File No. 574

House of Representatives, April 8, 2009

The Committee on Public Health reported through REP. RITTER of the 38th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health and the State Comptroller, shall develop short-term and long-term recommendations addressing the most effective use of the increase in federal funds received by the state, including, but not limited to, federal funds received that are attributable to the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage, for purposes of utilizing such funds to provide improved access to health care for state residents. Such recommendations may address topics that include, but are not limited to, provider reimbursement rates, expanded enrollment in existing state health care programs, the improved delivery of health care services through existing state health care programs, development of health information technology and improved leveraging of federal dollars for state health care costs. On or before July 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Social Services shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, such recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, public health and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies.

The following fiscal impact statement and bill analysis are prepared for the benefit of members of the General Assembly, solely for the purpose of information, summarization, and explanation, and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either House thereof for any purpose:

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

This bill requires the Departments of Social Services and Public Health, along with the State Comptroller to develop a plan concerning the most effective use of the increase in federal funds received by the state. This plan must be submitted to the General Assembly by July 1, 2009. The agencies involved will incur a minimal administrative cost to meet these requirements.

The Out Years

None

OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6675

AN ACT INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the social services commissioner to develop short-and long-term recommendations on how most effectively to use any increased federal funds the state receives, such as Medicaid funding, to improve state residents' access to health care. He must do this in consultation with the public health commissioner and comptroller.

Their recommendations can address provider reimbursement rates, expanded enrollment in state health care programs and improved service delivery in these programs, developing health information technology, and obtaining more federal health care money.

The social services commissioner must report the recommendations by July 1, 2009 and annually thereafter to the Public Health, Human Services, and Appropriations committees.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Health Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute