Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism
CT VIEWPOINTS -- opinions from around Connecticut

Ways to improve Connecticut health care should not be overlooked — or taxed!

  • CT Viewpoints
  • by Thomas A. Rockoff, MD
  • May 4, 2016
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

A recent study showed that, relative to a comparison group, the rate of colonoscopies increased by 5.6 percentage points among Connecticut state employees over age 50 participating in a voluntary wellness program.  While that’s a step in the right direction, there’s still a long way to go:  In the general population, we estimate 30 to 40 percent of those who should have a colonoscopy actually do.  In any case, these statistics underscore the need to remove any and all obstacles to get people screened for colorectal cancer.

As state employees and other Connecticut citizens become better-informed consumers of health care – and understand the long-term value of diagnostic and preventative procedures such as colonoscopies — they will likely consider having those procedures performed on an outpatient basis.

Instead of hospitals, more and more people are choosing to schedule their colonoscopies in ambulatory surgery centers – same-day outpatient surgical centers that provide high quality services at a lower cost and closer to home.  Making colonoscopies accessible and affordable is critical – patients don’t need any more excuses for avoiding them.

Colonoscopies reduce cancer and mortality rates, a just-published study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology has underscored, and there has indeed been a steady decline for the past decade in colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Consider this:  Our state is home to more than 1.2 million people over 50, the age when a screening colonoscopy is advised for all of “average risk” for colorectal cancer.  If just 2 percent of the over-50s in the state had their colonoscopies in ambulatory surgery centers instead of hospitals they would collectively save about $20 million in health care costs.

There is perhaps no better demonstration of the tremendous value – in terms of health, and cost – of affordable and accessible health care provided by ambulatory surgical centers, where today about half of all colonoscopies are performed.

All of this makes the Connecticut state legislature’s last-minute decision in 2015 to target these outpatient surgical facilities with a burdensome new health care tax a distressing example of an industry taking one significant step forward, only to be pushed two steps back.  It is the wrong direction for a state that desperately needs to bring health care costs in check.

The substantial and increasing impact of ambulatory surgery centers in improving health care and reducing health care costs should not be overlooked, nor should it be overtaxed.

Ambulatory surgery centers operate like small businesses. Unlike other health care facilities that benefit from numerous state, local and federal tax exemptions, ambulatory surgery centers pay income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes.

The new additional tax, a “top-line” gross receipts tax, translates to an effective income tax rate of 30 percent. The net effect is to take money that would otherwise have been invested in medical innovation and patient care and redirecting it to state coffers. The tax does nothing to improve the health of Connecticut citizens, and potentially limits patients’ choices.

Ambulatory surgery centers have a proven track record in providing quality health care at lower costs. Isn’t that what we are trying to achieve, as a state and nation?

By imposing the unfair and arbitrary additional tax, legislators have unwittingly undercut health care access and affordability in Connecticut.  They now have an opportunity to correct this mistake by repealing this health care tax.

The case is compelling.  Ambulatory surgery centers should not be penalized for making health care more affordable. Neither should Connecticut residents be denied access to convenient, high quality outpatient surgery options.

We should know better than to throw the baby out with the bathwater, even in challenging fiscal times.

Dr.Thomas A. Rockoff is a practicing gastroenterologist in Waterbury.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Redistricting in Connecticut 2021: It is worth your attention
by Patricia Rossi

This is the year for redistricting in the United States. Maps drawn in 2021 will define which voters can vote for which candidates for the next ten years.  That means ensuring that the 2021 maps are fair and representative of their communities is critically important.

Lembo: Legislators should let constituents share the success of their health plan.
by Comptroller Kevin Lembo

The health care crisis in Connecticut continues. Bills under consideration in Connecticut expand subsidies, attempt to lower prescription drug costs and address long-standing health care inequities. There is room to incorporate the best of each if it helps make health care in our state more affordable, equitable and accessible. But Senate Bill 842 is the only bill that provides short and long-term help for small businesses, nonprofits and certain labor unions.

Will the Comptroller open the state-run healthcare plan’s books?
by Wyatt Bosworth

What choices do you have when you cannot defend a policy issue on its merits? One path is that chosen by former New Britain Democratic Town Committee chair Bill Shortell in his April 14 Viewpoints opinion piece, “Debunking the CBIA’s takedown of the public option healthcare bill.” Instead of defending any perceived merits associated with the proposed expansion of state-run healthcare in Connecticut, Shortell attacks the messenger. In this case, two organizations that have raised legitimate —and unanswered— questions about that proposal.

Climate action now to insure Connecticut’s future
by Commissioners Andrew Mais and Katie Dykes

Connecticut has had nine weather-related federal disaster declarations in the past 11 years, totaling more than $362 million in damages. For Storms Irene, Sandy, and the 2011 October Nor’easter, insurers paid out more than $1 billion to cover insured damages in Connecticut. The climate crisis is upon us. The science is clear. We must act now.

College students in Connecticut should be vaccinated now
by Dayna Vadala

If the state of Connecticut wants its institutions of higher learning to return to normal in the fall, it’s going to have to get shots into the arms of the students.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Redistricting in Connecticut 2021: It is worth your attention
by Patricia Rossi

This is the year for redistricting in the United States. Maps drawn in 2021 will define which voters can vote for which candidates for the next ten years.  That means ensuring that the 2021 maps are fair and representative of their communities is critically important.

Opinion Lembo: Legislators should let constituents share the success of their health plan.
by Comptroller Kevin Lembo

The health care crisis in Connecticut continues. Bills under consideration in Connecticut expand subsidies, attempt to lower prescription drug costs and address long-standing health care inequities. There is room to incorporate the best of each if it helps make health care in our state more affordable, equitable and accessible. But Senate Bill 842 is the only bill that provides short and long-term help for small businesses, nonprofits and certain labor unions.

Opinion Will the Comptroller open the state-run healthcare plan’s books?
by Wyatt Bosworth

What choices do you have when you cannot defend a policy issue on its merits? One path is that chosen by former New Britain Democratic Town Committee chair Bill Shortell in his April 14 Viewpoints opinion piece, “Debunking the CBIA’s takedown of the public option healthcare bill.” Instead of defending any perceived merits associated with the proposed expansion of state-run healthcare in Connecticut, Shortell attacks the messenger. In this case, two organizations that have raised legitimate —and unanswered— questions about that proposal.

Opinion Climate action now to insure Connecticut’s future
by Commissioners Andrew Mais and Katie Dykes

Connecticut has had nine weather-related federal disaster declarations in the past 11 years, totaling more than $362 million in damages. For Storms Irene, Sandy, and the 2011 October Nor’easter, insurers paid out more than $1 billion to cover insured damages in Connecticut. The climate crisis is upon us. The science is clear. We must act now.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO