Though Farmington-based UConn Health may be facing a $60 million deficit, one faculty member came to the system's defense in an op-ed published in the Hartford Courant.
Santhanam Lakshminarayanan, MD, is an associate professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Rheumatology at UConn Health, and pointed out how the highly ranked medical and dental schools at UConn Health turn out new classes of clinicians every year, a vital service to both the state and the country. He also noted more than $600 million worth of research associated with UConn Health has not only allowed for groundbreaking medial work but also supports a host of startups that are working to grow and innovate the field.
Dr. Lakshminarayanan said that the system brings 6,000 jobs to the region and has an estimated economic impact of $2 billion. However, he emphasized the health system always prioritizes its most important duty.
"We at UConn Health believe in embracing healthcare as a universal right, ensuring unfettered access while recognizing that providing healthcare for each and every individual is a moral obligation," Dr. Lakshminarayanan wrote. UConn Health's role in taking care of the underinsured and the Medicaid population of the state means less reimbursement…We see that role we play as a safety net as defining our very mission."
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