YNHHS employees joined those from other hospitals and healthcare organizations throughout the state at Healthcare Day at the state Capitol April 5.
More than 200 Yale New Haven Health System employees went to Hartford April 5 for the Connecticut Hospital Association's Healthcare Day at the Capitol.
During the morning, several state legislators and leaders talked with the YNHHS group about the importance of telling their legislators how proposed taxes and regulations on hospitals will affect them personally, as well as the people their hospitals care for.
"Everyone can be an advocate," state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. told the group. Legislators "are really looking for authentic stories about how cutbacks affect real people."
State Rep. Will Duff thanked physicians and staff with Yale New Haven Hospital's Winchester Chest Clinic for saving his life years ago.
"I would not be here today if not for people like you," he said, to a round of applause.
Other speakers were state representatives Steven Stafstrom, Laura Devlin and David Yaccarino, and state Comptroller Kevin Lembo. All of them recognized YNHHS for such a large turnout.
In the afternoon, employees and leaders from throughout YNHHS met with their legislators to discuss issues critical to hospitals. These include proposals that would allow municipalities to remove hospitals' tax-exempt status and tax their real property, and a proposal to expand the hospital tax – a $30 million increase for YNHHS.
Participants also asked their legislators to vote against regulatory burdens that would negatively affect hospitals.
Even if you couldn't attend the April 5 event, you can still help! The health system has established a special "Take Action" page, where employees can create letters to email directly to their state representatives and senators. If you feel comfortable, you are encouraged to personalize the email.
