Health care reform group moving ahead with its mission

Health First Connecticut Authority tackling substantive issues

The Health First Connecticut Authority, created by the legislature last year to study possible ways to reform the state’s health care system, is moving forward with its mission, says CBIA’s health care expert, Associate Counsel Eric George. The group also recently welcomed a new member representing the business community.

The authority has 10 voting members, including two business representatives: one from a small business (in actuality, from a child advocacy group) and one from a large employer. The new large-company representative is Michael Critelli, executive chairman of Pitney Bowes.

“Not only is Mike Critelli a strong advocate of market-based health care reform, but Pitney Bowes has been a leader in adopting health care initiatives that promote healthful behaviors and fitness. Pitney Bowes and its employees are reaping the benefits of healthier living,” says George.

Ensuring that the Health First Connecticut Authority has strong business representation was a wise move, George says. “It makes sense, because two-thirds of the people in Connecticut have employer-sponsored health insurance, and surveys show that most of them are satisfied with their coverage. Employers in Connecticut bear the largest share of health insurance costs — an average of 75% — meaning that the employer pays $75 of every $100 of the insurance premium, and the employee pays $25.”

Facing a Dec. 1, 2008, deadline, the authority is now in the thick of its work. It has reached beyond its 10 voting members to involve other stakeholders in its two subgroups: a quality and safety group and a financial and cost containment group. CBIA President and CEO John Rathgeber, for example, is serving on the financial and cost containment group.

“These subgroups will be doing the lion’s share of the authority’s work,” says George.
“The authority is making headway on peeling back the health-care-cost ‘onion’ and finding out what is actually driving costs,” George says. “The group’s participants have found they agree on certain issues — for example, the use of electronic medical records. There is near unanimous support for this, because everyone believes it will reduce medical errors, duplicative treatments and costs, and improve quality in the process. But the group also disagrees on some things, such as how much administration and mandates actually impact costs. They also differ over who should administer the state’s health care system — the private market or the state,” he says.

For more information about health care reform in Connecticut, contact George at 860-244-1921.