The University of Connecticut Health Center Board of Directors voted on Tuesday to move forward with a plan to take over adolescent psychiatric services from the state-run Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center – South Campus in Middletown.
In a statement, UConn Health CEO Dr. Andy Agwunobi told The Connecticut Mirror that Solnit Center would be established as a satellite location of UConn John Dempsey Hospital. The psychiatric facility provides services for severe mental illness, behavioral and emotional problems for children 13 to 17 years old. It is currently run by the state Department of Children and Families.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to delivering exceptional, high-quality, and specialized care for Connecticut’s youth while optimizing resources across agencies,” Agwunobi said. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring our clinical expertise, academic resources, and patient-centered approach to the important care Solnit Hospital provides.”
In March, Gov. Ned Lamont signed an “emergency certified” bill into law that included a provision giving UConn Health a one-time pass to sidestep the approval process for major hospital transactions, like unit closures and acquisitions, if done before July 1. That helped fast-track the planned acquisition of the Solnit Children’s Center.
The measure was passed by the legislature last month to ensure UConn Health continued to qualify for the federal 340B drug pricing program, which requires drug manufacturers to sell steeply discounted outpatient drugs to hospitals if they treat a certain proportion of low-income patients. The hospital system was in danger of losing tens of millions in federal funding if it did not increase the number of low-income patients it treated by a June 30 reporting deadline, lawmakers had said.
Sen. Saud Anwar, co-chair of the Public Health Committee, said Tuesday’s UConn Health board vote was a positive step toward improving in-patient psychiatric services for adolescents in Connecticut by ensuring they are treated by high-caliber medical professionals.
“UConn has not only some of the finest clinicians, but also a pipeline of the finest clinicians,” Anwar said, adding that the Middletown facility has been the source of many complaints. “This was an opportunity to address that and fix it in a comprehensive manner, to expand their ability to provide the care that’s needed and take care of some of these wonderful community members.”
Interim DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton said in a statement that DCF is “committed to ensuring a thoughtful transition of Solnit Hospital that prioritizes continuity of care for the children and families the hospital serves.
“We will continue to work closely with UConn Health, staff, families, and legislative partners to support operations, maintain stability for patients, and ensure a seamless process,” she said. “Our focus remains on safeguarding the well-being of youth throughout this transition.”