Speaker’s group studying ways to reduce state’s uninsured

(May 16, 2006) Lawmakers this year held the line on rising health care costs and are now exploring ways to reduce costs — and the ranks of the state’s uninsured.

Applying the medical adage of “first do no harm,” state legislators this year refrained from adding any substantive insurance coverage mandates that would have increased health care costs even further in Connecticut.

That’s a very positive step because Connecticut already has the third-highest number of health insurance mandates in the United States, says America’s Health Insurance Plans. Together, mandates are increasing health care premiums here from 26% to 65%, according to the Council for Affordable Health Insurance.

Continually rising health care costs are pushing health care coverage past the affordability of employers and employees alike. And the cost of health care in Connecticut is a key factor as employers consider where they should locate or expand their operations.

Recognizing the crisis, the business community is serving on the House speaker’s Healthy Kids CT group that is looking at ways to reduce the number of uninsured in the state. At the May 10 meeting of the group, business leaders offered several proposals to improve the health care system, help reduce costs and increase access to health care. The proposals promoted:
• E-medical records and billing — to improve quality and reduce administrative costs,
• Quality and cost data — to help consumers make more informed health decisions,
• More flexible health benefits — including the creation of health plans for individuals that provide for “mandate-light” plans, and
• Requiring a cost-benefit review of the 60-plus mandated coverages and procedures in Connecticut. Many other states are now conducting those studies.

The Healthy Kids CT group will continue to meet throughout the summer and fall and intends to develop a legislative package for the 2007 General Assembly.

While lawmakers this year refrained from adding any substantive mandates, they did cap co-pays for certain radiological imaging services. In-network co-pays for MRIs and CAT scans are capped at $75 per service or $375 in the aggregate for the year; co-pays for PET scans are capped at $100 per service and 4400 in the annual aggregate.

Fortunately, in addition to limiting these caps to imaging performed in-network only, the bill also carves out HSAs and self-referrals.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric George at 860-244-1900 or georgee@cbia.com.