VERNON, Conn — Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne is making a serious plea to the state to speed up the approval of the Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) sale. Yale New Haven Health announced its purchase of ECHN about a year ago. Now, Champagne said the survival of the local health care system is at stake, along with thousands of jobs.
Concern is reaching a boiling point in the mayor's office over the financial situation at Rockville General Hospital, which is part of ECHN. A summer cyberattack only made things worse.
“The hospital’s out of money. When they got hacked, they couldn’t bill the insurance companies so they’re losing millions," said Champagne.
Champagne said the Yale New Haven Health proposal announced a year ago to purchase Eastern Connecticut Health Network, which is owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, was viewed with excitement and relief in Vernon and beyond. One reason was because Prospect is a for-profit hospital company controlled by private equity. Another reason for the relief, the mayor's office said, was because the local hospital would be in the hands of a "world-class health care system rather than the private equity vultures who have gutted Rockville General Hospital."
“They came in and saved them, but as the years progressed, I think the model they thought they were going to be using didn’t go their way. Essentially the hack that happened over the summer was because the computer system wasn’t upgraded. They left the hospital exposed," said Champagne.
Now, concern continues to grow as the mayor's office said Yale New Haven Health’s purchase of Prospect Medical Holdings hospitals in Connecticut has been delayed due to an unusually lengthy regulatory review process.
“I understand the need for the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy to carry out its regulatory responsibilities by reviewing the sale agreement and issuing a certificate of need,” Champagne said. “I am extremely disappointed, however, that more than a year after the purchase agreement was announced we are still waiting for a decision.”
Champagne said the delay is placing at risk thousands of jobs and the loss of essential medical care and infrastructure. He's calling for immediate movement on the certificate of need.
“I along with local legislators and other local leaders have sought a meeting with Governor [Ned] Lamont about this unnecessarily long review process, but we have not heard back from the governor’s office,” Champagne said. “I know the governor cares deeply about access to healthcare for all Connecticut residents. I hope he will meet with us to hear our concerns and pleas for action.”
In a statement to FOX61, a spokesperson for Yale New Haven Health said: "Since we signed the OHS confidentiality agreement in order to continue productive conversations, we have nothing new to share at this time.”
FOX61 has also reached out to the governor's office, the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy and Prospect Medical Holdings and is waiting to hear back.
Angelo Bavaro is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at abavaro@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook and X.
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