Connecticut

Opinion: A CT doctor shortage made worse

Published

11 months ago

May 27, 2025

Opinion: A CT doctor shortage made worse

The United States is currently in the grips of a massive physician shortage estimated to be over 60,000. As the workforce ages, the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the physician shortage will increase to over 86,000 physicians by 2036.

Connecticut is not immune with almost 20% of residents already living in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) with fewer than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents.

This critical shortage has dire consequences for the health of Connecticut residents. Wait times to see primary care physicians already average over 26 days and are projected to get longer. As fewer physicians struggle to manage the health of an ever-growing population, healthcare outcomes suffer. One study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that the average life expectancy of people living in HPSAs was almost a full year shorter than those who do not. In short, physician shortages kill.

Connecticut ranks 46 out of 50 states in physician retention, as only 41.7% of physicians who complete their residency in Connecticut remain here to practice medicine. By contrast, the proportion of physicians who stay in the highest-ranking states, California and Texas, after training are 78% and 66%, respectively. This dire situation demands urgent action to attract physicians to our state rather than push them away, to prevent our physician shortage from getting worse.

An Act Limiting Out-of-Network Costs (H.B. 6871) is being proposed, purportedly to control healthcare costs. However, beyond worsening the physician shortage that is already drowning Connecticut’s healthcare system, we are concerned that this bill would also particularly devastate rural hospitals and small physician-run private practices.

At first glance, the bill’s goals appear innocuous, capping the maximum amount that healthcare providers could charge health insurers for out-of-network care at 240% of the Medicare rate. However, by tilting the balance in negotiations far in favor of insurers over physicians and hospitals, this bill would do serious damage to the ability of healthcare providers to negotiate fair rates with insurers. These adverse consequences have led to a coalition of physicians and hospitals from around the state to warn of dire consequences for access to care in Connecticut should the bill pass.

Medicare reimbursement for hospitals and physicians is 50% and 70% the rate of private insurers, respectively. Even worse, Medicare payments to physicians have fallen 33% in inflation-adjusted terms since 2001. Tying out-of-network reimbursement to Medicare rates would place providers at a significant disadvantage as these rates continue to decline.

Physicians and other clinicians will become scarcer as practicing in Connecticut becomes infeasible. Hospitals will close. Essential physician practices, beloved by the communities they serve, will be forced to shut their doors for good. As struggling healthcare facilities and practices are forced to close, the health of Connecticut residents will ultimately suffer. Rather than the approach being offered by this bill, which will limit services while not addressing the root causes of cost, we advocate for focus on policies to improve physician retention in and recruitment to Connecticut.

Tax and regulatory incentives can entice physicians to move or keep their practices here. Providing student loan relief to young physicians who are being crushed by sky-high student loan debt in the face of high cost of living can make it practical for them to start their lives and careers here. These reforms can expand the supply of physicians available to Connecticut residents, reducing wait times and meaningfully improving public health.

We urge the General Assembly to reject H.B. 6871 and get to work on practical solutions to heal our ailing healthcare system. The health of Connecticut’s people depends on it.

Ryan Englander is a MD/PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut. Anthony Yoder, DO, is Chair, Health and Public Policy, CT Chapter, American College of Physicians.

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Connecticut

Brittney Griner signs with Connecticut Sun in huge payday

Published

7 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

Brittney Griner signs with Connecticut Sun in huge payday

The Connecticut Sun are making a big splash for their final season.

The team has agreed to a seven-figure contract to bring in Britney Griner, according to Sun sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby.

Griner, a nine-time WNBA All-Star and future Hall of Famer, is one of the most decorated players in the history of the league and will be playing in her 13th season since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2013.

The deal also comes after the WNBA introduced its new collective bargaining agreement, which will — among many other advances — raise players’ salaries, making a select group of them millionaires for the first time since the league’s inception.

The move comes one day following Jackie Young’s reported one-year, $1.19 million agreement to return to the Las Vegas Aces.

Griner, who spent last season with the Atlanta Dream, turned 35 this past October, was a standout on what was a surprising run to the league’s No. 3 seed, with the team finishing 30-14.

The 6-foot-9 center started in her first 25 appearances before being moved to an off-the-bench role.

The Baylor alum came off the bench for her final 14 regular-season showings and all three Dream playoff games.

The Dream were eliminated by the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever in the first round after opening with a 17-point win in Game 1.

Griner finished the 2025 season with career lows of 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

Griner spent her first 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, establishing herself as one of the best players in league history, starring on the 2014 WNBA Champion team, also led by Diana Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner.

The six-time All-WNBA honoree is also a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, having played for Team USA in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Games, with two World Cup titles in 2014 and 2018.

She was also named to the W25, a list honoring the WNBA’s top 25 players of all time in celebration of the league’s 25th anniversary in 2021.

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Connecticut

Driver sent to hospital after one-car crash on I-95 in Old Lyme, police say

Published

19 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Driver sent to hospital after one-car crash on I-95 in Old Lyme, police say

OLD LYME — A driver was injured and taken to the hospital after a one-car crash on Interstate 95 Thursday night in Old Lyme, according to state police.

The state Department of Transportation reported the crash occurred on I-95 north before Exit 71 around 9:40 p.m.

Connecticut State Police said the driver was conscious and alert, and their injuries were not life-threatening.

The crash closed the left lane, according to state police. The incident was cleared around 11:50 p.m., according to the DOT.

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Connecticut

Connecticut ticks back with a vengeance this year

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Connecticut ticks back with a vengeance this year

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — After a record year in 2025, the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station said that in under two weeks there have been more than 200 reported tick bites.

“I do not know whether this trend will continue or slow down,” Connecticut Tick Surveillance Program Director Dr. Goudarz Molaei said. “I suspect that it will continue and will get worse.”

In 2025, there were more than 6,000 reported bites, which is double the average.

It would be a mistake to think that this winter’s cold weather killed the ticks. In fact, many ticks were saved by this winter’s snow.

“It’s like a warm blanket for ticks,” Dr. Molaei said. “They hide underneath the snow and they are protected.”

These early ticks are almost exclusively blacklegged ticks. Research shows more than 50% are carrying Lyme Disease. Come this spring, four more tick species will arrive in Connecticut, with each breed carrying different diseases.

Ticks in Connecticut usually live in the woods. But not just in trees or in the grass, they could also be in leaves on the ground.

“Even though it looks goofy, I always make sure I have a thick sock and that it covers the lower half of your calf,” Ji Xue, who runs in East Rock Park, said.

Experts say you should spray on a pesticide before going outside. Upon returning, thoroughly check the body and put all clothes in the wash.

“I actually had Lyme Disease as a kid because I grew up in upstate New York,” Sean Cohen, a father of two young boys, said. “We are just extra aware of it, especially because the kids have very thick, dark hair. We just try to be on top of checking out for it.”

“I know some people who already refuse to take their dogs on hikes anymore because they are so scared,” Xue said.

Most importantly, if a tick bites you, either send it in for testing or keep the tick. If you get sick, the doctors need to know what kind of tick infected you.

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