May, 2011 - CT Health Policy

Health reform bill passes the House

By Ellen Andrews | May 30, 2011 |

The health reform bill agreed to by the administration and legislative leaders, HB 6308, passed the House Friday. The bill allows the municipalities to join with the state employee plan Jan. 1st of next year, and brings in nonprofits that do significant business with the state a year later. It directs the state employee plan…

Fixing Medicaid: Healing CT’s Largest Health Care Program

By Ellen Andrews | May 27, 2011 |

Access to care in CT’s public programs has always been a struggle; it is difficult to find a provider who takes Medicaid. In 2008 CT significantly raised Medicaid payment rates but a report by the CT Health Policy Project before, during and after the increase found that physician participation in the program didn’t improve. With…

Paid sick days bill passes Senate

By Ellen Andrews | May 26, 2011 |

CT is likely to become the first state in the nation to require some employers to offer paid sick leave. SB 913 passed the state Senate yesterday 18 to 17. The bill would give workers in companies with 50 or more employees one hour of sick leave for every forty hours worked. Leave can be…

DSS implementer bill allows agency to cut benefits without legislative approval

By Ellen Andrews | May 25, 2011 |

Section 116 of SB 1240, passed by the Senate yesterday, would allow DSS to cut benefits provided to consumers in the LIA program, formerly known as SAGA. Cuts could include, but is not limited to, office and hospital visits, therapy services, medical equipment and supplies, medications, non-emergency medical transportation, and home care. If unchanged, the…

Consumer and provider brochures on Affordable Care Act

By Ellen Andrews | May 25, 2011 |

CT’s Office of Health Care Advocate has published four new understandable brochures, in English and Spanish, for consumers and providers, about changes in our health care system with national health reform.

SustiNet moving forward

By Ellen Andrews | May 24, 2011 |

An agreement has been reached on SustiNet, CT’s plan for health reform, with supporters, the administration and legislative leadership. Funding for the initiative was included in the budget that passed Text of the bill is expected to be public soon.

News Round Up and a wonky quiz

By Ellen Andrews | May 20, 2011 |

Medical marijuana bill advances http://www.ctmirror.org/node/12621 Gridlock in DC on medical malpractice http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12629/medmal Paid sick days http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12656/senate-poised-pass-paid-sick-days-slimmest-margins and http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/paid_sick_day_bill_will_be_amended_but_passage_is_still_uncertain and http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2011/05/malloy-visits-senate-chamber-t.html UConn Health Center funding advances http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/malloy_increases_investment_in_uconn_health_center and http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/frustrated_with_a_rushed_process_finance_passes_uconn_health_center_improve Labor response to budget deal http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/state_workers_react_to_labor_agreement Hookah lounges http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/hookah_lounge_bill_passes_planning_and_development and http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2011/05/ban-on-new-hookah-lounges-narr.html School cafeterias not inspected http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/health/entry/school_cafeterias_lack_local_health_inspections More mosquitoes likely this summer http://www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-weir-mosquitoes-0520-20110519,0,6524849.story Test your knowledge of the…

Connecticut patient-centered medical home first adopters

By Ellen Andrews | May 19, 2011 |

Transforming a busy medical practice into a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) can be daunting but the benefits are worth it, according to a report by CTHPP intern Kim Kushner. With 113 NCQA recognized patient centered medical homes, CT is far behind surrounding states. Kim interviewed a solo practitioner, a safety net community health center and…

SustiNet and labor deals announced

By Ellen Andrews | May 17, 2011 |

Supporters of SustiNet, the state’s plan for health reform, the administration and legislature have come to an agreement that includes creating a SustiNet Cabinet to shepherd the implementation of reforms in CT. The Cabinet will develop a business plan for a public option of health coverage and study the feasibility of exercising the Basic Health…

Medicaid Council update

By Ellen Andrews | May 13, 2011 |

Today’s Medicaid Council meeting was overwhelming – DSS has made a lot of very detailed decisions about how to structure and finance the Integrated Care Organization (ICO) proposal for dual eligibles and outlined them in 45 complex slides at the meeting which were not made available at the time. After the meeting, Comm. Bremby stated…