Posts by Ellen Andrews
Exchange update: HUSKY parents at risk, out of network standard plan costs alarming
Public testimony before yesterday’s CT Health Insurance Exchange Board centered on the administration’s proposal to cut eligibility for HUSKY parents over 133% of the federal poverty level (currently $25,975 for family of three) saving the state $3 million in FY 14 and $30 million (net) the next year. The proposal assumes those families will purchase…
Read MoreSeeking community input on public education about the ACA and insurance
The Affordable Care Act has a lot of moving parts – both opportunities and responsibilities – for consumers and it can be very confusing. Part of the rollout of the Affordable Care Act includes recruiting In-Person Assisters to help people who are uninsured get insurance. Organizers expect that hundreds of IPAs will be housed in community-based…
Read MoreMore Insurance Exchange forums scheduled
The CT Health Insurance Exchange, renamed Access Health CT, is planning more Healthy Chat forums. The events are designed to answer questions about the exchange and the states plans for health reform. Events will be held in Norwich, Willimantic, Manchester, Meriden, Torrington, Danbury and Enfield from Feb. 19th through March 19th in the evenings. For…
Read MoreEarly results on CT’s state employee wellness program encouraging
Early lessons from CT Health Enhancement Program (HEP) for state employees and retirees found primary care visits are up, specialty care is down, ER visits are down, and adherence to maintenance medications for chronic illness is up. HEP is administered by the Comptroller’s Office. There is also early evidence that HEP is slowing the increase…
Read MoreWin support for your health justice idea
Submit your idea to achieve health justice for every CT residents to the Health Justice Challenge and you may win $10,000 to implement it. The Challenge, project of Health Justice CT, is a competition open to individuals and organizations to generate solutions to health disparities in CT. The deadline has been extended to next Friday,…
Read MoreGovernor proposes to cut 40,000 working parents from HUSKY
The Governor’s budget proposal released today would move an estimated 20,000 working parents with incomes from 133% to 185% of the federal poverty level (currently $25,975 to $36,130/year for a family of three) from HUSKY to the CT Health Insurance Exchange. Right now those working parents pay no premiums or copays for comprehensive coverage. In…
Read MoreFebruary webquiz — CT hospital finances
Test your knowledge of CT hospital finances. Take the February CT Health Policy Quiz.
Read MorePositive active purchasing hearing
Fifteen of the nineteen testimonies for yesterday’s Insurance Committee public hearing on SB-596 were in favor of active purchasing. Proponents included the State Comptroller, State Health Care Advocate, small business and community groups, brokers, labor, patient safety, legal aid, consumer and faith-based groups. Opponents included CBIA, the HMO Association, NFIB, and the Exchange staff. The…
Read MoreInsurance Committee to hear exchange active purchasing bill
The legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee has raised SB-596, An Act Concerning the Duties of the CT Health Insurance Exchange, and will hold a public hearing on the bill Thursday. SB-596 requires the CT Health Insurance Exchange to actively purchase health coverage for the estimated one in ten state residents who will purchase health…
Read MoreCT still earns a C+ on reform
Connecticut health care thought leaders give our state a C+ on health reform again this winter; grades have varied between C and C+ over the last year. Connecticut also again earned a C+ for effort in this survey. Among issue areas only Medicaid improved since last Fall. Five areas lost ground particularly health information technology…
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