HUSKY Medicaid checks won’t go out to thousands of doctors next week, unless Connecticut lawmakers plug a $300 million deficit by this coming Wednesday.

House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) insisted that the money will go out on time – even if lawmakers can't reach a deal with Gov. Ned Lamont on how to plug the budget hole.

At Norwalk Community Health Center, most patients can’t afford a doctor on their own. Instead, Medicaid pays for their visit.

“We have upwards of 40% our patients who are presenting for care that are [otherwise] uninsured,” said CEO Kenneth Waller.

Now, HUSKY providers across the state in limbo.

“This is a very, very big vote and a very difficult issue,” Ritter said on Thursday. “Medicaid checks won’t go out if we don’t solve this.”

Ritter said lawmakers will vote on an emergency deficiency package on Monday.

The problem is, they don’t agree with Lamont on how to pay for it. The sticking point involves using this year’s budget surplus, which could impact next year’s budget.

“We sat down with the leaders. We’re going to find a way that we work together to get this done,” Lamont told News 12 Connecticut. “We’re going to have to make some adjustments there, and you’re not going to make it just by cutting services.”

Like most states, Connecticut has seen Medicaid costs jump – due to higher hospital costs and prescription drug prices. The deficit grew because lawmakers failed to adjust the state budget last year, to account for the increased costs.

Republicans are urging both sides to stick to the “fiscal guardrails” that limit state spending, but have also rung up huge surpluses in recent years.

“I don’t want our health care system falling victim to a food fight between the governor and the Democrats,” said House GOP leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford).

CUTS FROM WASHINGTON

The current crisis may only be the beginning.

Congress is proposing nearly $800 billion in federal cuts to Medicaid.

“It’s going to put an economic strain on hospitals,” Waller said. “There are going to be a lot of individuals who are going to lose access to coverage.”

Norwalk Community Health Center is already one of the few clinics that accepts HUSKY because of chronically low reimbursement rates. Connecticut hasn’t raised them in almost 20 years.

Providers are unlikely to get relief. Lamont and legislative Democrats only proposed a small increase over the next two years.

Negotiations are continuing between top Democrats and Lamont over Monday’s emergency Medicaid funding package.

If Lamont vetoes it, Democrats have enough votes to override him.

“Am not worried about it? No,” Ritter said.