Committees are Hard at Work

By Rep. Elizabeth Boukus

The statutory committees of the Connecticut General Assembly are now holding public hearings on many of the bills proposed by its members and state agencies. After the public hearings, some of the the proposed bills may be sent to multiple committees (the context of the bill may fall under the review of more than one committee for example environment and appropriations), to be reworked as a committee bill or sent directly to the House or Senate calendar for debate.

These public hearings are posted on the internet www.cga.ct.gov.  The daily bulletin is listed and you can find the information there.  Public hearings are open to everyone. If you plan on attending please let my legislative aide Mary Anderson (240-8500) know and I will try to attend with you.

I have written to you before, in my articles in the Plainville Citizen and in the mailings I send to your home, about the ConnPACE program for seniors.  I am providing the following for those under the program and for you who may qualify during this year. 

ConnPACE is expanding.  Income eligibility levels increased on January 1st with the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. For single people, the income limit is $23,100. For couples, the income limit is $31,100. This is great news because more people will be eligible for help in paying the cost of prescription drugs.

ConnPACE covers most prescription medicines and insulin supplies. With a ConnPACE membership card, your only out-of-pocket expense is a co-payment of $16.25. There is a $30 annual enrollment fee to join the program. Eligible applicants get a ConnPACE membership card in the mail to use at participating pharmacies. You must renew your ConnPACE membership each year.

There is no yearly dollar limit on the amount of prescriptions covered by ConnPACE. Generic drugs are substituted for brand-name drugs, unless otherwise indicated by the prescribing physician.

The ConnPACE program has served Connecticut's senior citizens and people with disabilities since 1986. It is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. For more information on ConnPACE, and how it works with Medicare, go to ConnPACE.com or call 1-800-423-5026.

I would also like to make you aware of another program I recently assisted a family in obtaining. I was asked to assist a woman and her family in securing an application for ConnPACE benefits.  As the family reviewed other programs of assistance for their mother they became aware of the Federal VA web site www.va.gov.  The family applied as a spouse of an eligible veteran and is now receiving benefits to aid in her care at an assisted living facility.

If you would like to know more about VA benefits you are encouraged to come to the Plainville Town Hall on Monday nights from 7-8 pm when the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund Committee meets. Bob Inman and David Dudek are there to offer assistance on a one to one basis. 

If I can be of any assistance to you please call my legislative aide Mary Anderson at 240-8500.

Elizabeth "Betty" Boukus is serving her seventh term in the General Assembly.  She represents the 22nd District, which includes Plainville and portions of Bristol and New Britain.