HEALTH CARE BILLS – LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

HEALTH CARE BILLS – END OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE.

Protection of essential health benefits into state law: H.B. 5210, now P.A.18-10, protects CT residents even if Congress or the Trump Administration eliminates these protections at the federal level. The bill also ensures coverage of preventive services at no cost to the consumer and bars annual and lifetime caps on coverage. The bill is awaiting Governor Malloy’s signature after passing the state House of Representatives by a vote of 114-32 and the state Senate by a vote of 34-2. State Rep. David Wilson voted NO. State Sen. Craig Miner voted YES.

Restoring Medicaid/HUSKY cuts: In the budget adopted just hours before the session ended, both the Medicare Savings Program for low-income seniors and coverage for HUSKY A parents were restored to 2017 levels. The budget passed unanimously in the Senate and by a vote of 142-8 in the House. The Governor is expected to sign the budget. Both Wilson and Miner voted YES.

Addressing the rising cost of prescription drugs: HB 5384 was amended substantially and ultimately passed unanimously in the House and the Senate. It is an important first step in controlling drug costs. The bill now goes to the Governor. Both Wilson and Miner voted YES.

Studying new public coverage options: HB 5463, which mandated a study of new health care coverage options for people not eligible for Medicaid, passed the House by a vote of 93-55 but was not taken up by the Senate. Wilson voted NO.