3/12/21 Newsletter

CDC
March 12, 2021
This week a bill that I submitted, HB-5482 received a public hearing in the Commerce Committee. This legislation is to implement the recommendations of the 2017 working group on public-private partnerships to recruit businesses to CT. It is essential that we continue to capitalize on the positive momentum our state is experiencing with the in-migration from New York. It is incumbent on us to make our state not only a wonderful place to live and raise a family but also a great place for businesses to operate and grow. I was grateful for the opportunity to question David Lehman, the Commissioner of DECD, and his staff, on how they are communicating and coordinating their efforts directly with businesses and collecting feedback from our business community on their efforts. Whatever work we proceed with must be in conjunction with our business community and stakeholders. I am excited to continue to find ways to grow our state's economy.
Commerce Testimony 
 
EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE: S.B. 842
The pandemic has provided an opportunity to reflect on our healthcare system, our priorities, and the way we care for one another. There has been a lot of conversation around how we can meaningfully and affordably expand access to quality health care.  There are multiple proposals to address these issues, here are the differences from two of the legislative bills: 
 
What CT Residents need Addressed by SB 842 Addressed by SB 1006
New health care choices for small businesses and non-profits Check X
Protects Connecticut’s economy by supporting small business  Check X
Additional subsidies for plans purchased on and off the exchange Check X
Medicaid expansion Check X
Improve individual health plan options on the exchange thought coverage and network requirements Check X

 

SB 842:

  • This plan will expand an already existing healthcare plan. It is the plan state employees (like myself, now) receive. In 2016, this plan was expanded to all municipalities and Fairfield's teachers were amongst the first in the state to opt-in. This plan saved Fairfield $3.5 million in the first year. 
  • While this plan is publicly sourced it is still privately administered.
  • You can access data on this plan over the past several years here. 

HB 1006:

  • This plan is primarily reinsurance.
  • Reinsurance is essentially a subsidy for large insurance companies paid for by Connecticut taxpayers. Reinsurance cycles taxpayer money to insurance companies but does nothing to lower overall health care costs or improve the quality of care.
  • Reinsurance does not address the skyrocketing costs small businesses and nonprofits are experiencing in the small group market.
  • Ultimately, reinsurance could serve as a component of a larger package, but it won’t lower costs or improve care as a standalone policy.
 
 
FAIRFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY SURVEY
The Fairfield Public Library is now surveying the town in preparation for a new strategic plan. Please see below for further details.
 
Click here to take the survey.
 
CDC UPDATE
The CDC has announced great news for grandparents and grandchildren! With roughly 20% of U.S. residents having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, many are wondering when life can return to a semblance of our pre-pandemic lives. It is understandable that people are eager to see friends and family in-person rather than through a screen, go out to eat, or listen to live music again, particularly in light of the upcoming loosening of certain restrictions in Connecticut.

To that end, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines on what kinds of activities are safe to resume after you and your family are fully vaccinated.

According to the CDC, once you are fully vaccinated: 
  • You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.
  • You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. 
  • If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms. 
    • However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.

While this is certainly good news, the CDC does still recommend, however, that everyone, including those fully vaccinated, continue to wear masks and practice social distancing when in a public place or at a social gathering with unvaccinated people from multiple households. The CDC also strongly recommends avoiding medium and large sized gatherings, as well as extensive domestic or international travel
A reminder- you are only considered fully vaccinated after two weeks following: 
  • The second of two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine; or 
  • The single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine 

To read more about these new guidelines from the CDC, click here. As we work to get everyone vaccinated and finally put this pandemic behind us, make sure to wear your mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands.
 
AROUND THE TOWN
With the sunshine this week came the very-welcomed opportunity to be outside in our beautiful community.

We celebrated the opening of Puppy Love Spa and Boutique, a new dog grooming spa and boutique. Welcome to town; we are thrilled to have you in Fairfield!
Then I ended the day by bringing my boys to pick out chocolates at another new Fairfield Business Be Chocolat; they are an authentic Belgian chocolatier and their chocolates are works of art! Hopefully, with the administration of more vaccines and better weather on the horizon, we will all be able to enjoy all our community has to offer in the very near future.