Coverage of children who depended on HUSKY B lurched from month to month before Congress approved the continuing resolution that ended the shutdown. But there was no funding for community health centers, which serve many HUSKY B children and Medicaid recipients.
health care
Posted inHealth
State asks Anthem, ConnectiCare, to file new rates
WASHINGTON – The Connecticut Insurance Department on Wednesday asked Anthem and ConnectiCare to submit new rate filings for 2018 based on the possibility the federal government would stop “cost-sharing reduction” payments to the insurers that subsidize lower co-payment and deductibles for low-income Americans.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Blumenthal, Murphy join Dem chorus on bipartisan ACA fix, but that may be elusive
WASHINGTON — After the collapse of GOP efforts to repeal Obamacare, Democrats, including Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, called for bipartisan efforts to shore up the ACA. “Now we have an amazing opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to actually work together …” Murphy said. But whether bipartisanship can grow out of the bitter partisan fight over Obamacare remains to be seen.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Senate clears first test on Obamacare repeal, but final victory not assured
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans and the White House had a win Tuesday on a procedural vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but a final victory is not guaranteed. It was just a first step in a series of dozens of votes that will determine whether Senate Republicans can pass a health care bill.
Posted inPolitics
‘Connecticut in the Capitol’ focuses on health care, attacks on the press
WASHINGTON — Dozens of Connecticut officials, business executives, policymakers and leaders of non-profits are here for two days to network and try to figure out what Congress and the federal government are doing, which is stumping even the most knowledgeable insiders lately.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy: The GOP health plan is a ‘dumpster fire’
WASHINGTON – It’s surprising Chris Murphy is only in his first term in the Senate because he’s had a an amazing amount of visibility for a freshman on a number of hot-button issues that have ranged from gun control to diplomatic flash points. The Connecticut Mirror spoke to him about the prospects of the Republican “American Health Care Act” and a few other things.
Posted inHealth
Sweeping plan put forward to control rising health care costs
After spending six months studying new ways to control ever-growing health care costs, a state-hired consulting firm presented a plan to Connecticut’s Health Care Cabinet Tuesday that calls for the largest reorganization and consolidation of health-related state agencies in two decades.
Posted inNews
Malloy directs agencies to save $130M to balance new CT budget
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy assigned nearly $130 million in total savings targets Thursday to dozens of state agencies to help balance the new state budget that begins Friday. Although legislators assigned limits in some cases to spread the burden out among as many agencies as possible, the cuts fell heaviest on social services and education.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna facing different merger obstacles
WASHINGTON – So far, Aetna appears to be clearing the regulatory and antitrust hurdles it faces to merge with Humana more easily, while Anthem’s proposed marriage to Cigna has faced more troubles. Neither has yet cleared the hurdle of antitrust approval from the U.S. Justice Department.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Courtney expects partial victory on ending ACA’s ‘Cadillac tax’
WASHINGTON — Rep. Joe Courtney expects to soon have at least a partial victory in his effort to eliminate a provision in the Affordable Care Act that has been attacked by both labor and business groups.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
State budget cuts threaten the mentally ill and addicted
I am opposed to the recent ill-advised budget cuts made in the areas of health care, social services and education, and I am engaged in a touch advocacy effort to see these cuts rescinded. Our most disadvantaged residents will be disproportionately affected by these draconian cuts. I urge you to advance the concerns of those we care about most.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Don’t brand doctors as “inefficient”
Being an “efficient” doctor is not the same as being a good doctor. Following an insurer’s guidelines may save it money and increase its profits but that doesn’t mean that patients necessarily receive better care.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Malloy’s ‘across-the-board’ cuts target education, town aid and social services
To offset new taxes that have rankled business groups, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proposed trimming up to 1.5 percent of discretionary spending in the new state budget. But the administration’s proposal shows the bulk of the cuts would likely fall on education, municipal aid, health care and social services. And a key legislator has warned that most of those areas could face even deeper cuts once the new fiscal year is underway.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Courtney aiming to end Obamacare’s ‘Cadillac tax’
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Courtney has plunged into the latest fight over the Affordable Care Act, attacking the so-called “Cadillac tax” that will eventually be implemented on high-cost health care policies.
Posted inMoney, Politics
State budget stakes are huge as tax filing deadline nears
State officials always watch closely as income tax receipts pour into Connecticut’s coffers at the April 15 deadline. But with a lingering deficit this year, huge social service cuts and tax hikes already proposed for next year — and a costly transportation initiative likely to require major funding — the stakes rarely have been higher.