July’s CT Health Reform
Dashboard update is very active. SIM ethics problems are back in the news,
with the death of a bill that would have closed the legal loophole that exempts
SIM appointees. The state insurance department has suspended
HealthyCT, our state’s only non-profit, homegrown insurer. This is troubling
on many levels including reducing consumer choice, adding to our anti-competitive
market, and that non-profit, local insurers are an important partner supporting
constructive health reform in other states. 11,677
working parents still face uninsurance at the end of this month due to
HUSKY cuts. Only 15% have either been able to stay on HUSKY or been able to
afford AccessHealthCT coverage. Advocates are urging the state to provide useful
information in notices to at-risk parents. The Health Care Cabinet has
completed a survey of other states’ reforms and CT’s context. Now negotiations begin
on recommendations for Connecticut. The Governor’s CON Taskforce is also
beginning their work making recommendations to ensure access and affordability
in a competitive health care market. Next week OHCA is holding a hearing in New
London to consider Yale-New Haven’s plan to buy Lawrence & Memorial’s
hospital and physician groups.
