PUTNAM — Continuing their advocacy for one of the most important health care providers in eastern Connecticut, state Senator Mae Flexer (D-Killingly) and state Representatives Christine Rosati Randall (D-Killingly) and Danny Rovero (D-Killingly) last week joined with Day Kimball Hospital President and CEO Robert Smanik to testify in favor of a bill that would eliminate the state hospital tax on a pool of six, small hospitals around the state – including Day Kimball.

The Finance Committee deadline for action on the bill is April 1.

Senate Bill 49, “AN ACT CONCERNING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE HOSPITAL TAX FOR HOSPITALS IN THE SMALL HOSPITAL POOL,” was authored by the Killingly delegation.

The state tax on hospitals was instituted in 2012 to take advantage of a federal law that allows states to get payments from the federal government if they collect a tax from a hospital or other health care provider, then redistribute the money to those groups.

Senate Bill 49 seeks to exempt hospitals that qualify for the “small hospital pool” from the state hospital tax; the small hospital pool is composed of six, independent Connecticut hospitals with fewer than 160 beds: Bristol, Day Kimball, Griffin, Charlotte Hungerford, Johnson and Milford. These six hospitals would receive the same tax exemption that Connecticut’s “financially distressed” hospitals receive.

“Many hospitals do not fall under current distressed designation still have to make difficult financial choices in order to remain functional,” Flexer testified before the Finance Committee, which is considering the bill. “We fear that in time, they will have to make difficult choices about whether Day Kimball will continue to exist at all. A reduction of critical services – or, in the worst circumstance, the end of Day Kimball as we know it – would have an absolutely devastating impact on our community. Not just on our healthcare system, but also on the local economy. An exemption from the hospital tax would be another source of relief for our independent hospital that needs our support in these difficult times. Our community has rallied around our hospital, but our community can’t do this on our own. We need a partner in state government that recognizes the challenges Day Kimball faces and works to solve them. We must do all we can to support a small community hospital like Day Kimball, and this legislation offers us that opportunity, ensuring hospitals like ours can continue the amazing work that they do.”  

Smanik testified, “We are the sole hospital in the northeast corner of our state, serving over 90,000 people across 450 square miles of area that lacks sufficient public transportation.”

Rep. Rovero testified about the important role Day Kimball played when he had two heart attacks. “Day Kimball is such an important part of this region. Without Day Kimball, we’d be in serious trouble.”