Serous concerns have been raised by diverse stakeholders
about the Health Care Cabinet’s Strawman proposal for health reform. Among the
proposal’s very ambitious plans are merging a dozen state agencies that touch
on health under one person, close “alignment” of Medicaid and the state
employee plan, creation of a new agency to oversee and regulate all of
Connecticut’s health care purchasing, and
expand untested downside risk across the state giving providers little choice
but to accept financial risk (although for Medicaid they can just leave the
program). Acknowledging the concerns, twenty one independent consumers and
providers sent
a letter yesterday urging the Health Care Cabinet to take the time for a
public process to get input from all stakeholders and consider other options to
develop a workable reform plan.
