The Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (OHS) has released the 2024 Statewide Health Care Facilities and Services Plan, along with a biennial inventory of all Connecticut health care facilities and services (the Plan). The 246-page plan document represents the first major overhaul of the Plan since 2012 when it was initially issued by OHS’ predecessor agency, the Office of Health Care Access.
Required by Connecticut General Statutes Section 19a-634, the Plan is intended to serve as an advisory document and blueprint for health care delivery in Connecticut by providing a resource for policymakers to understand the Connecticut health care landscape. The Plan includes information and guidelines for OHS to consider when evaluating Certificate of Need (CON) applications.
The Plan analyzes changes in key variables impacting healthcare delivery, including but not limited to, health care access and affordability, health care workforce trends, and innovation and health technology. It identifies issues that are likely to impact the delivery of health care in Connecticut, such as workforce shortages, changes in health care payment models, growing behavioral health needs, and the persistence of disparities in access to health care and health outcomes. The Plan also includes recommendations for further development of OHS data collection, additional Plan analyses to assess health care need and capacity, and integration of Plan findings with other health sector tracking.
OHS offers this summary of the Plan, as well as this fact sheet about the Plan. The Plan becomes effective upon publication (July 1, 2024) and will become applicable to CON applications 90 days after the Plan’s effective date (September 29, 2024). The Plan, which by statute must be updated bi-annually, is effective for the 2025 through 2027 State Fiscal Years (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026).
OHS is inviting the public to provide comments on the Plan. Written comments must be received by OHS by September 30, 2024. Comments may be submitted by mail: Attention: Boyd Jackson, Director, Legislation and Regulation, Office of Health Strategy, PO Box 340308, 450 Capitol Avenue, MS#51OHS, Hartford, CT 06134-0308; or by email ohs@ct.gov with the subject line Facilities and Services Plan – Public Comment.
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