Archive for November 2012
Exchange Board and staff water down already watered-down affordability and access provisions
In a surprise to advisory committee co-chairs, CT Health Insurance Exchange staff submitted four alternative policy proposals at today’s Board meeting – they were adopted virtually intact by the Board. The staff alternatives were contrary to the recommendations adopted Tuesday by the Consumer and Qualified Health Plan Advisory Committees, with Exchange staff at every meeting.…
Read MoreGovernor’s initial budget cuts
Yesterday the administration announced an initial list of $170 million in cuts to address the growing state budget deficit. The cuts include AIDS services, breast & cervical cancer detection and treatment, home care, Healthy Start, and DSH payments to hospitals. The cuts also include $1.5 million from HUSKY B, but expenses were down significantly in…
Read MoreJoint exchange committees voting down active purchasing, cost control
While the votes are reportedly still coming in, it appears that the Consumer and QHP Insurance Exchange committees have voted against active purchasing. With active purchasing, other state exchanges are using the power of numbers, as large employers do, to negotiate better premiums, lower costs and better coverage for their members. MA has saved millions…
Read MoreJust 6 days to comment on exchange health plan solicitation
Stakeholders had only six days to comment on the 40 page health plan solicitation from the CT Health Insurance Exchange – and it’s already over. Stakeholders in CA and MD had months to comment, with multiple drafts, meetings and opportunities to craft better proposals. The CT Health Policy Project’s initial comments centered on active purchasing,…
Read MoreExchange advisory committees reject “any-willing insurer”
Today in a joint meeting of the Health Plan Benefits/Qualifications and Consumer Experience/Outreach committees of the CT Health Insurance Exchange voted against the staff recommendation “that the Exchange not deny any carrier QHP certification on the basis of its approved rates”. The only votes for the staff’s any willing insurer proposal were from Aetna and…
Read MoreWho is coming into LIA?
Today’s CT Mirror asks the question – who are the 37,000 new enrollees in the Low Income Adult Program? LIA was created just over a year ago as an option under the Affordable Care Act. CT shifted our fully-state-funded SAGA program into Medicaid, getting a 50% federal match, and re-named it LIA. When the program…
Read MoreCT Insurance Exchange holding public events
In response to concerns about the lack of public input, CT’s Health Insurance Exchange will be holding seven “Healthy Chat” events in the next month. Similar to Consumer Conversations last month but sponsored by the exchange this time, they will be reporting on their activities but will also be taking questions. We will be asking…
Read MoreWhere are the consumers on the consumer committee?
Kevin Galvin of Small Business for Healthy CT reflects on the recent CT Health Insurance Exchange’s Consumer Committee meeting. A lack of consumers on the consumer committee explains a lot.
Read MoreNovember webquiz – substance use rates in CT
Test your knowledge of substance abuse in CT. Take the November CT Health Policy Webquiz.
Read MoreWhy CT’s health insurance exchange needs to negotiate
CT’s health insurance exchange is not planning to negotiate with insurers to improve value and control costs for consumers. As of January 2014, consumers will be mandated to secure coverage. Consumers eligible for affordability assistance must purchase in the still developing exchange to get the subsidies. Massachusetts’s exchange (the Connector) negotiates, termed active purchasing, with…
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