Connecticut
Face the Facts: How cuts could impact health care in Connecticut
Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are working through the weekend on a reconciliation bill that includes massive cuts to Medicaid. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-2nd District) discusses how those cuts could impact health care in Connecticut.
Mike Hydeck: As the federal budget process continues in Washington, DC, the Trump administration is looking for $1.5 trillion in cuts they say will help make the government more efficient. So far, between buyouts and cuts, 120,000 jobs have been eliminated in the federal workforce, according to The New York Times. Rooting out waste and fraud is part of the goal of the administration, as well. This week, Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, unveiled a draft of his budget, which includes things like cuts to Medicaid and changes to SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps. Congressman Joe Courtney spoke out about this on the House floor this week, he joins me now. Welcome back, Congressman. You said the speaker needs to go back to the drawing board. Why?
Joe Courtney: Because I think if he listened to the entire hospital sector of our country, from coast to coast, who have taken a look at this proposal and have unanimously denounced it in terms of the damage it’s going to do to the finances of our health care sector and again, we’re talking to Catholic hospitals, children’s hospitals, the larger umbrella group, the American Hospital Association. You know, they realize that if you take $800 billion out of the Medicaid system, which is what this measure proposes to do, it is going to again, put a lot of these facilities on even shakier ground than they are today, cripple their ability to hire more nurses and staff, which is really, you know, something they’re all desperately trying to achieve. Patient groups have also now risen up, whether it’s the American Cancer Society or Alzheimer’s Association, the disabilities community, you know for whom Medicaid really is a life blood sort of system in terms of making sure that people get essential care. Medicaid is again, different than Medicare, different than private health insurance. It’s not awash in cash. I mean, you talk to any doctor or physician out there, the rates that are paid through Medicaid are bare bones, but it does keep people connected to health care coverage. And the Congressional Budget Office weighed in and basically determined, if this measure was to come into law, that basically 8.6 million Americans would lose their health insurance. On top of that, the you know, exchange, you know, Obamacare premium subsidies, which are also hitting a cliff pretty soon, none of those subsidies were extended in the bill. That would add another 6 million people who would lose their their health coverage. So this is not the direction that I think anybody reasonable, reasonably wants to see this country to go.
Mike Hydeck: Among the other things in this plan, Republicans want to have work rep work requirements. Meaning, if you get SNAP benefits or Medicare and Medicaid, you should be required to work a certain number of hours. What’s your position on that? They’ve been talking about this for a while, by the way.
Joe Courtney: Yeah. So I mean, if you look at the Medicaid program, if you take out people who are on social security and in nursing homes, which I think you know, that’s actually where the real money goes in the Medicaid program. The people who are covered by it are roughly, according to Sean Scanlon, it’s roughly about 75 to 80% are working in the system as it is. And that you know, again, means that really you’re, you’re dealing with people, probably with disabilities, who are not connected to the workforce. What we do know is this program, of, you know, so called work requirements, is going to create extra red tape in terms of administering the program. We know that because Georgia and Arkansas tried to do this, and it was a bust, you know, in terms of just, you know, really the amount of time that was consumed versus whatever return on investment. So, you know, people are going to, people are going to drop off the rolls. The issue of whether or not people on Medicaid are actually working, I think the numbers don’t lie. I mean, it’s not a program for people who are just sitting around playing video games like Speaker Johnson alleged the other day, which really was a, in my opinion, a disgraceful comment.
Mike Hydeck: So as we know, fraud in these programs has been an issue. There’s big cases in Florida. Throughout the country as well. In fact, this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that insurance company United Healthcare is being investigated by the Justice Department for overbilling. Can fraud be found in the system overall, in your opinion?
Joe Courtney: Absolutely. But if you really talk to people who are doing investigations for Medicaid fraud, there’s a whole unit in government in Connecticut that does this. It’s really, the most of the fraud, almost all of it, is in the provider side of the equation, where people, again, are gaming the billing system who are providers. You know, like is being alleged with United Healthcare. So you know, by all means, that effort should be sustained and expanded to make sure that nobody’s gaming the system. But in terms of beneficiaries, people who are recipients, the fraud numbers are tiny, and the value, or the the return on investment, is minuscule, as opposed to rip off artists who are basically running Medicaid mills, as they call them, that you know, that’s where the real fraud money is.
Mike Hydeck: Congressman Courtney, we have to leave it there. I have quite a few more questions. Hopefully we can have you back. We appreciate your time.
Joe Courtney: Happy to do so. Thanks, Mike.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Five Connecticut towns will collectively receive $10 million in grants for infrastructure upgrades, according to a Monday announcement by Gov. Ned Lamont.
The Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) is awarding $10.7 million to Coventry, Guilford, Ledyard, Mansfield and Thomaston to modernize and rehabilitate housing for low- and moderate-income residents, the announcement said.
The funds are being released through the DOH’s Community Development Block Grant’s small cities program, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To be eligible, a municipality must have fewer than 50,000 residents.
Cost Breakdown
Coventry: $2 million
Town of Coventry plans to use funds to upgrade, with a focus on making Orchard Hill Estates compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Guilford: $2 million
The Town of Guilford plans to use funds to design and build future affordable housing projects, consisting of up to 16 rental units and 8 homes.
Ledyard: $2 million
The Town of Canton requested funding for the first phase of affordable housing for people in Ledyard and the surrounding area. Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut is in the pre-development phase of the Colby Drive and plans to create 38 units.
Mansfield: $2.2 million
Funding will be used for upgrades to Wright’s Village, including roof replacements and sidewalk repairs.
Thomaston: $2.5 million
Funds will be used to make Green Manor ADA-compliant, including the installation of a new emergency call aid system.
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Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
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Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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