The Connecticut Office of Health Care Access has delayed publishing updated figures on the financial condition of Connecticut hospitals.
A computer system upgrade is the culprit.
In the 2006 fiscal year, the operating margin at Connecticut hospitals slipped to 2.5 percent from 3.3 percent in fiscal 2005, and the number of hospitals that operated in red ink increased from 11 to 14.
A hospital”™s operating margin has a direct impact on cash flow needed to update facilities and equipment. Among other causes, OHCA blamed a 12 percent increase in care for which hospitals were not compensated, to $190 million.
Last year OHCA contracted with Bloomfield-based PCC Technology Group Inc. to create a new hospital reporting data base, replacing the agency”™s outdated hospital budget system. OHCA expects to be able to create more useful reports, while saving time on data input.
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