REPORT ON BILLS FAVORABLY REPORTED BY COMMITTEE

TITLE OF BILL:

AN ACT CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF WAIVER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SPONSORS OF BILL:

REASONS FOR BILL:

This bill was raised after the Department of Social Services submitted a waiver application to the Federal Government that the Human Services Committee and the General Assembly did not approve of. The bill's purpose is to ensure that any waiver application submitted by the Commissioner of Social Services is in accordance with any recommendations made by the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, appropriations, and the budgets of the state agencies.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Claudette Beaulieu, Deputy Commissioner for Programs, Department of Social Services, testified: “This legislation was vetoed last session. For the reasons expressed in Governor Rell's veto message, which is attached to our written testimony, we urge the bill's disapproval by the committee this session. In short, the bill circumvents the budget process, impedes the department's ability to meet savings reflected in the budget and/or to meet increased revenue goals and impose unnecessary burdens on D.S.S by amending current law to revert to a waiver approval process the entire legislature once considered to be too burdensome. The potential risks to the state budget which would result from the onerous and bureaucratic process being propose and from the unnecessary delays caused by the actions of a single committee of the legislature, is an unacceptable consequence of this legislation. In contrast, the current process, with legislative consultation, has proven to be timely and efficient.”

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

Natasha M. Pierre, Associate Legislative Analyst, Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, testified: “Both of these proposals would allow the public access to information and the ability to be involved in the processes that impact their everyday lives. R.B. 148 would open the Department of Social Services waiver process for public comment through a public hearing. We believe it is essential that individuals who are impacted by changes and costs under services in Medicaid have several opportunities to speak on matters that impact their lives.”

The Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of Retired People, submitted the following testimony: “In the past, the Department of Social Services (D.S.S.) came to this Committee with its Medicaid Transfer of Asset Waiver Proposal. This Committee unanimously rejected that proposal. But D.S.S. ignored your opposition as they disregarded the opposition of AARP and every other organization and health care provider that testified before you on that waiver. We need to encourage Connecticut to use waivers in the Medicaid waiver program as a hand extended to needy to improve services and not as a sword to cut expenditures. Giving the Legislature oversight over the executive on the decision to submit waivers and on their intent could only strengthen Connecticut's ability to help those most in need with the best possible services that we can provide. With all the federal Medicaid cuts, especially from the recently passed Federal Budget Reconciliation, this legislation is needed now more than ever.”

Gretchen Vivier, Director, Health Care for All Coalition, testified: “Neither should we allow the Commissioner of Social Services to circumvent the will of the people as represented by the Connecticut General Assembly by submitting waivers that the General Assembly has not approved – or as in at least one previous case, one which this committee expressly disapproved.”

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

None Expressed.