Email Sent to Representatives in the State Legislature – April 30, 2012 The League of Women Voters of Connecticut urges your support for HB 5450 AA ESTABLISHING A BASIC HEALTH PROGRAM (BHP). The League is a statewide organization with approximately 1800 members. We believe that every Connecticut resident should have access to a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost. Every citizen deserves access to high quality health care that is effective, efficient, timely, and patient-centered. When citizens have access to basic health coverage--- the entire state reaps the benefits, including families, communities, small business, health care providers, and the economy. Expanded health insurance coverage provides and ensures the equity of Connecticut residents to needed health care. The League endorses a Basic Health Program that is efficient and economical and provides coverage to persons under sixty-five years of age who do not qualify for Medicaid. Under this bill, adults with incomes between 133% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will be covered by the BHP. Currently, an adult is eligible for HUSKY A if he or she is the caretaker relative of a child receiving HUSKY A and has income up to 185% of the FPL. The League of Women Voters of Connecticut urges you to vote 'Yes" on HB 5450. Thank you for considering this request. Respectfully submitted, Donna Nickitas, Universal Health Care Specialist League of Women Voters of Connecticut To: Members of the Senate From: Naomi Schiff Myers, Director Social Policy, LWVCT Subject: Public Hearing Testimony: The League of Women Voters of CT Urges your Support of SB 877 The League of Women Voters of Connecticut urges you to vote for SB 877, AAC Mental Health Parity. This bill will simply bring Connecticut into compliance with the new federal mental health parity law and ensure the state’s ability to enforce it. While Connecticut’s mental health parity law already benefits consumers with individual and group health insurance plans, the new federal law would also benefit those in large self-insured plans, Medicaid managed care plans, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (HUSKY B). Prior to the parity laws, most insurance plans put arbitrary and unequal limits and conditions on mental health treatment. These arbitrary limits and discriminatory practices cost more in the long run, harmed lives, and put many families into unfair financial hardship and even bankruptcy. The League believes that every resident should have access to a basic level of health care at an affordable cost and supports comprehensive, community-based mental health systems for children and adults. These systems should include early detection and intervention with a range of services to facilitate care, treatment and recovery. We strongly urge your support for SB 877. Thank you. Naomi Schiff Myers Director of Social Policy League of Women Voters of Connecticut 1890 Dixwell Avenue Hamden, CT 06514 CGA Public Health, Human Services and Insurance and Real Estate Committees Public Hearing February 14, 2011 Support for: H.B. 6305 AN ACT CONCERNING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTINET PLAN Comments Prepared by Donna Nickitas, Naomi Schiff Myers and Christine Horrigan Submitted by Cheryl Dunson, LWVCT President On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment on HB 6305 AAC Implementation of the SustiNet Plan. The League believes that every Connecticut resident should have access to a basic level of care at an affordable cost that promotes health and prevents disease. We also believe that health care services should be equitable, efficient, and economical. Better health care means an improved quality of life and function. When residents are healthy, they lead productive lives and contribute to the economic health of the state. For these reasons, the League supports the implementation of the SustiNet Plan as outlined in HB 6305. The proposed SustiNet Plan offers a coordinated and complete health insurance program that, when phased-in over time, will provide health care coverage to state employees, Medicaid enrollees, HUSKY Plan A and Part B enrollees, HUSKY Plus enrollees, municipalities, municipal-related employers, nonprofit employers (like the League), and small employers. Currently coverage to these groups is administered by separate agencies (e.g., state employees vs. HUSKY) or not provided at all (e.g., nonprofit employers) thereby losing the cost-saving benefits of a large pool. SustiNet will also save money by leveraging the state’s purchasing power, reducing duplication and waste, reforming incentives and payments to health care providers, and maximizing federal dollars. The League is pleased that beginning in 2014, the SustiNet Plan will also be offered as an option on the new health insurance exchange and that individuals and slightly larger employers will be allowed to join SustiNet. It is measures like these that encourage small businesses to protect the health of their employees and individuals to invest in their own well-being. The League understands that the SustiNet Plan will attempt to slow the growth of health care costs, improve the quality of health care services and improve members' health outcomes through innovative strategies and reforms. The League strongly recommends and endorses SustiNet’s emphasis on preventive care and the use of patient-centered medical care by implementing both primary care case management and patient-centered medical homes for all SustiNet Plan members. A patient-centered medical home is a cost-effective model that promotes care coordination, facilitates better monitoring of chronic health conditions and allows patients to monitor and manage their own conditions. We believe it is essential that the SustiNet Plan support and incorporate the use of health information technology. An easily accessible electronic medical records system will lead to greater access across the care continuum from primary care, acute care and long-term care regardless of health care provider, thereby reducing medical errors and duplication of services. Finally, the League supports the creation of the proposed SustiNet Plan Authority to implement the SustiNet Plan as well as the establishment of the SustiNet Plan Consumer Advisory Board. Together these bodies will provide the necessary oversight and accountability required to ensure that state residents receive high-quality, well-researched health care that is effective, efficient, safe, timely, and patient-centered. The League is pleased that the SustiNet Plan streamlines the state’s health care spending and implements innovative, cost-controlling measures while improving the quality of health care services and expanding coverage. We strongly endorse and support the implementation of the SustiNet Plan and urge you to vote “YES” on HB 6305. Thank you. League of Women Voters of Connecticut · 1890 Dixwell Avenue-Ste 203 Hamden, CT 06514 · 203/288-7996 | Advocacy:
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