State GOP lawmakers said the move appeared to be an attempt to avoid spending federal funds on undocumented citizens\u2019 medical care.<\/p>\n
\u201cPer the administration, they have stated that these efforts are aimed at protecting taxpayer-funded benefits and vital resources for American citizens,\u201d Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, and Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, said in a joint statement. \u201cThere does not seem to be any indication that someone who has illegal status cannot seek medical services at a federally qualified health center. The difference now is that they would have to pay for that service and the taxpayers would not be on the hook for their care.\u201d<\/p>\n
But leaders of the state\u2019s federally qualified health centers say the money received through the federal Health Center Program \u2014 which is among the more than a dozen initiatives affected by the new policy \u2014 supports staffing, electronic medical records and overhead at community health centers. Uninsured patients currently pay according to an income-based sliding fee scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe federal government could interpret it to say, if you\u2019re using any federal money in your health center, you may not serve undocumented people,\u201d said Deb Polon, chief strategy officer for\u00a0the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut. \u201cMany of the facilities have been built partially with federal funds, so maybe they\u2019re going to say, \u2018Your facility is essentially a federal facility, and you can\u2019t serve undocumented people in that facility.\u2019 There are so many different possible interpretations.\u201d<\/p>\n
For now, the FQHCs are continuing to serve everyone who shows up for care while they await further information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Polun said.<\/p>\n
Connecticut has 17 federally qualified health centers with more than 300 facilities. The centers serve about 440,000 people annually statewide, including more than 70,000 who are uninsured.<\/p>\n
Of those, officials estimate that anywhere from 20,000 to 60,000 patients per year are undocumented residents. The health centers don\u2019t have a more precise number because employees do not inquire about patients\u2019 immigration statuses, Polun said.<\/p>\n
Legislative leaders on Wednesday criticized the Trump administration\u2019s recent notification on community health centers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe latest pronouncement from the federal government this week about targeting any entity that provides services to undocumented students is a very grave potential hit,\u201d Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said. \u201cFair Haven [Community Health Care in New Haven], I know, is determined to find a way to continue to serve all of its patients and to not abandon anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is happening is a health crisis around our country,\u201d Looney said.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford, called the Trump administration\u2019s decision, \u201ca really stupid policy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you cut primary care, people still need it. They just go to the emergency room to get it, and then you pay for it in your health care insurance or hospitals have more uncompensated care,\u201d Ritter said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very backward system. The notion that somehow the federal government is going to save all this money by denying people access and denying patients \u2014 whether they be documented or undocumented, the people you care for \u2014 they\u2019re just going to find a way to get other care or put it off until it\u2019s more expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Without access to primary care at community health centers, Polun has said<\/a>, more people will put off treatment and end up in hospital emergency departments when medical care is badly needed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve already had patients fearful of becoming detained or deported, so we\u2019ve seen a change in some of the behaviors \u2014 more cancelations, more, \u2018Can we switch this to telehealth instead of coming in?\u2019 This is one more obstacle, one more barrier to them being able to access health care,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The new policy could mean having to ask for and verify patients\u2019 immigration statuses at facilities and turn away people who receive coverage through the state\u2019s HUSKY for immigrants program, which offers government-sponsored health benefits to certain undocumented residents, officials said. As of April, 15,600 kids in Connecticut\u00a0were enrolled<\/a>\u00a0in the program.<\/p>\n Aside from undocumented immigrants, access to care could also be rolled back for children covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, refugees and individuals granted asylum under the new rule, health officials said.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, state leaders touted new investments they are making in federally qualified health centers.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/DSS-Commissioner-Reeves-Gov.-Lamont-at-Press-ConferenceIMG_7541-771x578.jpg\")
DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves announces funding secured for Medicaid reimbursement to Community Health Centers in CT for the coming three years at a press conference held July 16, 2025, at the Capitol. Credit: Janhavi Munde \/ CT Mirror<\/p>\n