Budget Process
Fifteen ways to save money in CT’s health care budget
The next administration faces an unprecedented budget deficit. The good news is that CT has barely scratched the surface of policy opportunities that save money, many of which also improve health care. Taking guidance from other states and other payers, we have assembled 15 ideas potentially reaching hundreds of millions in savings. We include PCCM,…
Read MoreBudget agreement reached
The Governor and General Assembly have reportedly reached an agreement on changes to next year’s budget, beginning July 1st, to cover a $2 billion deficit. The agreement includes converting HUSKY to a self-insured ASO model saving $77 million and increases in copays and premiums for HUSKY Part B families, saving $576,000. The legislature is expected…
Read MoreHouse passes budget mitigation plan
Yesterday the House approved a plan to address the $371 million deficit in this year’s state budget. The Senate will vote on the plan today and the Governor is expected to sign it. The bill includes freezing subsidized enrollments in the Charter Oak program at the end of this month; consumers paying full cost will…
Read MoreCT Medicaid wins in health reform reconciliation bill
The reconciliation bill scheduled to be considered this weekend by Congress benefits CT’s Medicaid program, and the state bottom line, in significant ways. The bill would expand Medicaid coverage to all state residents (except undocumented immigrants) up to 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL) — $14,620.50 for individuals and $19,669.50 for a family of…
Read MoreMedicaid Managed Care Council meeting update
Friday’s Council meeting was uneventful. After a year, there are 342 people in PCCM/HUSKY Primary Care; legislation requires at least 1,000. Despite that, DSS is steaming ahead on plans to evaluate the program by July 1st. It is fascinating that they are just now deciding to comply with deadlines in this program – they have…
Read MoreGovernor proposes more cuts to health care
To address the growing budget deficit, the Governor’s mitigation plan includes $13.7 million in new cuts to health care programs. The cuts include higher copays and premiums for HUSKY Part B and Charter Oak families, cuts to community and school-based health centers, cuts to Medicaid providers, reductions in hospital DSH payments for the uninsured, new…
Read MoreCT state retiree health and benefit system underfunded by $26 billion
A new report by the Pew Center on the States finds that while all but four states have underfunded retiree benefits, CT is among the worst. We are one of eight states with over one third of our liability unfunded. In 2008 CT’s pension liabilities totaled $41.3 billion, but we had only $25.45 billion in…
Read MoreGovernor’s budget proposal – lots of cuts and a plan to reform HUSKY HMOs
In her budget proposal released yesterday, the Governor proposed shifting the current HUSKY HMOs away from capitation back to a non-risk arrangement. For a few months in early 2008, the Governor ordered a similar switch from capitation to an Administrative Services Organization (ASO)-model, in which the HMOs administered the program for DSS but passed all…
Read MoreNursing homes file suit against state over rates
The CT Association of Health Care Facilities yesterday filed suit in federal court arguing that the rates paid by the state to nursing homes violate federal laws that require consistence with efficiency, economy, quality and equality of access to care and that there is no evidence that rates are set on an objective, reasonable and…
Read MoreGovernor’s mitigation plan slashes health programs; 13 better alternatives offered
Yesterday the Governor released her plan to address the $470 million deficit for this fiscal year. This is on top of the cuts made in the budget that passed into law a few months ago. Her proposal includes cuts to the diaper bank, autism pilot, drugs in public coverage programs, new premiums and increases in…
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