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Prospect Medical bankruptcy: CT hospitals may tap into local funds

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Prospect Medical bankruptcy: CT hospitals may tap into local funds


The Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings of private equity-funded Prospect Medical Holdings (PMH), the parent company of three Connecticut community hospitals, kicked off Tuesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Deborah Weymouth, president and CEO of Manchester Memorial Hospital, Rockville General Hospital, and Waterbury Hospital, is expected to tap into the hospitals’ own funds to finance their functioning during the bankruptcy process.

Until now, local management did not have direct access to those funds.

“We do generate a significant amount of cash that historically we have not had direct access to utilize in our local market,” Weymouth said. “First and foremost, I believe we’ll be dedicating that cash and that revenue to our operating expenses.”

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A different picture was painted at the national level.

During the bankruptcy hearing in Texas Tuesday, a lawyer for Prospect said the California-headquartered company got “dangerously close” to running out of money last week.

The lawyer also said Prospect is in ongoing talks with Yale New Haven Health over the stalled $435 million sale of its Connecticut hospitals to Yale, and the talks now were at a different price point.

Prospect’s lawyers plan to transfer the lawsuit Yale filed to back out of the deal, from state court to the bankruptcy court.

In legal speak, the Texas court is what’s known as a court of equity, where the presiding judge Stacey Jernigan — who incidentally writes mystery novels involving bankruptcy judges — has the leeway when it comes to the order of distribution.

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Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said his office would fight for equitable distribution.

“Our hope is that the court will focus not on creditors and all the stuff, right, but focus on the patients and focus on what’s best for the patients and these institutions to keep them open, and the employees,” Tong said.

In its declaration filed Monday, Prospect said the pandemic drove the California company into bankruptcy. But a recent U.S. Senate committee report blasted Prospect for draining local hospitals of money and saddling them with debt.

Meanwhile, Waterbury Hospital, Manchester Memorial, and Rockville General continue to see patients.

“We are open, and as always, our top priority remains to provide safe, high quality care to every patient who comes in,” Weymouth said.

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The Connecticut Department of Public Health will continue to inspect the hospitals, and “those relationships continue,” Weymouth said. “Waterbury [Hospital] actually is working with an independent expert who is there on a regular basis.”

Weymouth said she expected the hospitals to remain open in the long term, in part because they would be hard to replace.

“These hospitals have significant value for far more than just their bed count,” Weymouth said. “We have a team of dedicated nurses, hospitalists, other physicians and staff who are ready and able to provide care. That adds value to our organization.”

The cost of closing or replacing the hospitals would amount to $1 million per bed, according to Weymouth.

Prospect currently owns and operates 16 hospitals in California, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, and plans to shift its focus entirely to its 7 hospitals in California post bankruptcy.

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This story was first published Jan. 14, 2025 by Connecticut Public.



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HBO casting in CT for neighbor dispute docuseries

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HBO casting in CT for neighbor dispute docuseries


A hit HBO documentary series is looking to Connecticut for stories to feature in its second season.

The show “Neighbors” follows on-going neighbor disputes across the country. The goal of the show is to help neighbors reach a resolution, according to the show’s casting director and executive producer Harleigh Shaw.

“Each story we explore, we spend extensive time with neighbors on both sides to really understand the full context beyond the disputes,” Shaw said.

Producers wanted to share stories in the second season that were based in states that weren’t featured earlier this year in the first season, including Connecticut, Shaw said.

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“A lot of the things that we’re most interested in are things that may seem small, but become a bigger issue between the neighbors,” Shaw said. “Anything from disagreements over gardening practices to property lines to noise to dock issues, if it’s a waterfront property. A whole myriad of things. We’re really open to anything.”

However, the show does avoid situations that are violent or dangerous.

Residents from Connecticut looking to participate should be open to third party conflict resolution, according to Shaw.

“Some of the ways that we did that were through mediation,” Shaw said. “That’s a huge one. But there are other things in terms of resources we’d be open to help the neighbors to like help work through the issues.”

Filming will take place throughout the summer and is expected to be completed by the end of September.

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The show’s production team is located in New York City and Los Angeles.

“Connecticut has always been really interesting because it’s just a short trip away, and we’re just curious to explore the types of neighbor dynamics that are going on there,” Shaw said.

Connecticut residents who are interested in being on “Neighbors,” can apply at helloneighbortv.com and are encouraged to submit information about themselves as well as their neighbor dispute.

“The neighbor disputes are the entry point for this show, but we’re always also just very interested in inspiring amazing people doing cool stuff,” Shaw said.

“Neighbors” premiered in February and was quickly renewed. The show averages about 3 million viewers per episode.

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The show features stories that make viewers laugh and cringe, according to HBO Programming’s Executive Vice President Nina Rosenstein.

“At a time when even the smallest disagreements can spiral out of control, ‘Neighbors’ feels both hilariously absurd and surprisingly relatable,” Rosenstein said. “What makes the show special isn’t just the stories and people they find, but the empathy and humanity they bring to each episode.”





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‘Serious’ crash closes Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury

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‘Serious’ crash closes Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury


DANBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — Danbury drivers can expect hours-long closures on Sugar Hollow Road early Monday morning after a “serious” crash, according to local police.

Police said the morning crash has caused closures in both directions at the Ridgefield Line (Bennetts Farm Road) and at Miry Brook Road.

The road is expected to close for approximately three to four hours, police said.

Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes, including George Washington Highway and Route 53.

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There are no words on injuries.

Additional information was not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.


Download the News 8 app to get breaking news and weather alerts.

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Watch News 8 on WTNH.com or the free WTNH News 8 streaming app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung Smart TVs.



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Cyclosporiasis outbreak prompts food safety concerns in Connecticut

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Cyclosporiasis outbreak prompts food safety concerns in Connecticut


ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WFSB) – People like Dena Pizzoferrato are changing what they put in their grocery carts after hearing about a cyclosporiasis outbreak.

“I’m kind of a little nervous so I’m looking to see what I buy right now,” Pizzoferrato said. “Today I didn’t buy any lettuce. I said I’m OK for now.”

Doctors say the illness is spread through parasites that make their way onto fresh produce. There have been 23 reported cases in Connecticut since May, but the CDC says the number is likely higher. Across the country, more than 840 cases and 86 hospitalizations have been reported in 31 states.

Symptoms include diarrhea and nausea that can last days to weeks. Doctors have not identified a source for the outbreak.

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Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said a range of produce could be contaminated.

“Typical things you would think are vegetables or fruits. In the past, it’s been raspberries, basil, cilantro. You may find it in lettuces, bagged salads. So it’s a variety of things that can be contaminated, but they have not found it at this time,” said Wu.

Wu said residents should take precautions with their produce. “Take precautions with your fruit and your produce. We give the same advice when people go overseas that you should always peel something. You should always boil something,” he said.

Doctors also recommend washing produce thoroughly if boiling is not an option, and washing hands regularly.

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