{news} summary of major health care bills in CT legislature in 2005

Sat Apr 16 00:13:50 EDT 2005

>From Gretchen Vivier, CCAG's liason with the Health Care for All Coalition.

Summary of Major Health Care Bills in 2005
Status as of 04/12/05

Universal Health Care:

HB 6303 Would require CT to establish a single payer health care system - one something like the Canadian system.  

Status: Heard in Public Health.  Died in Committee.

SB-1147 Would require large employers (100+ employees) to pay a fee to cover their employers if they don't already.

Status:  Passed out of Labor.  Currently in the Finance Committee.

SB-1034 Started as the Insurance Committee version of Universal Health Insurance that would cover everybody through tax credits, "flexible benefits" and health savings accounts.  Changed to allow individuals to buy into the Municipal Employees' Health Insurance Plan.  Still includes "flexible benefits" 

Status:  Passed out of Insurance and Real Estate Committee.  No fiscal impact to the state.

Protection and Expansion of Public Programs:

HB-6438 Extends coverage until June30, 2005 for adults over 100% of the federal poverty level who would otherwise have lost coverage April 1, 2005.

Status:  Passed Human Services, Appropriations, the House and the Senate.  Governor signed into law.

SB-1323 Restores HUSKY coverage for parents and caretaker relatives up to 185% of the federal poverty level.

Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  Currently in Appropriations.

HB-6927  Restores funding and coverage of services such as medical transportation for the State Administered General Assistance Program.

 Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  Currently in Appropriations.

SB-1353 Establishes a full-cost buy-in to the HUSKY program for the uninsured.

Status:  Passed out of Public Health.

Wiser use of resources:

SB 1237 "Budget neutral" expansion to mental health coverage using the Medicaid. an option used by every state but Connecticut.

Status: Passed out of Public Health

HB-6118  Allows for Medicaid coverage of home and community-based care for individuals with developmental disabilities. 

Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  .

HB-6542 Allows for Medicaid coverage of family planning services.  This coverage has a 90% federal match.

Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  Currently in Appropriations.

 HB 6880 Establishes a pilot program to provide home care services to disabled persons aged 18-64. 

Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  Currently in Appropriations.

SB-1225 Allows for Medicaid coverage of smoking cessation programs.

Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  Currently in Appropriations.

Nursing Home Provider Tax

Cost Savings:

HB-6655 The Comptroller's recommended changes to the Municipal Employees' Program expected to save 15% or more on health insurance for small businesses.

Status:  Passed out of Insurance and Real Estate. No fiscal impact to the state.

SB-46 Requires various state agencies to consider options for buying prescriptions together in bulk.  The state currently spends about $850 million for all Rx programs.

Status:  Passed out of Public Health

HB- 6854 UC

UConn School of Pharmacy will do outreach and provide information related to patient assistance programs and discount drug cards of pharmaceutical companies.

Status:  Passed out of General Law.  Expected cost to state $750,000.

Consumer Protections:

HB 6846  Makes sure ConnPACE and Medicaid recipients are made "whole" with wrap-around coverage when the new Medicare prescription drug benefit begins.

Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  Currently in Appropriations.

SB 607  Provides basic consumer protections for enrollees in state programs that require prior authorization through a preferred drug list.

Status:  Passed out of Human Services.  Currently in Appropriations.
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