SustiNet Plan Passes House
by Christine Stuart | May 20, 2009 11:23 PM
Posted to Health Care
After more than two hours of debate the House by a vote of 107 to 35 passed the SustiNet bill, which proponents say will reform the way health care is delivered in the state of Connecticut.
The bill is a stripped down version of a proposal originally made by the Universal Health Care Foundation in January. It will create a nine-member board of directors, three task forces, and four advisory committees that will make recommendations to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2011. The ultimate goal of the board will be to recommend a health care plan that guarantees every resident in the state has health insurance.
The goal of the board of directors will be to offer a public health insurance option to individuals and businesses through the creation of a massive pool which includes state employees and individuals in state Medicaid programs. The pool would be expanded to uninsured individuals and employers.
Rep. Betsy Ritter, co-chairwoman of the Public Health Committee, said the bill was intended to create a public option to those offered by the private insurance market.
Critics said they’re still concerned that this bill would lead to a state run health insurance program.
“I’m still concerned about where this is headed,” Rep. T.R. Rowe, R-Trumbull, said Wednesday.
Ritter said the voluntary, unpaid board of directors will work with four committees of stakeholders which will advise the board on medical electronic records, medical homes, clinical care guidelines, and preventative care. There will also be three task forces which will make recommendations on preventing obesity, tobacco use, and health care workforce shortages.
The Universal Health Care Foundation’s President Juan Figueroa said in a press release Wednesday that passage of both the pooling bill and SustiNet “reduce costs and increase choice.”
He said the two bills complement each other and put Connecticut ahead of the pack in the race for federal resources.
“As we begin to craft a national health care reform bill, Connecticut’s progress will provide real examples of how important reform is to our nation,” US Rep. Chris Murphy said in a press release.
The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Comments (4)
Posted by: iBlogWest Hartford | May 21, 2009 11:51 AM
With so many Connecticut businesses being crushed by rising health care costs;
With so many Connecticut towns forced to raise property taxes in order to pay the ever-increasing expense of employee and retiree health benefits;
With so many of us just a lay-off away from losing our health insurance and facing medical debt;
With 40,000 uninsured Connecticut children;
It would be irresponsible of the State Senate not to pass this bill.
It would be irresponsible of Governor Rell not to sign it.
Posted by: James D. | May 22, 2009 9:41 AM
Congratulations to all the people who have worked so hard for this! Keep on pushing . . .
Posted by: iBlogWestHartford | May 22, 2009 9:45 AM
I do think your description of the SustiNet bill approved by the House as a "stripped down version" could be misleading.
It's my understanding that, based on the political and fiscal realities in the state, the bill's proponents and legislative leaders determined that it was MOST important to create a strong working group to proceed with the implementation of SustiNet.
And that's exactly what happened.
Posted by: gilda Simpkin | July 2, 2009 10:49 PM
The concept of health care coverage for all offers great hope but if it is like "charter Oak" or the current coverage for Husky holders in the state it is barely worth the paper it is written on. Having a health care card which few doctors honor is worthless. We have to make sure that the reimbursement to providers is reasonable and the provider networks are substantial all around the state not just in are few areas. I applaud the concept lets make sure the practical reality meets the test of really providing coverage!I welcome those who have Husky or tried Charter Oak to post their experience so law-makers can see just passing legislation is not enough there has to be substance behind the plan.