Robin Comey

I hope this email finds you and your family well. Last week, we voted to extend the state’s Emergency Response Fund through the end of the next fiscal year, positioning the state to respond effectively to further federal funding reductions. Additionally, Coffee with Comey has been rescheduled, please see the details below. Let’s hope we’re finished with snowstorms!

There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Around Town
• Emergency Relief Fund Passed
• CT Student Loan Reimbursement Program
• Black History Month
• Heart Awareness Month
• Free Radon Tests
• Warming Centers
• Community Events

It’s always a pleasure to catch up with Suzannah Holsenbeck at Read to Grow in Branford. I’ve been proud to work with her team and several other organizations on a statewide early literacy initiative.

Read to Grow has recently announced an exciting expansion through a new partnership with Greenwich Hospital, bringing books to 2,800 more babies and their families. Congratulations on this wonderful milestone!

With last Saturday’s uncertain weather forecast, I decided to cancel coffee hours. But when the time came, although it was cold, there was a break in the weather, so I headed to Four Seasons anyway. I’m glad I did, because Christine, Bill, and Sharon showed up as well.

It turned into a nice, relaxed opportunity to catch up on current issues and the work of the legislature. Thanks so much for coming out!

Committees have begun meeting. This year, I’m continuing to serve as Vice Chair of Human Services, and a member of The Committee on Children and the Education Committee.

To keep updated, visit the schedule on our website, www.cga.ct.gov

Our Human Services Committee continues to advocate for Medicaid Rate Increases to help stabilize the health care field.  A recent state Medicaid Rate Study found that Connecticut lags well behind peer states when paying providers under Connecticut’s Medicaid program. Many areas of care are currently reimbursed at the same levels they were in 2007.

The multi-year plan to implement recommendations of the study includes:

• Increasing reimbursement rates, up to current federal rate levels under Medicare, for all providers as many providers are still reimbursed using the 2007 fee schedule
• Bringing all providers up to at least a 75-80% reimbursement benchmark
• Continued focus on certain provider groups that were excluded from the study 
• Increasing formula grants under Medicaid to providers not covered in the study, including: FQHCs, substance abuse treatment, hospice and home healthcare

The approved budget allocated $60 million for FY26 and FY27 to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for various providers was signed into law. However, there is universal agreement that more absolutely needs to be done. There is bipartisan support for increased investments and our committee is leading those efforts, with an end goal of preventing another 18-year stagnation of Medicaid reimbursements.

Key priorities include strengthening Home Healthcare and Complex Care services, supporting Gaylord Specialty Healthcare and optometry services, and expanding access to non-opioid medications. Additional focus areas include sustaining services at Brooker Memorial, protecting and enhancing family planning services, and ensuring continued support for the Birth to Three program. It is also important to require the Department of Social Services (DSS) to develop a plan addressing reimbursement rates not included in the study, as well as to increase reimbursement rates for doulas to improve access to maternal health support.

Last week, we voted to extend the state’s Emergency Response Fund, a critical safeguard that helps shield Connecticut from federal funding cuts and protects essential health and human services relied upon by communities across our state. At a time of ongoing chaos and uncertainty at the federal level, extending this fund ensures Connecticut is prepared to act swiftly and responsibly. The Emergency Response Fund will remain available through the end of the next fiscal year, giving the state the flexibility to respond quickly to additional federal funding reductions and to continue supporting the services that families, seniors, and vulnerable residents depend on.

It's easier than ever to follow along and get involved. There are several resources you can utilize that will help you stay updated on the legislative process as it unfolds in Hartford.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:  

• The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) provides nonpartisan and unbiased research to members of the General Assembly and its staff. Part of OLR's duties include writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language. 
• You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website. 
• Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, press conferences, as well as House and Senate floor debates. 
• Click here to register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change. 
• Click here for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

Together, we can ensure all voices are heard. 

Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Student Loan Reimbursement Program has opened a new grant round and is now accepting applications for student loan payments that were made during the 2025 calendar year.

Since launching its first grant round in January 2025, the program has awarded more than $2.2 million in reimbursements to borrowers statewide.

Eligible applicants can apply for reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 per year, with a maximum reimbursement of $20,000 over four years. Under the program, a new grant round launches each year, providing reimbursements for payments made during the preceding calendar year.

Eligible applicants may qualify if they:

• Are Connecticut residents and meet program residency requirements
• Made qualifying student loan payments during the 2025 calendar year
• Earned a degree from a Connecticut institution of higher education or completed a state-approved program required for professional licensure or certification
• Meet income limits of $125,000 for single filers or $175,000 for married filers
• Completed required community service or qualify for a hardship waiver in certain circumstances

Applications must be submitted online through the CT Scholars portal, where applicants need to complete an application and upload required documentation. Applications will be reviewed on a first come first serve basis through December 2026 or until funds are exhausted.

Click here for application instructions. Questions regarding the program and the application process can be directed to OHE.SLRP@ct.gov.

Black History Month is a time to rejoice, reflect, and remember that Black history is American history.  

In Connecticut, we have a rich history of Black Americans shaping our communities. I encourage you to explore the following resources to learn more about Black History in Connecticut and to attend local events taking place over the next month:

The State of Connecticut published a piece about why we celebrate Black History Month, resources to learn more about this history, and events.

The Connecticut Tourism Office detailed the various landmarks and museums you can visit to explore Black History in Connecticut, along with events throughout the month.

Black History is something to be celebrated by all Connecticut residents, and I hope you'll look through these wonderful resources.

As part of the MLK Heritage Foundation’s Black History Month program, on Saturday, February 21 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Blackstone Library (758 Main Street) join Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas for a conversation on protecting voting rights. A question and answer session will follow.

Registration is required, click here to register.

February is Heart Awareness Month. Heart disease is often preventable, but remains the top killer in the U.S.  

Here are some simple ways to promote heart health:

• Get CPR certified
• Exercise regularly & manage your stress
• Keep Track of your cholesterol
• Know your numbers! Learn how to self-measure your own blood pressure

Last year, the legislature passed Senate Bill 1, which included language requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of coronary calcium scans.

The coronary calcium scans looks for calcium deposits in the heart’s arteries. The results can help determine the risk of heart attacks or strokes in patients, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The scan costs about $200 if you pay out of pocket, doctors don’t usually mention the scan because, up until last year, insurers didn’t cover it.

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. Over time, it can build up in your home and increase the risk of serious health problems, including lung cancer.

Branford residents can pick up a free radon test in the lobby of the East Shore District Health Department (688 East Main Street) while supplies last. Limit one test kit per household.

Click here to learn more about radon, how it can affect your health, and how you can take action.