Move afoot to fight cuts to Connecticut hospitals

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Efforts are under way to soften the blow of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposed budget cuts to Connecticut hospitals.

Sen. Tony Guglielmo, a Republican from Stafford Springs, says he will urge the legislature's caucus of rural legislators next week to stop the governor's plan.

House Speaker Brendan Sharkey says Democratic leaders also are trying to address hospital concerns. A bill before the Public Health Committee aims to restore funding.

The governor's plan would cut aid by $208 million the first year and by $342.4 million the following year. Most of the money helps cover uninsured patients.

But Malloy contends hospitals don't need as much state aid because more people previously uninsured are now covered by Medicaid and the number of uninsured will drop under the federal Affordable Care Act.