Clock is ticking on hospital conversion legislation

HARTFORD, Conn. – Legislation addressing the burning question of whether for profit entities should be allowed to purchase nonprofit hospitals in the state is still “a work in progress,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Friday.

“I have concerns about what might end up in that bill,” Malloy said.

Last year, Malloy vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for a private, for-profit hospital company to purchase physician practices from a nonprofit hospital. This year, lawmakers are debating legislation that would increase state oversight of nonprofit-to-for-profit conversions. But at this point the bill is essentially just a legislative vehicle. The administration, lawmakers, and representatives of state hospitals are negotiating a compromise behind the scenes.

Malloy said he’s comfortable with the current system, where all but one of the state’s hospitals are being run by nonprofit organizations.

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