Written comments will be accepted through July 17th at 11:59pm.
Notice from the Healthcare Advocate re massive increases sought by health insurance carriers
From the Connecticut Healthcare Advocate, Ted Doolittle:
I am shocked to learn that the health insurance carriers of Connecticut are seeking premium rate increases of more than 20 percent and in some cases more than 30 percent for next year. These unbelievable hikes will fuel inflation and harm access to any healthcare – let alone affordable healthcare – for many Connecticut families.
These high premium rate requests are driven by one thing: this state’s internationally abnormal hospital and drug prices. The Connecticut Insurance Department has the statutory authority to determine whether or not healthcare premium rate requests are “excessive.” The Office of the Healthcare Advocate believes that any premium rate request based on excessive medical costs is itself by definition excessive. That is why I am calling on the Insurance Department to hold formal administrative hearings – not the informal listening sessions that have been the practice in recent years – including calling specific high-cost providers such as hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers to explain and justify the internationally abnormal, inflation-fueling prices underlying these massive rate requests.
The Insurance Department in 2015 committed to hold formal administrative hearings at the request of the Healthcare Advocate on up to four plans when rate requests exceed 10 percent. Today, this office, in partnership with Attorney General Tong and his team, is invoking this authority. OHA will participate as a party intervenor, represented by the Attorney General’s Office. I look forward to working with the Department, the Attorney General, and OHA’s legal team in coming days to determine which plan or plans should be subject to a formal Uniform Administrative Procedures Act hearing process this summer.
Please contact Healthcare Advocate Ted Doolittle at 860-331-2441 or ted.doolittle@ct.gov for further information.
DEEP Launches Updated Statewide Energy Efficiency Plan Focused on Decarbonization, Equity, and Affordability
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced its final approval of the 2022-2024 Conservation and Load Management Plan with modifications to transform the way Connecticut invests in energy efficiency while focusing on the following areas: equity, decarbonization, and affordability.
Developed every three years in collaboration with the state’s electric utilities with input from stakeholders and members of the public, the Conservation and Load Management Plan (C&LM Plan) guides the direction, incentives, and programs for Energize CT, Connecticut’s flagship energy efficiency initiative. Energize CT helps residents save energy and money in their homes and businesses with building assessments, rebates, financing, and other services for energy efficiency and clean energy improvements.
The energy-saving investments funded by the 2022-2024 Plan are projected to provide over $1.7 billion in cumulative benefits and result in 4.6 million tons of CO2 emission reductions, equivalent to the annual energy-related emissions of 580,000 homes. Energy efficiency programs funded by C&LM are instrumental in achieving cost-effective decarbonization in Connecticut’s residential and commercial buildings and are ranked among some of the best state programs nationwide.
More at: portal.ct.gov/deep
