Budget Process
Approps budget health impact analysis
Our summary of health coverage related items in the Appropriations budget is posted. The legislature restored the large majority of Governor Rell’s proposed cuts including rejecting premiums and copays for Medicaid, cuts in services to SAGA, restored coverage for immigrants and medical interpretation.
Read MoreAppropriations passes a budget
The budget approved by the Appropriations Committee restores many of Governor Rell’s proposed cuts to health care programs. The committee did not agree to the Governor’s proposed co-pays and premiums on HUSKY families; imposition of premiums would jeopardize significant federal stimulus funding. Also to ensure CT gets new federal funding, the committee rejected the Governor’s…
Read MoreNew on cthealthpolicy.org
Updated policy paper: The Federal Stimulus Package and Passage of the SCHIP Reauthorization Bill: How Much Health Care Help Can CT Expect? Significant funding is coming to CT due to federal generosity including $1.3 billion in added Medicaid funds, $3.7 million for community health centers, and matching funds to cover legal immigrants under Medicaid/HUSKY. The…
Read MoreDemocrats outline three scenarios to save $2.8 billion
Emphasizing that they do not endorse the cuts, the Appropriations Committee described the types of cuts necessary to fill the remaining $2.8 billion budget gap without additional revenues. Across the three budget versions reductions include cutting Medicaid provider rates by 10% for nursing homes and 20% for all others, Medicaid co-pays, eliminating adult pharmacy in…
Read MoreGovernor releases her budget proposal
As promised, the Governor’s state budget proposal for the next two years released today includes painful cuts. Overall, Medicaid would be cut $283 million (6.8%) in the first year and $317 million (7.2%) in the second year. SAGA would be cut $13 m (5%) and $14 m (6.5%) in the two years. Among the proposals…
Read MoreAppropriations passes a budget
Today, the Appropriations Committee passed their version of the state budget, about $100 million below the Governor’s proposal. The Committee cut $110 million from Medicaid, HUSKY and nursing homes for cost and caseload updates – the Committee believes that the Medicaid budget has been inflated in recent years by the administration and wants to use…
Read MoreCMS wants to give states more Medicaid flexibility
Yesterday, CMS published proposed rules allowing state Medicaid programs more flexibility in program design, similar to SCHIP programs. The change is meant to “implement the Administration’s goals of aligning Medicaid more closely with private market insurance and giving states more control over their Medicaid benefit packages.” If approved the rules would allow states to reduce…
Read MoreDSS comes to Appropriations
Last week the Appropriations Committee met with state agencies on the Governor’s budget adjustments. Friday was DSS Commissioner Mike Starkowski’s turn. Beyond the “lovefest” over the agency’s performance in meeting pre-set goals, there were several tense exchanges. Legislators expressed concern that the dept. has chosen not to implement several programs the legislature negotiated into last…
Read MoreGovernor’s proposal to cut interpreters faces opposition
An article on ctnewsjunkie.com reports on Friday’s press conference by legislators opposing Governor Rell’s proposal to cut $4.7 million for medical interpreters in Medicaid. At last week’s Medicaid Managed Care Council, CT Voices for Children presented on the very high and growing rate of costly emergency room visits by Medicaid Managed Care/HUSKY patients. 38% of…
Read MorePolicymaker Issue Brief No. 43 – 2008 Upcoming Health Issues for Connecticut
CT will face some important health policy issues this year including HUSKY, Medicaid, Charter Oak and Covering the Uninsured. For a summary, go to the CT Health Policy Project’s Issue Brief — 2008 Upcoming Health Issues for CT Posted by Ellen Andrews
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