Mental health and substance abuse treatment providers say they’re planning to limit access to programs if a proposed $25.5 million cut to grant funding goes through. A recent analysis by the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says even with more insured clients, the providers will only be able to make up a fraction of the proposed grant cuts. But the governor’s budget director said funding those grants is “a luxury that we can’t afford right now.”
CTBudget2015
Posted inHealth
Providers, advocates call Malloy Medicaid cuts short-sighted
Critics say Malloy’s proposal to cut Medicaid is financially short-sighted and threatens to undermine recent progress in a program that has added thousands of new members as part of the federal health law, expanded the network of providers willing to treat them, and reduced its per-client costs.
Posted inEducation, Energy & Environment, Health, Money, Politics
Winners and losers: The 2014 legislative session
The 2014 legislative session ended at midnight Wednesday. As usual, some folks came out happy. Others are already plotting their strategies for next year. Here’s a look at the groups that won and lost this session.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Breaking down a 300-page ‘implementer’ bill
Many policies get created or changed through an end-of-session bill known as an implementer — a voluminous piece of legislation needed to enact the policy changes that go with the state budget. It also typically holds a wide range of other amendments added by the party in power. Here’s what’s in this year’s implementer.
Posted inMoney, Politics
State to design retirement plan for private-sector workers
Connecticut took a major step forward toward offering a state-administered retirement plan for private-sector workers, similar to the 401(k) plans offered by many businesses.
Posted inHealth, Politics
‘Facility fees’ for state employees to get more scrutiny
Facility fees charged to patients covered by the state employee and retiree health plan will get increased scrutiny under a proposal expected to pass the General Assembly.
Posted inMoney
Lawmakers launch two-year study of Connecticut tax system
This policy change would launch a two-year overhaul of Connecticut’s $16 billion-a-year tax system – a move some legislators have predicted could be the most dramatic overhaul of state finances since the income tax was enacted 23 years ago.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Health IT agency getting axed
The quasi-public agency set up to promote the use of electronic medical records is being eliminated as part of budget implementation legislation that’s expected to pass the General Assembly.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Will CT keep sharing casino revenues with towns after the election?
The bill ends a requirement that cities and towns share in the proceeds from video slots from the state’s two casinos.
Posted inMoney, Politics
New limit placed on judges’ pensions
One of the late additions to the implementer was a change in how pensions are computed for judges who retire after less than 10 years of service — a reaction to the recent appointment of a politically prominent judge, Anthony V. Avallone, 66, who will who get a $100,000 pension after less than four years of service.