CT Health Reform
August webquiz – Have you read the SustiNet reports?
The SustiNet task forces and advisory committees have completed their final reports. The committees explored and made recommendations on CT’s health care workforce, obesity, tobacco, prevention, disparities, information technology, quality/providers, and patient-centered medical homes. Since we’re sure you’ve all added the reports to your beach reading for the summer, take a pop quiz. The August…
Read More44,000 CT small businesses eligible for health insurance tax breaks
Thanks to national health reform 44,000 CT businesses are eligible for tax credits making health insurance more affordable. Starting this year, businesses with less than 25 workers and average wages up to $50,000 are eligible for credits up to 35% of the employer’s cost of health benefits (25% for nonprofits). 12,900 CT businesses qualify for…
Read MoreIn first test implementing health reform, state reconsidering high risk pool plans
In our state’s first test implementing federal health reform, Governor Rell has asked DSS and other agencies to start over in their decision to build onto CT’s high risk pool. The federal Accountable Care Act provides funding for temporary programs to provide coverage to people left out of the private market due to; the programs…
Read MoreSustiNet advisory committee and task force reports posted
The final reports of the five SustiNet advisory committees on patient-centered medical homes, health information technology, prevention, quality and providers, and disparities are posted. Also posted are the reports of the three SustiNet task forces on health care workforce, obesity and tobacco.
Read MoreImmediate impact of national health reform for CT
The White House has developed a list of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act to CT this year. The list includes small business tax credits, closing the Medicare donut hole, funding for early retirees, no lifetime limits on coverage, no rescissions, no pre-existing condition exclusions for children, all children to age 26 can stay…
Read MoreSustiNet 60 day report released
Yesterday the SustiNet Board released their report to the General Assembly on how Connecticut’s 2009 health reform law fits with recently passed national reform. The report outlines significant new resources available to support SustiNet and three steps for the state to take advantage. In all, SustiNet tracks closely with the parameters of national reform. Ellen…
Read MoreRell administration will not challenge national health reform law
At yesterday’s Health Reform Cabinet meeting, the Rell administration announced that they will not join twelve other states in a lawsuit challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. All twelve Republican state senators signed onto a letter urging the state to join the suit. The senators argue that the federal law usurps states’ rights…
Read MoreGovernor interested in creating a CT high risk pool
Among other things, national health reform gives states an opportunity to create an insurance pool for people with pre-existing conditions. The law gives CT up to $50 million, possibly more, to implement a high-risk pool through 2014. At that point the law prohibits insurers from denying coverage to adults based on pre-existing conditions and it…
Read More$50 million health coverage opportunity for CT from national health reform
CT can access $50 million in federal funds to cover state residents with pre-existing conditions until 2014 when insurers will no longer be able to exclude adults from coverage because they have health problems. Under the law, insurers are prohibited from excluding children with pre-existing conditions from coverage this year. Since 1975, CT has had…
Read MoreSustiNet medical home committee making progress
At last week’s SustiNet Patient-Centered Medical Home committee meeting we heard about medical home initiatives in the two programs that will form the basis of SustiNet, the state employee plan and Medicaid/HUSKY. Tom Woodruff of the Comptroller’s Office presented on the state employee plan’s medical home initiative. The state will be moving to a self-insured…
Read More