The proposals include requiring physicians to prescribe opioids electronically rather than on paper; allowing visiting nurses to destroy unused medication; and allowing patients to direct that they not be prescribed an opioid medication.
‘It’s a public health crisis:’ Malloy proposals target opioids
Posted inEducation
NLRB orders Yale grad student union vote
The ruling was the latest victory for graduate-student union organizers. Union activists have tried to organize Yale grad student teachers since 1991.
Posted inHealth
Access Health to tighten midyear sign-up rules, restore broker fees
The changes were made in response to concerns that people are taking advantage of current rules to sign up only after they get sick, and worries that a lack of payments to brokers has affected enrollment.
Posted inPolitics
CT a likely target of Trump’s new immigration policy
Washington – With its policy of not turning over all undocumented aliens requested by federal officials, Connecticut is likely to be in the cross hairs of President Donald Trump’s new immigration policy, outlined in twin executive orders issued Wednesday.
Posted inPolitics
Trump’s claims of voter fraud an issue for Connecticut’s Merrill
President Donald J. Trump’s repeated and unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the popular vote for president promises to complicate the tenure of Connecticut’s Denise Merrill as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Posted inCities & Towns, Education, Money
CCM: Pair sales tax hike, bargaining changes to bolster cities, towns
Connecticut’s cities and towns unveiled a sweeping financial plan Wednesday that included a major sales tax boost to aid communities, new regionalization incentives and collective bargaining changes. The bargaining changes would be designed to ensure new revenue for towns would not be used to boost wages and benefits for municipal workers.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Malloy’s budget cuts add to Connecticut education funding crisis
Connecticut’s education system is facing a crisis, and it seems to be growing every day. Over the holidays, Gov. Dannel Malloy announced his proposal to end education aid to certain towns. Last week, he told some mayors and town managers that they are in “substantially better shape” than the state and advocated for a “fairer” distribution of state education funds. While the governor’s office points out that the cuts he proposes are being made to the wealthiest towns, it matters to everyone.
Posted inHealth
After the save: A drug can reverse an overdose. Then what?
The drug naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose. Experts say it’s a vital tool, but in many ways, a short-term one: Naloxone saves lives, but it doesn’t necessarily change them. Now, a pilot program in one emergency room aims to connect people who have been revived after overdoses to longer-term recovery help.
Posted inMoney
Budget panel backs deal to stretch out spiking CT pension costs
The legislature’s Appropriations Committee Tuesday endorsed a new plan that would allow Connecticut to defer billions of dollars in required contributions to the state employees pension fund until after 2032.
Posted inPolitics
A political debut generates a buzz in Hartford
Scott Bates took office as Connecticut’s deputy secretary of the state Tuesday in a ceremony that marked him as man to watch in state politics. The job is not a traditional springboard to elective office, but Bates was sworn in by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill in front of an audience, as she noted, composed of “many dignitaries, both foreign and domestic.”
Posted inPolitics
Unlike other Trump picks, McMahon sails through confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON — Introduced by two Connecticut senators who crushed her political hopes in Connecticut, Linda McMahon on Tuesday sailed through a confirmation hearing, placing her a step closer to becoming the next head of the Small Business Administration.
Posted inHealth, Money
Lembo targets ‘skyrocketing’ drug prices
State Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo unveiled a five-point plan Tuesday to develop new legislation to reduce “skyrocketing” pharmaceutical drug costs in Connecticut.
Posted inEducation
Malloy: ‘A mistake’ to reject DCF plan
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy expressed frustration Tuesday that members of the legislature’s budget-writing committee voted not to recommend a plan he says paves the way for the state’s child welfare agency to finally rid itself of federal court supervision.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Malloy continues to prep CT for lean budget and shifts in local aid
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy continued to set expectations Tuesday for his upcoming state budget proposal, hinting at a lean plan that avoids major tax hikes and realigns municipal aid in favor of distressed cities.
Posted inHealth
Aetna, Humana still weighing appeal of ruling blocking merger
WASHINGTON — The day after a federal judge dealt a crusing blow to Aetna’s plans to merge with Humana, the insurance companies’ CEOs said they were still mulling over whether to appeal the decision.