Lawmakers on Tuesday passed legislation authorizing a massive overhaul of the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, as well as the development of a regional health network, The Associate Press reports.
The Senate gave final legislative approval to the far-reaching project that includes renovating the 35-year-old John Dempsey Hospital at the health center campus, building a new patient tower, and increasing classroom and lab space for UConn’s medical and dentistry schools, boosting their national reputation.
The bill passed on a 28-7 vote. Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell is expected to sign it into law.
“Tonight’s vote represents a critical leap forward — not just for a state-of-the-art John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington but for a health network with incredible reach throughout Connecticut and thousands of new jobs that will be associated with the network and the hospital,” Rell said.
The project’s cost is estimated at $362 million. The bill authorizes $237 million in borrowing, including about $25 million that will be shifted from bonds originally earmarked for other UConn projects. Connecticut is also applying for a $100 million federal grant.
If the state doesn’t receive the grant — which was included in the federal health care reform legislation — the project won’t go forward. Some Republican senators, who argued Connecticut cannot afford the project given the state’s fiscal woes, criticized the bill for still requiring that the $25 million be spent.
“Why would we want to risk that $25 million,” asked Senate Minority John McKinney, R-Fairfield, who unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to require the legislation wait until the state actually receives the federal funding.
“We can’t afford this bill, plain and simple,” said Sen. Dan Debicella, R-Shelton, the ranking Senate Republican on the budget-writing committee.
But proponents argued that the planned overhaul of the health center dovetails with the billions of dollars that have been invested in recent years into overhauling UConn’s main campus in Storrs and the branch campuses.
They also argued that the massive project will become an economic generator for the state, eventually creating 5,000 jobs and boosting the reputation of the UConn medical and dental schools.
The plan also calls for a partnership between UConn and area hospitals. As part of the collaboration, various health services and medical training will be offered, including a cancer center, primary care institute, a simulation training center for medical professionals, and a clinical trials institute at the different area facilities.
“We know in other states, medical and technology corridors have produced jobs and contributed to moving the economy of states forward,” said Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn. “In these tough times, not only is high quality health care important, but providing the jobs of the future, that’s also a very important goal. This proposal does that.”
