Community Corner

Janowski Delivers Hospital Bill

Legislation stemming from Rockville General Hospital closing its birthing unit has been sent to the governor.

State Rep. Claire Janowski walked into Vernon Center Middle School  on Wednesday morning looking little tired.

The Vernon Democrat had been working late into the night late into the session. Janowski said she was home from Hartford at about 4 a.m., was at the middle school early in the morning for a nutrition program, and was heading back to the legislature for noontime legislative business.

"I think I've had two hours of sleep,'' she said.

A few hours later, Janowski thought all that effort was worth it because a bill to revamp the oversight of how hospitals can discontinue services was on the governor's desk.

The bill, already having House approval, was endorsed by the senate on Wednesday. Officially, it is House Bill 5048, which requires hospitals seeking to terminate inpatient or outpatient service to file a certificate of need application with the Office of Health Care Access, a division of the Department of Public Health.

The bill passed the state Senate and awaits Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's signature. Janowski announced the passage at 11:12 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
The legislation arose from Rockville General Hospital’s decision to close its birthing unit, regarded in many circles as one of the best in the area.

Janowski said Eastern Connecticut Health Network, the parent company of Rockville General Hospital, "was able to quietly move forward with its plan because a change in state law, requested by the former Governor Jodi Rell, eliminated OHCA’s oversight authority."
 
She added, “I am very grateful the Senate approved this legislation. We are protecting patients, communities and the oversight role of the Office of Health Care Access by requiring a hospital seeking to terminate inpatient or outpatient services to file for OHCA review.”
 
Janowski drafted the original version of the legislation.

She said she worked with Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) to make sure the Senate acted on the legislation before midnight – the constitutionally mandated end of session.
 
Janowski said the bill included input from the Connecticut Hospital Association as well as outpatient surgical facilities. It restores Office of Health Care Access oversight for termination of service requests, giving OHCA discretion to hold a public hearing or members of the community to request a hearing as allowed under the CON process, she said.

"The the restoration of transparency assures the local community and facility clients are informed of any potential service terminations,'' she said. 


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