Stamford Advocate - October 18, 2007
By Brian Lockhart
HARTFORD - It didn't take long yesterday for a panel exploring a universal health care system in Connecticut to display its differences.
A few minutes into the first meeting of the HealthFirst Connecticut Authority, member Mickey Herbert, president of ConnectiCare Health Plans, encouraged colleagues to shy away from studying health care systems in other countries that discourage "choice."
"We'd be far better served coming up with a uniquely Connecticut and American solution and not waste a lot of time looking at solutions that are, frankly, alien to our culture," he said.
But Fernando Betancourt, representing the state's Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission, disagreed.
"Look at other models beyond Connecticut," he told the group. "I think not to engage in that is the real waste of time."
Earlier this year, the General Assembly established the authority, made up of health care professionals and advocates, to consider ways of providing primary care and prescription drugs to all residents.
"We know that this is a complex and controversial issue sometimes," said co-chairman Tom Swan, executive director of Connecticut Citizens Action Group.
Swan has lobbied for health care reform and has said he is disappointed that lawmakers did not make greater strides before the session ended June 6.
"The problem demanded more action than was taken," said Swan, who last year managed the campaign of Greenwich Democrat Ned Lamont to unseat U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn. "I also believe the action taken was, for the most part, positive."
The authority's study, due in December 2009, was commissioned in a health care bill that Democrats, who have a majority in the state legislature, forced through the House and Senate about 24 hours before the session ended. That bill expands Medicaid reimbursements and enrollment in the Husky health insurance program for children.
A part of the bill that would have established a statewide self-insured health insurance pool for municipalities was left out.
Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, pushed for universal coverage, a proposal that was rejected, largely because it would cost $17 billion.
Williams addressed the panel yesterday.
"There's tremendous expertise in this room," he said. "We can be a model for the country."
House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, told panel members he understands that "this exercise will make some uncomfortable."
"But it will take breaking down barriers and easing hard agendas" to improve the state's health care system, Amann said.
He said he has been skeptical about universal health care.
"We all want the same goal - making sure everybody has some sort of access and affordability," Amann said, and the authority must "come up with a way of funding this and it has to be sustainable."
Amann said he does not want Connecticut to mirror Massachusetts, where last year lawmakers passed a bill requiring all uninsured adults to buy a policy, giving them the option to buy new state-subsidized insurance.
Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele of Stamford and Stamford Hospital Chief Executive Officer Brian Grissler are members of the authority but sent representatives to yesterday's meeting. Members suggested areas they must explore.
"Coverage can mean a lot of things," said David Benfer, chief executive officer of the Saint Raphael Healthcare System. "I think it would be great to develop a model for what a basic primary-care package will look like."
Others talked about the need to examine the high rates for emergency room visits for the insured and a lack of medical professionals in some areas of the state.
"Some of our problem is no matter how good your insurance is, you can't get the service," said Robert Galvin, state commissioner of public health. "It's very hard to recruit people to come to the small towns."
The legislature set aside $120,000 for the authority to hire consultants to assist it in its work.
Although it is not uncommon for legislative studies to gather dust, Swan said he is confident the panel's work will be considered seriously.
"I am convinced guaranteeing health security for all of Connecticut's residents will be front and center during the 2009 legislative session," Swan said.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
