Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
UConn Health Board Chair John Driscoll says Prospect Medical Holdings left Waterbury Hospital starved for investment — and he doesn’t mince words about it.
In this episode of Face More Facts, Driscoll explains UConn Health’s plans for Waterbury Hospital, the financial challenges facing Connecticut healthcare and what changes to Medicaid could mean for patients and hospitals.
The conversation also goes inside the rising cost of prescription drugs and the role of pharmacy benefit managers. Drawing on his own experience in the industry, Driscoll argues for more transparency around PBMs, insurers and drug pricing.
Plus: Can Connecticut preserve rural healthcare? Why are medical bills so difficult to understand? And can companies afford to pay workers a living wage?
Chapters
00:00 What John Driscoll wants to change at UConn Health
01:53 The changing role of an academic health system
03:23 Why UConn Health is investing in Waterbury
04:53 Driscoll unloads on Prospect Medical Holdings
06:43 Can UConn Health make expansion financially viable?
10:36 Questions surrounding UConn Health leadership
11:43 Why healthcare is so confusing for patients
14:13 Affordability and healthcare price transparency
16:30 Medicare for All and potential healthcare disruption
17:43 Medicaid work requirements and loss of coverage
20:15 What Medicaid changes could mean for Waterbury
21:27 The threat to rural Connecticut healthcare
22:30 Immigration, staffing shortages and AI in medicine
24:08 What should rural hospitals actually provide?
26:26 The soaring cost of prescription drugs
28:05 A former PBM executive explains what's broken
30:11 Spread pricing and specialty drugs
32:40 Do we still need PBMs?
34:54 Doctors publicly battling insurance companies
38:07 Can healthcare workers be paid more?
41:20 What happened after Driscoll raised worker wages
42:22 Is corporate greed part of the problem?
45:34 Proposed taxes and a living wage
50:02 Can Washington actually lower drug prices?
52:09 Final thoughts
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UConn Health Board Chair John Driscoll says Prospect Medical Holdings left Waterbury Hospital starved for investment — and he doesn’t mince words about it.
In this episode of Face More Facts, Driscoll explains UConn Health’s plans for Waterbury Hospital, the financial challenges facing Connecticut healthcare and what changes to Medicaid could mean for patients and hospitals.
The conversation also goes inside the rising cost of prescription drugs and the role of pharmacy benefit managers. Drawing on his own experience in the industry, Driscoll argues for more transparency around PBMs, insurers and drug pricing.
Plus: Can Connecticut preserve rural healthcare? Why are medical bills so difficult to understand? And can companies afford to pay workers a living wage?
Chapters
00:00 What John Driscoll wants to change at UConn Health
01:53 The changing role of an academic health system
03:23 Why UConn Health is investing in Waterbury
04:53 Driscoll unloads on Prospect Medical Holdings
06:43 Can UConn Health make expansion financially viable?
10:36 Questions surrounding UConn Health leadership
11:43 Why healthcare is so confusing for patients
14:13 Affordability and healthcare price transparency
16:30 Medicare for All and potential healthcare disruption
17:43 Medicaid work requirements and loss of coverage
20:15 What Medicaid changes could mean for Waterbury
21:27 The threat to rural Connecticut healthcare
22:30 Immigration, staffing shortages and AI in medicine
24:08 What should rural hospitals actually provide?
26:26 The soaring cost of prescription drugs
28:05 A former PBM executive explains what's broken
30:11 Spread pricing and specialty drugs
32:40 Do we still need PBMs?
34:54 Doctors publicly battling insurance companies
38:07 Can healthcare workers be paid more?
41:20 What happened after Driscoll raised worker wages
42:22 Is corporate greed part of the problem?
45:34 Proposed taxes and a living wage
50:02 Can Washington actually lower drug prices?
52:09 Final thoughts
Visit nbcconnecticut.com for the latest in news, weather, entertainment, sports and other great content.
NBC CT Facebook facebook.com/NBCConnecticut
NBC CT Instagram instagram.com/nbcconnecticut
#nbc #nbcconnecticut #ConnectingYou #nbcct
Download the NBC Connecticut app: nbcconnecticut.app.link/NuGsXNFUWGb
