Sec. 19a-754a. Office of Health Strategy established.
Sec. 19a-754c. Covered Connecticut program. Waivers. Prior approval. Reports.
Sec. 19a-754e. Health care expansion study. Report.
Sec. 19a-754a. Office of Health Strategy established. (a) There is established an Office of Health Strategy, which shall be within the Department of Public Health for administrative purposes only. The department head of said office shall be the executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, with the powers and duties therein prescribed.
(b) The Office of Health Strategy shall be responsible for the following:
(1) Developing and implementing a comprehensive and cohesive health care vision for the state, including, but not limited to, a coordinated state health care cost containment strategy;
(2) Promoting effective health planning and the provision of quality health care in the state in a manner that ensures access for all state residents to cost-effective health care services, avoids the duplication of such services and improves the availability and financial stability of such services throughout the state;
(3) Directing and overseeing the State Innovation Model Initiative and related successor initiatives;
(4) (A) Coordinating the state's health information technology initiatives, (B) seeking funding for and overseeing the planning, implementation and development of policies and procedures for the administration of the all-payer claims database program established under section 19a-775a, (C) establishing and maintaining a consumer health information Internet web site under section 19a-755b, and (D) designating an unclassified individual from the office to perform the duties of a health information technology officer as set forth in sections 17b-59f and 17b-59g;
(5) Directing and overseeing the Health Systems Planning Unit established under section 19a-612 and all of its duties and responsibilities as set forth in chapter 368z;
(6) Convening forums and meetings with state government and external stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, to discuss health care issues designed to develop effective health care cost and quality strategies; and
(7) (A) Administering the Covered Connecticut program established under section 19a-754c in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services, Insurance Commissioner and Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, and (B) consulting with the Commissioner of Social Services and Insurance Commissioner for the purposes set forth in section 17b-312.
(c) The Office of Health Strategy shall constitute a successor, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39, to the functions, powers and duties of the following:
(1) The Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, established pursuant to section 38a-1081, relating to the administration of the all-payer claims database pursuant to section 19a-755a; and
(2) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, relating to the (A) development of a chronic disease plan pursuant to section 19a-6q, (B) housing, chairing and staffing of the Health Care Cabinet pursuant to section 19a-725, and (C) (i) appointment of the health information technology officer, and (ii) oversight of the duties of such health information technology officer as set forth in sections 17b-59f and 17b-59g.
(d) Any order or regulation of the entities listed in subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of this section that is in force on July 1, 2018, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation until amended, repealed or superseded pursuant to law.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 164; P.A. 18-91, S. 1; P.A. 19-56, S. 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 15.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 effective January 1, 2018; P.A. 18-91 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to July 1, 2018, adding new Subdiv. (2) re promoting effective health planning and provision of quality health care, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and amending same by deleting Subpara. (A) re all-payer claims database program and deleting Subpara. (B) designator, redesignating Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4) and amending same by designating existing provision re coordinating state's health information technology initiatives as Subpara. (A), adding Subparas. (B) to (D) re administration of all-payer claims database program, consumer health information Internet web site, and duties of health information technology officer, respectively, redesignating Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5) and amending same by replacing reference to Office of Health Care Access with reference to Health Systems Planning Unit, and redesignating Subdiv. (5) as Subdiv. (6), and amended Subsec. (c)(2) by deleting reference to Secs. 19a-755, 17b-59 and 17b-59a and adding reference to Sec. 17b-59g, effective May 14, 2018; P.A. 19-56 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(4), effective June 28, 2019; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (7) re duties re covered Connecticut program under Secs. 19a-754c and 17b-312, effective June 23, 2021.
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Sec. 19a-754c. Covered Connecticut program. Waivers. Prior approval. Reports. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Affordable Care Act” has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-1080;
(2) “Covered Connecticut program” means the program established under subsection (b) of this section;
(3) “Exchange” has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-1080;
(4) “Health carrier” has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-1080;
(5) “Individual market” has the same meaning as provided in 42 USC 18024(a), as amended from time to time;
(6) “Office of Health Strategy” means the Office of Health Strategy established under section 19a-754a; and
(7) “Silver level” has the same meaning as provided in 42 USC 18022(d), as amended from time to time.
(b) There is established within the Office of Health Strategy the Covered Connecticut program for the purpose of reducing the state's uninsured rate. The Office of Health Strategy shall administer said program in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services, Insurance Commissioner and exchange, and, as part of said program, the Office of Health Strategy shall:
(1) Provide premium and cost-sharing subsidies that are sufficient to ensure fully subsidized coverage:
(A) On and after July 1, 2021, for parents and needy caretaker relatives, and their tax dependents not older than twenty-six years of age, who (i) are eligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies for a qualified health plan, (ii) are ineligible for Medicaid because their income exceeds the Medicaid income limits under chapter 319v, (iii) have household income up to one hundred seventy-five per cent of the federal poverty level, and (iv) are receiving coverage under the benchmark qualified health plan offered through the exchange in the individual market at a silver level of coverage; and
(B) On and after July 1, 2022, for all parents, needy caretaker relatives and nonpregnant low-income adults who (i) are between eighteen and sixty-four years of age, (ii) are eligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies for a qualified health plan, (iii) are ineligible for Medicaid because their income exceeds the Medicaid income limits under chapter 319v, (iv) have household income up to one hundred seventy-five per cent of the federal poverty level, and (v) are receiving coverage under the benchmark qualified health plan offered through the exchange in the individual market at a silver level of coverage;
(2) Not earlier than July 1, 2022, provide dental and nonemergency medical transportation services, as provided under chapter 319v, to all parents, needy caretaker relatives and nonpregnant low-income adults who (A) are between eighteen and sixty-four years of age, (B) are eligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies for a qualified health plan, (C) are ineligible for Medicaid because their income exceeds the Medicaid income limits under chapter 319v, (D) have household income up to one hundred seventy-five per cent of the federal poverty level, and (E) are receiving coverage under the benchmark qualified health plan offered through the exchange in the individual market at a silver level of coverage;
(3) Establish procedures to, on a quarterly basis, pay in reimbursement to each health carrier offering the qualified health plan described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, as applicable, the premium and cost-sharing subsidies required under subdivision (1) of this subsection to ensure fully subsidized coverage; and
(4) Consult with the Commissioner of Social Services and Insurance Commissioner for the purposes set forth in section 17b-312.
(c) (1) The Office of Health Strategy may, subject to the approval required under subdivision (3) of this subsection, seek a waiver pursuant to Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act, as amended from time to time, to advance the purpose of the Covered Connecticut program. The Office of Health Strategy shall implement such waiver if the federal government issues such waiver.
(2) The Office of Health Strategy shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations, human services and insurance containing any proposed waiver described in subdivision (1) of this subsection before seeking such waiver from the federal government.
(3) Not later than thirty days after the Office of Health Strategy submits a report under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations, human services and insurance shall convene a joint public hearing on the proposed waiver contained in the report submitted pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, separately vote to approve or reject such proposed waiver and advise the Office of Health Strategy of their approval or rejection of such proposed waiver. If any committee takes no action on such proposed waiver within the thirty-day period, the proposed waiver shall be deemed rejected.
(d) The benefits and subsidies provided for individuals as part of the Covered Connecticut program shall not be considered income for such individuals for the purposes of chapter 229.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2022, and every six months thereafter, the Office of Health Strategy shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations, human services and insurance. Such report shall contain a description of the operations and finances of, and progress made by, the Covered Connecticut program for the immediately preceding six-month period.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 16.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 effective June 23, 2021.
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Sec. 19a-754d. Collection of demographic data re ancestry or ethnic origin, ethnicity, race or primary language. Inclusion in electronic health record systems. (a) On and after January 1, 2022, any state agency, board or commission that directly, or by contract with another entity, collects demographic data concerning the ancestry or ethnic origin, ethnicity, race or primary language of residents of the state in the context of health care or for the provision or receipt of health care services or for any public health purpose shall:
(1) Collect such data in a manner that allows for aggregation and disaggregation of data;
(2) Expand race and ethnicity categories to include subgroup identities as specified by the Community and Clinical Integration Program of the Office of Health Strategy and follow the hierarchical mapping to align with United States Office of Management and Budget standards;
(3) Provide the option to individuals of selecting one or more ethnic or racial designations and include an “other” designation with the ability to write in identities not represented by other codes;
(4) Provide the option to individuals to refuse to identify with any ethnic or racial designations;
(5) Collect primary language data employing language codes set by the International Organization for Standardization; and
(6) Ensure, in cases where data concerning an individual's ethnic origin, ethnicity or race is reported to any other state agency, board or commission, that such data is neither tabulated nor reported without all of the following information: (A) The number or percentage of individuals who identify with each ethnic or racial designation as their sole ethnic or racial designation and not in combination with any other ethnic or racial designation; (B) the number or percentage of individuals who identify with each ethnic or racial designation, whether as their sole ethnic or racial designation or in combination with other ethnic or racial designations; (C) the number or percentage of individuals who identify with multiple ethnic or racial designations; and (D) the number or percentage of individuals who do not identify or refuse to identify with any ethnic or racial designations.
(b) Each health care provider with an electronic health record system capable of connecting to and participating in the State-wide Health Information Exchange as specified in section 17b-59e shall, collect and include in its electronic health record system self-reported patient demographic data including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, primary language, insurance status and disability status based upon the implementation plan developed under subsection (c) of this section. Race and ethnicity data shall adhere to standard categories as determined in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Not later than August 1, 2021, the Office of Health Strategy shall consult with consumer advocates, health equity experts, state agencies and health care providers, to create an implementation plan for the changes required by this section.
(d) The Office of Health Strategy shall (1) review (A) demographic changes in race and ethnicity, as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau, and (B) health data collected by the state, and (2) reevaluate the standard race and ethnicity categories from time to time, in consultation with health care providers, consumers and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health.
(P.A. 21-35, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 21-35 effective June 14, 2021.
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Sec. 19a-754e. Health care expansion study. Report. (a) The Executive Director of the Office of Health Strategy, in consultation with the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Social Services, the Connecticut Insurance Department and the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange established pursuant to section 38a-1081, shall study the feasibility of offering health care coverage for (1) income-eligible children ages nine to eighteen, inclusive, regardless of immigration status, who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or an offer of affordable employer sponsored insurance as defined in the Affordable Care Act, as an employee or a dependent of an employee, and (2) adults with household income not exceeding two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level who do not otherwise qualify for medical assistance, an offer of affordable, employer-sponsored insurance as defined in the Affordable Care Act, as an employee or a dependent of an employee, or health care coverage through the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange due to household income.
(b) The study on the feasibility of providing health care coverage to income-eligible children ages nine to eighteen, inclusive, shall include, but not be limited to: (1) The age groups that would be provided medical assistance in each year, and appropriations necessary to provide such assistance, (2) income eligibility criteria and health care coverage consistent with the medical assistance programs established pursuant to sections 17b-261 and 17b-292, and (3) recommendations for identifying and enrolling such children in such coverage.
(c) The study on the feasibility of providing health care coverage for adults with household income not exceeding two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Household income caps for adults who would be provided health care coverage in each year, and appropriations necessary to provide such coverage, (2) health care coverage consistent with the medical assistance programs established pursuant to section 17b-261 and the HUSKY D program as defined in section 17b-290, and (3) recommendations for identifying and enrolling such adults in such coverage.
(d) Not later than July 1, 2022, the executive director shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on provisions of the feasibility study to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, human services and insurance and real estate.
(P.A. 21-176, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 21-176 effective July 12, 2021.
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