner
State Senator Matt Lesser
State Senator Steve Cassano
State Senator Derek Slap
State Senator Doug McCrory
State Senator John Fonfara
State Senator Gary Winfield
State Senator Mary Abrams
State Senator James Maroney
State Senator Jorge Cabrera
State Senator Joan Hartley
Senate Democrats Issue Open Letter to State, Local Officials, Recommending They Report Anti-Vaccine, Anti-Mask Harassment, Threats to Police
Senate Democrats Issue Open Letter to State, Local Officials, Recommending They Report Anti-Vaccine, Anti-Mask Harassment, Threats to Police
Today, a coalition of 20 Senate Democrats, led by Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex)), issued an open letter to all elected and appointed state and local officials, who are increasingly made the target of vitriol and harassment by individuals protesting COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine mandates, mask requirements and similar adjustments to everyday made necessary by the pandemic. As these individuals are met with “anger, irrationality and abuse which we fear will soon escalate into physical assaults and violence,” as the letter says, the Senators recommended officials report any and all harassment, threats, intimidation and violence to local police. The open letter was printed in Hearst newspaper editorial sections; please click here to read the Hearst publication.
This open letter comes as incidents in Connecticut and nationwide continue to be disrupted by protestors increasingly angry and aggressive about their beliefs. While everyone has the right to protest, recent incidents include Board of Education meetings and public events shut down due to disruptive, rude and unbecoming behavior in Connecticut, while even worse offenses have been committed in other states. Teachers in Texas and California have been assaulted and even hospitalized over mask rules and members of education boards in various states reported direct threats to their safety. Public officials are increasing the sizes of their security details, threatening social media posts have been investigated by police and the escalation of rhetoric and actions may further continue if unchecked, the Senators said.
The full text of the letter is reprinted in full below.
Today, we are issuing a call to action to all elected and appointed state and local officials to take a stand against the confrontational tactics of the anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers and COVID-19 deniers who are increasingly infecting our public meetings, our public discourse and our public life with an anger, irrationality and abuse which we fear will soon escalate into physical assaults and violence against elected and appointed public officials.
We have already seen evidence of such an escalation across America and right here in Connecticut.
It was less than a year ago when 13 militia members, angry with Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer for her COVID-19 restrictions, plotted to kidnap and then ‘try’ her in the woods of Wisconsin. More recently, since Hawaii announced its vaccine or weekly test mandate, antivaxxers gathered nightly outside the home of Lt. Gov. Josh Green to yell into bullhorns and shine strobe lights into his windows; others distributed flyers attacking him as a “Jew.” Teachers in Texas and California have been assaulted. Board of Education members across America have received death threats, followed out of school buildings and told “We know who you are. You can leave freely, but we will find you.” A Missouri hospital administrator was cornered in a parking garage by a person accusing him of “crimes against humanity.” Free masks handed out at public meetings have been set ablaze by anti-maskers.
Here in Connecticut, we’ve seen Gov. Lamont’s press conference on school health issues interrupted and shut down by anti-maskers who equated Connecticut with Nazi Germany and who followed the governor out to his vehicle, with one parent extending his middle finger to him. Police have been called to contentious public meetings. Some public officials are increasing the size of their security detail. Social media posts referencing legislators have been investigated by the police. One school board meeting was interrupted by protestors shouting through bullhorns, while others have been shut down by anti-mask protestors. A Black Lives Matter supporter was spit on by an anti-vaxxer at a rally at the State Capitol. In May, someone for some reason drove 20 miles from Southington to Hartford to fire six shots at the State Capitol. The lieutenant governor was recently accosted by a man flying vile flags on his pickup truck at a veterans’ event in Norwich.
Protestors in Connecticut are angry and on the edge, and they are getting angrier. In some instances, their words and actions have been praised by certain politicians. This needs to stop. It is only a matter of time until a small, angry group of individuals or one particularly disturbed person who is egged on with disinformation and partisan hubris escalates from spitting and hand gestures and screams of Nazism and criminal behavior to something much more dangerous. The time to prevent any future tragedy is now.
Like our U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign, we are urging state and local elected and appointed officials to report all instances of harassment, threats, intimidation and violence to local police right away for their investigation and disposition. Be it an intimidating social media post, a threatening letter or phone call, a personal confrontation, a sign at a protest threatening retribution, an interrupted public meeting, or something else that your gut tells you is just not right, please report it right away to the proper authorities. Harassment and intimidation in the course of your public duties are not “part of the job”; they are potential crimes that should be reported to police.
Now is the time to take a stand against harassment and intimidation before it escalates into physical violence, injury, and perhaps death.
Sincerely,
Senate President Martin M. Looney
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff
State Senator Norm Needleman
State Senator Will Haskell
State Senator Rick Lopes
State Senator Marilyn Moore
State Senator Christine Cohen
State Senator Patricia Billie Miller
State Senator Saud Anwar
State Senator Julie Kushner
State Senator Matt Lesser
State Senator Steve Cassano
State Senator Derek Slap
State Senator Doug McCrory
State Senator John Fonfara
State Senator Gary Winfield
State Senator Mary Abrams
State Senator James Maroney
State Senator Jorge Cabrera
State Senator Joan Hartley
Statement of Sen. Cathy Osten on Federal Approval of CT Gaming Compacts
Statement of Sen. Cathy Osten on Federal Approval of CT Gaming Compacts
State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today welcomed news that the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior has approved revisions to the gaming compacts between Connecticut and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes. A federal decision had been expected to be rendered by today.
“I’m very excited that we have jumped yet another hurdle. It’s very exciting to see this process moving along. Now we just have to wait for the state Department of Consumer Protection to issue the gaming licenses. That will be the final piece of the puzzle. Then Connecticut will have sports betting and online gaming.”
Senator Duff Appoints Area Residents to State Commissions
Senator Duff Appoints Area Residents to State Commissions
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) is excited to announce area-residents to three Task Forces, one Commission, and one Committee. Each person appointed has a knowledgeable background and will apply their past and present experience to uphold each task force, commission, and committee.
“Each person selected has certain qualities that will translate into a successful leader to help the future of our state,” said Sen. Duff. “I look forward to see what is to come over the course of the next few months and I am certain that those chosen to lead each task force, commission, and committee will do a commendable job.”
Senator Duff has appointed the following residents:
- Michele Jakab of Norwalk to the Task Force to Study Ways to Protect Senior Citizens from Fraud
- Colin Hosten of Norwalk to the Task Force to Study the Comprehensive Needs of Children in the State
- Sabrina Church of Norwalk to the Task Force to Study the Shortage of Employees in Various Tourism-related businesses
- Lamond Daniels of Bridgeport and Steve Kleppin of New Milford to the Commission on Connecticut’s Development and Future
- Katie Banzhaf of Trumbull to the Level of Need Assessment System Advisory Committee
The Task Force to Study Ways to Protect Senior Citizens from Fraud establishes a 10-member task force to not only study ways to protect seniors from fraud but will also require the study to include available planning services for Medicaid applicants. Michele Jakab has been appointed to this task force. Jakab is a Norwalk resident who has over 17 years of experience as a Clinical Social Worker working with older adults, caregivers, and families.
“I look forward to being a part of something in the state that helps those who are of vulnerability,” said Jakab. “I would like to thank Senator Duff for giving me this opportunity to lead others to protect our seniors against any future scams. I will do whatever it takes to reduce risks and eliminate fraud all together from the elderly folks who live in our state.”
The Task Force to Study the Comprehensive Needs of Children in the State will study the comprehensive needs of children in the state and study the extent to which the needs are being met by educators, community members, and local and state agencies. This task force was built in response to COVID-19 in order to develop new programs and identify changes needed to existing programs to better address children’s needs. The task force will work to identify and advocate for funds and other resources needed and identify redundancies in existing services or programs for children. Colin Hosten, a resident of Norwalk, has been appointed to this task force. He is a dedicated Public Servant and Nonprofit Executive currently serving as Chair of the Board of Education of Norwalk.
“It is a great pleasure and honor to lead this task force as part of a larger process identifying what is needed for the children in our state to flourish,” said Hosten. “I am grateful to Senator Duff for the opportunity to be a part of this effort to create a better future for our youth, and for Connecticut overall.”
The Task Force to Study the Shortage of Employees in Various Tourism-related businesses will work to identify and create an inventory of job opportunities, exploring efficient ways to advertise those jobs and examining and making recommendations on affordable, reliable transportation options for employees. Sabrina Church, a resident of Norwalk, has been appointed to this task force. Church currently is the Director of Business Development & Tourism in Norwalk and provides guidance to over 500 business owners.
“The shortage of employees in various tourism-related businesses in Connecticut is concerning and with this role, I will divulge into learning more about this business and figuring out how to fix this issue,” said Church. “Senator Duff was kind enough to believe in me for taking on this task force and I will work hard to strive to come up with a solution to ensure employment rates improve in this industry.”
The Commission on Connecticut’s Development and Future will be dedicated to looking at policies related to housing affordability including looking at 8-30g which is the state’s affordable housing statutes, the state plan of conservation and development, land use, and infrastructure. Among other things, the commission must look at alternative sewage systems and the state’s sewer and septic oversight, guidelines, and incentives for affordable housing plan compliance and must develop model design guidelines for buildings and streets. Steven Kleppin, a New Milford Resident appointed to this commission, has over ten years of experience and leads the Town of Norwalk’s Planning and Zoning Department. Lamond Daniels, a Bridgeport resident, has been appointed to this commission along with Kleppin. Daniels is the Chief of Community Services in Norwalk.
“I am thankful to Senator Duff for entrusting me to lead the commission along with Lamond Daniels to rebuild Connecticut,” said Kleppin. “Our state has been through a lot over the past year and a half, and I am ready to sit down and work on a resolution to rebuild our economy and help those in need get back on their feet.”
“Connecticut has been through hardships this past year and working toward our future begins with what is happening now,” said Daniels. “I look forward to working with Steve Kleppin to help our state recover financially with a plan that includes strategies for the restoration and growth of employment. I would like to thank Senator Duff for allowing me this opportunity to work to resolve the issues our state has been facing.”
The Level of Need Assessment System Advisory Committee establishes a level of need assessment system advisory committee to advise the Department of Developmental Services commissioner on matters relating to the system. Katie Banzhaf, a Trumbull resident, has been appointed to this committee. Banzhaf is an Executive Director for a Non-profit organization in Norwalk and supports over 600 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
“I am thrilled to be a part of a new team that will work to help guide very important services for individuals with developmental disabilities in Connecticut,” said Banzhaf. “Thank you to Senator Duff for appointing me and giving me the opportunity to improve our system to help those and their families in need.”
Senator Duff Highlights Cost of Unvaccinated to Hospitals, Taxpayers
Senator Duff Highlights Cost of Unvaccinated to Hospitals, Taxpayers
Today, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) highlighted information from the Connecticut Hospital Association that shows the increased costs that individuals who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 are causing in the health care system when they seek treatment. These reported admission numbers indicate that in June and July of 2021 alone, unvaccinated patients who received hospital care cost hospitals more than $9.3 million in preventable costs, with the effects trickling down to taxpayers.
“We know that many current COVID-19 hospitalizations are preventable if people get vaccinated,” said Senator Duff. “The human and health cost to these individuals in incalculable but this latest information shows the financial costs as people refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the more than 750 patients admitted to hospitals in June and July with COVID-19, 98.3% were unvaccinated. The nearly $10 million in preventable costs their treatment required could have been avoided – but instead, those costs will impact hospitals, and taxpayers, in years to come. It’s believed that nearly 500 of those hospitalizations could have been prevented by vaccination. This shows that vaccination is not just a personal choice, but one that impacts our communities and the services we need every day.”
According to statistics compiled by the Connecticut Hospital Association regarding reported admission numbers in June and July 2021, of the 773 adult patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 during that time, 98.3% were estimated to be unvaccinated. Of those patients, 74% were believed to be hospitalized primarily for COVID-19, and 84% of those hospitalizations are believed to have been preventable. Utilizing the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation financial model that lists an approximate cost of $20,000 on average for each COVID-19 related hospital admission, it’s believed hospitalizations among unvaccinated patients were responsible for a combined $9.447 million dollars in preventable costs in June and July alone. Additionally, given Connecticut’s vaccination rates are higher than the national average and and ICU care costs are also higher, that figure may be a conservative estimate. Below is the full data from the Connecticut Hospital Association.
Based on the number of COVID-19 hospital admissions in Connecticut for the months of June and July and utilizing the assumptions (percent of unvaccinated hospital admissions; share of hospitalizations primarily for COVID-19; share of unvaccinated hospitalizations for COVID-19 that were preventable; approximate cost of preventable COVID-19-related hospital admissions) used in the Peterson-KFF model, we estimate the cost of unvaccinated preventable COVID-19 hospitalizations in Connecticut at $4.2 million for June and $5.3 million for July.
