Big pieces of legislation hang in the balance as end nears

HARTFORD, Conn. – The clock is ticking on the 2014 legislative session and there are still some big issues waiting to be debated.

One of those issues is hospital conversions. Lawmakers wanted to modify the process that a nonprofit hospital must undergo in order for it to be purchased by a for-profit company, but there seems to be little agreement about how to move forward.

Rep. Susan Johnson (D-49) and Sen. Terry Gerratana (D-6), the co-chairs of the Public Health Committee, said Friday that they haven’t reached an agreement yet on exactly what should be included in the bill.

“It’s a big decision to have a for-profit come in and take over a community hospital,” Johnson said. “We haven’t come to an agreement.”

SEIU Director Paul Filson, who has been following the discussion closely because many of his members work in hospitals, said he doesn’t know whether there’s enough time.

See the complete story at CT News Junkie.