Budget Process
CT 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…
Read MoreSenate passes a budget, Governor expected to veto
Yesterday the Senate passed a Democratic budget spending $35.5 billion over the next two years. The fiscal year ends next Tuesday. The Democratic budget saves health coverage for legal immigrants, the current definition of medical necessity for Medicaid, and increases cigarette taxes by 75 cents per pack to $2.75. The budget also takes $50 million…
Read MoreHUSKY rate audit released
The audit of large rate increases granted to the HUSKY HMOs last year has been released. Accounting firm Milliman found that the state overpaid the HMOs between $41 and 39 million. The Governor has already incorporated over $50 million in savings from re-negotiating HMO rates based on this report in her latest budget proposal. The…
Read MoreSustiNet and budget updates
Saturday HB-6600, AAC the Establishment of the SustiNet Plan, passed the Senate on a vote of 23 to 12. The bill passed as it did in the House, without further ammendment. The Health Care Partnership bill, HB-6582, which self-insures the state employee plan and allows municipalities, small businesses and non-profits to participate in the plan,…
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