Health care:
Significant progress, with some cause for concern

(June 26, 2007) Overall, the story for health care during the 2007 legislative session was a positive one, even though the session opened the door to future concerns. Several beneficial reform efforts — including several proposed by the business community — were passed in an omnibus health care reform bill, and most of the cost-increasing bills were not enacted.

However, the push toward a future government-run health care system continues in the reform legislation, as it creates new bureaucracies that will plan for future health care improvements.

This comprehensive health care reform is contained in SB-1484 (Public Act 07-185). It includes measures that will:
• Expand the state’s existing public health care systems and increase public outreach
• Increase provider reimbursements
• Lay the framework for an electronic medical records system
• Expand efforts to make more quality and cost data available to health care consumers
• Expand dependent care coverage to age 26

Included are portions of both Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams’ bill (SB-1) and House Speaker Jim Amann’s proposal (HB-6158).

The bill also creates two new state authorities to explore future health care reform efforts — including proposals for government-run health care — and to create a universal primary care system in the state.

Government-run health care
Various bills that would have begun to impose some form of a statewide government-run health care system in Connecticut died in the legislature.

HB-7433 would have created a statewide health insurance purchasing pool — a first step to a single-payer system. Similar bills (HB-7320 and HB-7396) also were not acted upon.

HB-7314 and SB-1371, which would have eradicated Connecticut’s employer-sponsored health insurance system and replaced it with a costly, unsustainable single-payer system, met similar fates.

Mandates and other cost-drivers
Nearly all of the dozens of proposed health care mandates died during the legislative session, but four existing mandates were expanded:
• SB-66 raises the age for specialized infant formula coverage from 8 to 12 months.
• SB-389 expands the existing cancer clinical trials mandate to include coverage for out-of-network trials if nothing is available in network.
• HB-8002 expands the blood screening mandate.
• HB-7055 codifies the definition of “medical necessity” in insurance policies, reducing carrier efficiencies and raising costs.

Measures were proposed to dictate the terms and conditions contained in the contracts between doctors and health insurance carriers (HB-5308, HB-6841), but they were not enacted.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric George at 860-244-1921 or georgee@cbia.com.

CBIA Action Center

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