Legislative update: SIM funding may draw lawsuit, nursing home profit sunlight bill passes House

The proposed state budget includes $3.5 million in funds for the new SIM state agency. CT Mirror reports that the funding is planned to come from a tax on insurers. The inclusion of self-insured plans in the new tax may draw a federal lawsuit. The state hopes it won’t and points to a vaccine program that is funded by self-insured plans and others. Industry analysts point out that vaccines are clearly beneficial to everyone, but SIM’s benefits are unclear. Consumer advocates have raised many concerns about the SIM proposal.

Yesterday the House passed legislation to open the books on for-profit nursing homes. CT News Junkie reports that the legislation has been championed by workers in response to concerns about nursing homes claiming losses and seeking state Medicaid increases but potentially hiding profits in affiliated businesses. The bill now moves to the Senate.