Biography

State Representative Vickie Orsini Nardello was first elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1994 representing the 89th Assembly District that includes the towns of Bethany and part of Cheshire, and Prospect.

Her record has been one of advocating for all consumers, increasing public access to a quality-driven health care system, and is working to have essential energy commodities priced at just and reasonable rates. Vickie is a strong supporter of results based accountability in budgeting that requires careful evaluation of spending projects. She has been recognized by the Sierra Club, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, and the Peoples Action for Clean Energy (PACE) for her strong stance supporting environmental issues.

She has served as co-chair of the Energy & Technology Committee since the 2009 legislative session. She also is a member of the Insurance & Real Estate and Public Health Committees.

In addition to those responsibilities, she has been an active member of the Medicaid Managed Care Council since coming to the legislature in 1994. In 1995, she established a public health subcommittee to identify safety net providers and transition them to a managed care system that improved access to health services for Medicaid enrollees.

In 2003, she served as chair of the Quality of Care Subcommittee of the Commission on Hospitals and Health Care. Her work resulted in legislation that created a Quality of Care Advisory Committee in the Department of Public Health. It required the committee to develop a hospital comparison report, including medical errors, to aid consumers in making health care decisions.

Rep. Nardello helped reform manage care and established a report card for Medicare managed care plans for seniors, addressed dental access issues, studied prescription drug pricing, created the ConnPACE Part B prescription drug plan, and established a community benefits reporting program for hospitals and HMO's.

In 1998, she wrote the consumer protection sections of Connecticut's electric restructuring legislation. She established a Low-Income Energy Advisory Board to bring attention to the problems facing those ratepayers. She has supported energy efficiency initiatives and has been directly involved in the energy planning process. She has fought to stabilize and reduce electric costs for Connecticut ratepayers and has been recognized for her willingness to take on the industry, when necessary, for the benefit of ratepayers.

As a member of the Insurance Committee, she passed legislation that required 48-hour coverage for maternity and mastectomy stays and a prudent layperson requirement for emergency room coverage.

Rep. Nardello holds a Bachelor's Degree in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Bridgeport and a Master's Degree in Health Education from Southern Connecticut State University. She lives in Prospect.