With no one wanting to skip or overwhelm hospitals in this peak season of respiratory illness, state officials are using state-regulated, fully-insured insurance plans to Negotiated short-term hospital waivers for approximately 484,000 Connecticut residents.
“During this critical time, we need the ability to timely discharge patients who no longer require inpatient beds. “We understand how important proper pre-approval is as a tool for managing the rising healthcare costs in our state. This is a temporary request.”
The exemption will facilitate the discharge of patients who are ready for alternative levels of care, according to Public Health Commissioner Manisha Jutani.
“Our hospitals are experiencing an expected surge in patients with respiratory viral illness this season, starting with RSV and with flu and COVID cases on the rise. It’s behind the staffing shortages our hospitals are already experiencing,” said Juthani.
Connecticut has had more than 6,000 flu cases this year, with one death. And as of today, 460 Connecticut residents are hospitalized with her COVID-19. Connecticut also has hundreds of her RSV cases, and many of those hospitalized with the disease are children.
Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford said it was important to minimize administrative delays.
“We appreciate the collaborative approach that hospitals and insurance companies are taking to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right level of care,” said Gifford.
The Connecticut Health Insurance Association and its membership, Aetna/CVS Health, Anthem, CIGNA, ConnectiCare, and United all helped facilitate this change to address potential medical crises. “Their efforts during this extraordinary time are truly appreciated,” said Mais.
Health insurance companies promise this waiver for all full insurance plans and temporary Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid plans. It is unknown how long it will last.
However, not all health insurance schemes are included. Self-insured plans or employer-sponsored plans are not regulated by the state and are not eligible for the exemption.
