INCREASING ACCESS TO QUALITY,
AFFORDABLE, HEALTHCARE
The Connecticut Healthcare Partnership (HB 6582) opens the state employee health plan to municipal employees, small businesses and non-profits, on a voluntary basis and SustiNet (HB 6600) establishes the framework for comprehensive healthcare reform. HB 6582 creates a timetable for opening up the state healthcare plan and converts the state health insurance plan from fully uninsured to a self insured, eliminating millions of dollars in overhead costs -- potentially saving the state $70 million. House Bill 6600 establishes a process for expanding access to high quality affordable benefits to even more residents while containing costs, promoting preventive care and laying the groundwork for federal healthcare reform by establishing a board of directors charged with developing specific legislative recommendations to achieve SustiNet's goals.
News Blog
November 11, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN: HEALTH CARE
LEGISLATION LONG OVERDUE
“Saturday marked a historic day for our country. For the millions of American families who suffer without access to health care and the millions of small businesses who struggle under the weight of high health care costs—this day was long overdue." READ MORE
October 14, 2009 REP. RITTER PARTICIPATES IN HEALTHCARE LOBBY DAY IN DC
State Representative Betsy Ritter (D-Montville & Waterford) joins with the State Legislators for Healthcare Reform working group for a two day State Leaders Lobby Day in Washington, DC. today. READ MORE
September 11, 2009 THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
Christopher G. Donovan, as in House Speaker, Meriden Democrat, made an excellent point during a round table discussion on health care reform Wednesday, the day President Obama gave his big speech. READ MORE
September 10, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN GETS CT INVOLVED
IN NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM
Speaker of the House, Chris Donovan, moderated a roundtable discussion on Federal and Statewide Health Insurance Reform at the Community Health Center in Meriden on September 9th. The Speaker joined a panel of healthcare professionals and health insurance reform advocates to address the concerns of Connecticut citizens adversly effected by the current healthcare system.
September 9, 2009 ADVOCATES OF REFORM SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH CARE OPTION
On a day when President Barack Obama was set to deliver a major speech to the nation about health care reform, his top domestic priority, advocates gathered at the Community Health Center for a roundtable discussion supporting federal reform. READ MORE
September 9, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN URGES STATE-FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP,
PUBLIC OPTION TO FIX BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said today a “strong state-federal partnership is critical to fixing our broken health care system” and he encouraged the establishment of a public option to increase competition in the health care industry. READ MORE
August 21, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN SAYS GOVERNOR RELL
HAS “FAILED TO LEAD” ON HEALTHCARE
Saying Democrats are carrying the fight on health care and citing five vetoes and more than a dozen budget cuts that deny health care opportunities to Connecticut families, House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said today that Governor M. Jodi Rell has “failed to lead on one of the critical issues of our time.” READ MORE
August 4, 2009 DODD, SEBELIUS BRING MESSAGE OF HEALTH CARE REFORM TO HARTFORD
In the ongoing effort to market health care reform to Main Street, Washington came to Hartford on Monday to listen to the challenges that small businesses face in trying to provide insurance coverage to employees. READ MORE
August 2, 2009 PUBLIC INSURANCE PLAN IN THE WORKS:
STATE BUSINESSMAN LEADS REFORM CHARGE
Businessman Kevin Galvin considers his six-member workforce his extended family. When one of them got a tooth infection that almost killed him, Galvin not only paid the worker’s salary for three months, but also covered his medications. READ MORE
July 22, 2009 SURGICAL OVERRIDE
How ironic that Connecticut's Republican governor and GOP lawmakers in the legislature would rather wait for Washington to do something about the health care crisis than begin addressing the problem here at home. Don't Republicans oppose big federal solutions and fight for state rights? READ MORE
July 20, 2009 SUSTINET VETO OVERTURNED, PARTNERSHIP
VETO SUSTAINED IN SENATE
The House and the Senate succeeded in overturning Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s veto of the SustiNet bill Monday, but the state Senate failed to overturn the Healthcare Partnership bill after one senator failed to vote even though she was still in the building. READ MORE
July 16, 2009 EDITORIAL INKDROPS: HEALTH CARE REFORM — SEE IT AND BELIEVE IT
Health care reform has taken on some of the same mythical qualities of some other elusive creatures, like the Loch Ness monster or Sasquatch. We've heard that it really is out there somewhere, and we've seen the grainy photographs, but until we see it with our own eyes we will remain skeptical. READ MORE
July 15, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN: GOVERNOR’S VETOED HEALTH CARE BILL ANALYSIS DECEPTIVE
AND A DISSERVICE TO WORKING FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today said Governor Rell is trying to justify her vetoes of health care reform legislation for Connecticut with scare tactics and faulty information. READ MORE
July 14, 2009 STATE: HEALTH CARE
Governor M. Jodi Rell vetoed the two major bills affecting the future of health care in Connecticut last week, and it would appear that the Republican governor and the Democratic-dominated legislature are miles apart. READ MORE
July 10, 2009 CONNECTICUT NEEDS HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW!
The true test of leadership is not just doing the easy thing when times are good, it's making the tough calls and doing the right thing when times are bad. Last week, Gov. M. Jodi Rell failed that test miserably. READ MORE
July 10, 2009 OVERRIDE RELL HEALTH CARE VETOES
Given the chance to begin health care reform, Gov. M. Jodi Rell opted for inaction by vetoing two reform bills Wednesday and appointing yet another advisory board. READ MORE
July 9, 2009 GREEN: GOV. ‘STICKING HEAD IN SAND’
According to Jon Green, executive director of Connecticut Working Families, Gov. M. Jodi Rell is “sticking her head in the sand and hoping the health care crisis will solve itself. It won’t.” READ MORE
July 8, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN, HEALTHCARE LEADERS CRITICAL
OF GOVERNOR’S HEALTHCARE VETOES
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, legislative and business leaders and advocates today issued strong reactions to Governor M. Jodi Rell’s veto of two landmark pieces of healthcare reform legislation – the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership and SustiNet. READ MORE
July 7, 2009 RALLY AT THE CAPITOL
Health care advocates and Business leaders, gathered at the Capitol to urge Governor Rell to sign landmark healthcare reform legislation- the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership and the SustiNet bills. Speaker Chris Donovan, along with Majority Leader Denise Merrill and Representatives Betsy Ritter, Steve Fontana, David McCluskey and Russ Morin, thanked them for their hard work on health care reform, and said “…you have brought us closer to universal healthcare in America and in Connecticut.”
July 5, 2009 OPENING STATE PLAN WILL SAVE MONEY
Anthem Blue Cross announced this past week that it wants to raise individual insurance policy rates by as much as 32 percent. READ MORE
July 5, 2009 FAMILIES CAN’T AFFORD TO WAIT FOR HEALTH CARE
Every month, hardworking people all over Connecticut lose their health insurance coverage when they lose their jobs, when their employers stop offering it, or when they can no longer afford to pay for it. Deciding whether and how to reform our healthcare system isn’t an academic debate for them, but a potential life or death situation. READ MORE
July 1, 2009 A CHANCE TO LEAD
With two landmark health care reform bills now on her desk, Gov. M. Jodi Rell has to decide whose side she is on — small businesses and families struggling under the weight of high health care costs, or the state’s health insurance industry, which has a big stake in preserving the costly status quo. Will she allow precedent-setting health care reforms to proceed, or will she, for the second year in a row, be the “Governor of No”? READ MORE
June 30, 2009 MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS URGE GOV. RELL TO SIGN CONNECTICUT HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP BILL
Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman, Sprague First Selectman Catherine Osten, Windham First Selectman Jean de Smet, West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka, Norwich Mayor Ben Lathrop, Norwich City Manager Alan Bergen, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Gian-Carl Casa, and other municipal officials and municipal organizations called on Governor M. Jodi Rell today to sign landmark healthcare reform legislation, the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership. READ MORE
June 29, 2009 REP. RITTER & HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS URGE GOV. RELL TO SIGN HEALTHCARE BILLS
State Representative Betsy Ritter (D-Montville/Waterford) and a number of area legislators joined doctors, nurses, non-profit community providers, and small business owners this morning and called on Governor Rell to sign two pieces of landmark healthcare legislation, the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership (House Bill 6582) and SustiNet (House Bill 6600). READ MORE
June 23, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN, SECRETARY OF THE STATE, SENATE PRESIDENT WILLIAMS
URGE GOVERNOR TO SIGN LANDMARK HEALTHCARE REFORM
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today said Connecticut cannot “afford to wait” on enacting accessible, affordable, quality healthcare reform, and urged Governor M. Jodi Rell to sign historic legislation delivered to her today. READ MORE
June 18, 2009 RALLY URGES GOV. RELL TO APPROVE HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION
Three dozen residents, religious leaders, and elected officials rallied on the town green June 16 to urge Gov. M. Jodi Rell to sign into law two health care reform bills recently routed to her desk. READ MORE
June 17, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN PUSHES HEALTHCARE REFORM
IN WASHINGTON, DC TODAY
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) is in Washington, DC, today for a series of events designed to encourage national leaders to quickly adopt healthcare reform, including the choice of a public health insurance plan, strong affordability protections, and shared employer responsibility for health care costs. READ MORE
June 17, 2009 HEALTH REFORM MOVES TOWARD THE GOAL POST
Lisa Fabianski’s brother has diabetes and high blood pressure. He lost his job and his health insurance. He ended up in the hospital, and he lost his house. She told her story to urge Gov M. Jodi Rell to seize a chance next week to enable other people in Connecticut to avoid ending up telling stories like hers. READ MORE
June 15, 2009 STATE'S TOP DEMS ENDORSE "PUBLIC OPTION" IN FEDERAL HEALTH REFORM
While President Obama spent his day trying to sell his health plan to doctors, Congressman Murphy was in Hartford emphatically declaring reform a political reality this year. READ MORE
June 15, 2009 STATE PUSHES FOR FEDERAL HEALTH CARE DEBATE
More than 130 elected state lawmakers and officials signed a letter Monday urging US President Barack Obama and Connecticut’s Congressional delegation to pass comprehensive health care reform in 2009. READ MORE
June 15, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN, STATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA,
CONGRESS TO EXPEDITE
FEDERAL HEALTHCARE REFORMS
State Democratic leaders today delivered to Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) a letter “urgently” calling on President Barack Obama and Connecticut’s Congressional delegation to “take up and pass comprehensive health care reform in 2009.” READ MORE
Speaker Donovan, State Democratic leaders give letter with more than 130 democratic signatures to Congressman Murphy (CT-5) urging ‘Bold and Comprehensive Health Care Reform This Year’ to deliver to Connecticut’s Congressional delegation and President Obama.
June 1, 2009 BYSIEWICZ TO RELL: SIGN LANDMARK HEALTH INSURANCE BILLS
AND SAVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND MUNICIPALITIES MILLIONS
Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz is thrilled the Connecticut State Senate Saturday passed H.B. No. 6600, An Act Concerning the Establishment of the SustiNet Plan and the CT Healthcare Partnership contained in H.B. No. 6582, an Act Concerning Expanded Access to the State Employees’ Health Insurance Plan. Secretary Bysiewicz is also calling on Governor Rell to immediately sign these bills into law. H.B. 6582 aims to reduce health care costs to municipalities, small businesses (fewer than fifty employees) and not-for-profits by permitting them to voluntarily join the state employee insurance pool. READ MORE
May 30, 2009 SENATE JOINS HOUSE IN PASSING HEALTHCARE BILLS;
SPEAKER DONOVAN SAYS ACTION PUTS STATE NEARER
TO REFORMS TO HELP CONNECTICUT FAMILIES
“Tens of thousands of people in Connecticut deserve access to affordable, quality healthcare,” Speaker Donovan said. “We owe it to them give them that access. The time for healthcare reform in this country and in Connecticut is long overdue. Today, we are one step closer to remedying that." READ MORE
May 26, 2009 O’BRIEN: HEALTH BILLS A BIG SAVINGS
State Rep. Timothy O’Brien said passage by the state House of Representatives of two health-care bills promises to open doors to more affordable, quality health care for thousands of people while providing significant savings to businesses and towns. READ MORE
May 26, 2009 BRINGING HEALTHCARE COSTS UNDER CONTROL
Second chances tend to be in short supply at the state Capitol. But as the close of this legislative session draws near, Connecticut lawmakers have another shot at reducing health care costs and expanding insurance coverage for citizens across the state. I hope Gov. M. Jodi Rell will work with us to prevent this opportunity from slipping away as it did during the last session. READ MORE
May 26, 2009 HEALTH INSURANCE DEMANDS REFORMS
We know all about the problems. As health care costs rise, policy holders find coverage increasingly unaffordable. Employers are having more trouble paying their own share of insurance costs. And the recession is growing the ranks of the uninsured, forcing more people to resort to emergency rooms for basic medical care. READ MORE
May 25, 2009 HEALTH CARE REFORM GAINS MOMENTUM
Health care reform in Connecticut got a major push last week when the House of Representatives passed two significant proposals aimed at fixing the state’s health care crisis. READ MORE
May 24, 2009 A CREATIVE PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
Health care is costing everyone more these days. From families to small businesses to municipalities and everyone in between, we are all feeling the pain. READ MORE
May 21, 2009 PSN LAUDS PASSAGE OF CT BILLS TO CREATE OPTION
OF PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
The Progressive States Network warmly applauds the Connecticut House of Representatives' passage last night of two landmark bills that would each create the choice of a public health insurance plan in the state, the Connecticut Health Partnership, and SustiNet. The votes underscore the growing momentum at the state level for the choice of a public plan, a priority for reform endorsed by many health care advocates and lawmakers at the national level. READ MORE
May 21, 2009 CONNECTICUT HOUSE BACKS UNIVERSAL
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
The state House of Representatives took a major step Wednesday night toward resolving an issue that has long defied a solution — guaranteeing health care coverage to tens of thousands of Connecticut residents without health insurance. READ MORE
May 20, 2009 SUSTINET PLAN PASSES HOUSE
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. READ MORE
May 20, 2009 LANDMARK HEALTHCARE REFORM BILLS
PASS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Connecticut House of Representatives today passed landmark healthcare reform legislation – the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership and SustiNet bills – that will offer greater access to healthcare and allow municipalities and other eligible groups to potentially see a reduction in healthcare costs. READ MORE
May 7, 2009 HEALTH CARE POOLING BILL GETS A BOOST
The rising cost of health care has labor leaders and local elected officials joining forces to lobby for the passage of a bill which would allow municipal employees, nonprofits, and small businesses to join the state employees health insurance pool. READ MORE
May 7, 2009 HB 6582: A SMART SOLUTION FOR STUBBORN ECONOMIC TIMES
OFFERS SOLACE TO LOCAL TAXPAYERS SEEKING RELIEF
A coalition of labor and municipal officials called on lawmakers to move forward on the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership to enable towns and cities to reduce health care costs while preserving services. They released a report on teacher healthcare costs in 146 towns, finding that 85% of districts would save under the state health plan. See the results of this survey under the documents section and find out more at www.cea.org. READ MORE
May 4, 2009
GETTING UP TO SPEED ON THE NATIONAL DEBATE
The prospects for health care reform have never been better in Washington, US Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5, told two state legislative committee’s Monday. READ MORE
May 2, 2009 STATE MUST ADDRESS HEALTH CARE ISSUES
Healthcare — it is costing everyone much more these days. From families to small businesses to municipalities and everyone in between…no one is immune. While the Federal Government discusses and deliberates what course of action must be taken, Connecticut can not, and must not wait. Connecticut needs to lead the way to affordable healthcare and the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership is the key first step. READ MORE
April 30, 2009 HEALTH CARE ACCESS LEGISLATION MAY PROVIDE WINDFALL TO SCHOOL DISTRICT
Newtown's State Representative Christopher Lyddy is pleased that the local municipal budget passed in referendum this week, but is concerned that belt-tightening at the school district will negatively impact "educational opportunities and transportation needs" of Newtown's children. READ MORE
April 29, 2009 BYSIEWICZ PUSHES PLAN AT HEALTH CARE ROUNDTABLE
Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz continued her push to open the state employees’ health plan to small businesses, nonprofit organizations and municipal employees Wednesday during a roundtable meeting with supportive lawmakers and business representatives at the Russell Library. READ MORE
April 28, 2009 LEGISLATORS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WORK TO PUSH DOWN HEALTH CARE COSTS
State Representatives John Geragosian (D-New Britain), Peter Tercyak (D-New Britain), Tim O’Brien (D-New Britain) and Betty Boukus (D-Plainville, New Britain) joined Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz Tuesday at a regional roundtable with area small business owners an non-profits to discuss business-friendly health care policies that will help New Britain area companies thrive. READ MORE
April 20, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN SAYS PUBLIC OPTION OF HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP IS ANSWER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan today said a Chamber of Commerce healthcare proposal is “a higher cost, lower benefit, mandatory program that is in sharp contrast to the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership bill” he is championing for municipalities, small businesses and non-profits. READ MORE
April 8, 2009 HEALTH CARE PARTNERSHIP ACT VITAL: LEGISLATORS
State Reps. Kim Fawcett, D-133, and Tom Drew, D-132, along with Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, joined small business owners for a roundtable discussion on health-care policies at the Fairfield Public Library. READ MORE
March 25, 2009 HEALTH CARE POOLING
Even as state lawmakers tout the benefits of opening the state's health plan to nonemployees, they still were unsure how key aspects, including participation, funding and billing, would work. READ MORE
March 20, 2009 STUDY: 758,000 IN CONNECTICUT HURT BY BREAKS IN HEALTH COVERAGE
A quarter of Connecticut's residents under 65 — 758,000 people — lacked health insurance at some time in 2007 or 2008, a roadblock to medical care and a sign that reform is urgently needed, according to a new study. READ MORE
March 16, 2009 HEALTH CARE POOL: SAVING STATE DOLLARS
Editorial by Christopher Donovan READ MORE
March 16, 2009 FORUM TO KEEP SMALL BUSINESS
HEALTH CARE LOW HELD
State Representatives David McCluskey (D-West Hartford) and Russell Morin (D-Wethersfield) hosted a regional forum Monday with area small business owners to discuss business-friendly health care policies that will help local companies thrive. READ MORE
March 10, 2009 HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATION
PASSES INSURANCE COMMITTEE Speaker Donovan Says Bill Will Help Towns, Small Businesses, Non-Profits; Laments Lack of Republican Support
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) applauded the Insurance and Real Estate Committee’s passage of legislation establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership. READ MORE
March 2, 2009 SPEAKER DONOVAN SAYS TIME IS RIGHT
FOR HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP Questions Assertions of OPM Secretary Genuario:
They Don’t Make Sense House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) told a legislative committee that passage of the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership this year is “an important step toward our goals of saving state dollars, providing relief to municipalities and the small businesses and non-profits we rely on, and expanding access to high quality affordable healthcare options.” READ MORE
February 27, 2009 SENATE PRESIDENT WILLIAMS, SPEAKER DONOVAN APPLAUD HEALTHFIRST CT’s WORK TO INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE
Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) and House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) – on the heels of President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress where he labeled health care as one of the nation’s top priorities – applauded the members of the HealthFirst Connecticut Authority (HealthFirst) for their hard work in producing a menu of options to improve Connecticut residents’ access to quality health care. READ MORE
January 13, 2009 HOUSE SPEAKER DONOVAN WELCOMES LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
TO IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ON HEALTHCARE
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today expressed enthusiasm for the appointment of Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele to a working group that will look at health care initiatives, including the Connecticut Health Care Partnership, that can better serve citizens in Connecticut and save taxpayer dollars. READ MORE
THE BILLs
HB 6582 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP READ MORE
HB 6600 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SUSTINET PLAN READ MORE
The SustiNet Plan Explained
The document is a one-page outline of the SustiNet Plan, including details on the board of directors, task forces, committees, recommendations and process for responding to the national reform expected in the coming months.
READ MORE
CONNECTICUT'S HEALTH CARE PARTNERSHIP
This document provides details of the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership bill, including information on self-insuring the state plan, the benefits package and the premiums that are in place through June 30, 2009.
READ MORE
testimony
March 2, 2009
At the joint public hearing on healthcare reform bills in March, House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan made the case that the time is right to pass the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership into law. Having garnered widespread support last year, the bill would provide healthcare savings to municipalities, small businesses, non-profits, and the state at a time when they are all facing unprecedented fiscal challenges. READ MORE
