Policymaker Issue BriefNo. 42 -- Connecticut hospitals had access to over $128 million in free bed funds in 2006

Free bed funds at Connecticut hospitals were up $5.3 million in 2006 over the year before. Yale-New Haven and Hartford Hospitals control over two thirds of the total private free bed funds in the state to cover the costs of caring for needy uninsured and underinsured patients. On average, hospitals spent 11% of their fund balance in 2006, up from 9% in 2005. Eleven Connecticut hospitals have no free bed funds. In addition to private free bed funds, all Connecticut hospitals had access to state DSH funds to cover unpaid bills of uninsured patients and Medicaid/SAGA underpayments totaling almost $165 million in 2006.

Posted by Ellen Andrews