Connecticut Regional Institute

Report Compares State’s Nursing Home Vs. In-Home Long Term Care

ctri2010 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:09:46 +0000

CT 21st Century Cites Nursing Home Care Costs in CT Prohibitive; Affecting State’s Ranking

A recent AARP report ranked Connecticut 11th among states for long term care (LTC) and 8th in overall affordability and accessibility. While nursing home care in the state is prohibitively expensive (placing Connecticut 48th in affordability), home care is fairly reasonable by comparison, resulting in a rank of 12th.

The Connecticut Institute for the 21st Century (the Institute) recently published a statewide report that cites rebalancing as a key element to address the state’s long term care system. In Connecticut, each LTC waiver is managed separately, creating a challenging environment for persons seeking appropriate home and community based care. Rebalancing requires improved access to home and community based care at a level on par with institutional/nursing home care, giving people a choice when home and community based care is appropriate.

The Institute report also states that provisions for greater choice and access for long term care will create a more favorable ratio of people receiving home and community based care versus institutional/nursing home care. Currently, the state’s system balance is 53% home and community based care and 47% institutional care. Connecticut’s stated goal of a more-balanced system is 75% home and community based care and 25% institutional care, which would avoid more than $900 million in annual LTC costs in 2025, and produce two other major benefits:

Connecticut Residents Prefer to Receive LTC at Home
Almost 80% of state residents would prefer to continue living in their homes, with home health or homemaker services being provided.
Rebalancing Can Significantly Slow Growth of LTC Spending
On average, Connecticut Medicaid dollars can support more than two older people and adults with physical disabilities in a home and community-based setting for every one person in an institutional setting.

To that end, Connecticut has an initiative specifically designed to promote personal independence and achieve fiscal efficiencies called Money Follows the Person. The initiative was recently funded by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the State of Connecticut as part of a national effort to rebalance LTC systems, according to the needs of all persons with disabilities. Successful early program results show an average monthly cost decrease from $2,651 for institutional care to $963 for home and community based care.

Framework for Connecticut’s Fiscal Future: Series of Studies to Address Alternative Approaches to State Budget Crisis

ctri2010 — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:59:26 +0000

Third Study Released: Funding Crisis for State Pensions and Other Post Employment Benefits

The Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century (the Institute), a non-profit group that focuses on ways in which Connecticut can expand its economic growth, today announced key findings of the third in its series of studies to inform policymakers about critical issues that hold the most potential for the state’s future.

The State projects facing a $3.4 billion budget deficit in fiscal year 2011. Shrinking revenues are forcing governors and legislators to examine all areas of public spending for possible savings. This report focuses on the funding crisis for pensions and other post employment benefits that is facing many states but is particularly burdensome in Connecticut.

Since the 2008 financial meltdown, the tension between the fiscal health of the states’ retirement programs and the need for states to provide other services has been especially intense. Between 2008 and September 2010, in an effort to get costs under control, 40 states took at least one action with respect to their pension programs and 15 states took at least one action with respect to their retiree medical program. View the full press release…

View Executive Summary
View PPT of Full Findings
View Executive Summary PPT
View Presentation
View the Video

CBIA Business Minute – Cost of Prison, Parole, and Probation Systems in CT

ctri2010 — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:59:12 +0000

One of the fastest growing segments of the state budget is corrections, according to a new report from the Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century. The report provides a series of substantive, comprehensive, attainable recommendations to the State’s prison system to achieve the right balance between the cost of the system, imposing appropriate justice for criminal activity, and ensuring public safety. Jim Torgerson, CEO of UIL Holdings and chairman of the Institute talks about how the recommendations can help the state achieve savings. More info…

State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Report Cards

ctri2010 — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:56:13 +0000

The state of Connecticut’s Judicial Branch report cards for the probation system and the community-based services at the Alternative in the Community (AIC) program show a significant drop in the recidivism rate for probationers and for those attending the AIC (performance measure #6 on each report card).

To Whom it May Concern:

ctri2010 — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:24:15 +0000

This letter is being written to address questions and concerns related to Blum Shapiro’s role in The Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century (CRI-21) study that looks at the future of Long Term Care (LTC) in the state. We feel it is critically important to correct any misperceptions about the conclusions of the study or where we stand as a firm on the findings. Also, we understand that some individuals may be using the report out of context and not in the proper perspective. More info…

Assessment of Correction, Parole and Probation Systems

ctri2010 — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:18:17 +0000

Framework for Connecticut’s Fiscal Future: Series of Studies to Address Alternative Approaches to State Budget Crisis
Second Study Released: Assessment of Correction, Parole and Probation Systems

The Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century (the Institute), a non-profit group that focuses on ways in which Connecticut can expand its economic growth, today announced key findings of the second in a series of studies aimed at informing policymakers on critical issues that hold the most potential for the state’s future.

With state budget deficits of $10 billion over the next three years, the Institute continues to review and assess areas of state spending and evaluate alternative approaches to program delivery that could result in significant savings. The initiative, called Framework for Connecticut’s Fiscal Future, consists of a series of studies – the first of which addressed the State’s long term care system and was released in March of this year.

Today’s report, Assessment of Connecticut’s Correction, Parole and Probation Systems, points out a number of interesting facts including the issue that there is no one criminal justice system in Connecticut. In fact the systems span two branches of government – the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Judicial Branch – which leads to difficult management issues. The report also provides highlights of the nation’s prison system; where Connecticut stands in relation to other states and the nation; how public policy decisions directly impact prison population numbers; the State’s costly system; and the many improvements Connecticut has made thus far. The report provides a series of substantive, comprehensive, attainable recommendations to the State’s prison system to achieve the right balance between the cost of the system, imposing appropriate justice for criminal activity, and ensuring public safety. View the full press release

For more information:
View Executive Summary
View PPT of Full Findings
View Presentation
View the Video

CBIA Business Minute – Cost of Long Term Care in CT

ctri2010 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:29:39 +0000

The Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century, a non profit group that studies important issues regarding the state’s competitiveness, just released a new report on the cost of long term care in Connecticut. Brian Renstrom, partner, Blum Shapiro and author of the report discusses the findings and next steps. More info…

Assessment of Long Term Care

ctri2010 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:19:56 +0000

Framework for Connecticut’s Fiscal Future: Series of Studies to Address Alternative Approaches During State Crisis
First Study Released: Assessment of Long Term Care

The Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century (the Institute), today announced an initiative aimed at informing policymakers on key issues that hold the most potential for the state’s future.

Recognizing that the state is struggling with the most difficult fiscal crisis in its history, the Institute is reviewing areas of state spending and evaluating alternative approaches to program delivery that could result in significant savings.

The initiative, called Framework for Connecticut’s Fiscal Future, will consist of a series of studies – the first of which, entitled Assessment of Connecticut’s Long Term Care System, was released today at a press conference at the State Legislative Office Building to executive and legislative leadership. View the Full Press Release

For more information:
View Executive Summary
View PPT of Full Findings
View Video
View Presentation

Welcome to the Connecticut Regional Institute

ctri2010 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:37:17 +0000

Welcome to the Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century – the Institute provides continuing opportunities for its members and other organizations to understand and discuss economic activity in the state and obstacles to its success.