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October 2009 Issue
Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 2300
Hartford, CT 06106-1591
E-mail
DeFronzo@senatedems.ct.gov
On the Web
www.SenatorDeFronzo.cga.ct.gov
Phone
Capitol: 860-240-0595
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420
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Dear Friends,
Thank you for reading the first edition of my monthly Capitol News — a new way for you to learn about what’s going on in your state government. In this update, you’ll learn about our efforts to preserve state programs that support small businesses, new money-saving changes to the ConnPACE program and landmark legislation that will change the lives of thousands of Connecticut families coping with the high cost of treating autism in their children.
Support for Small Business,
Support for Jobs in Connecticut
 This past legislative session we took important steps to help protect small businesses and their workers from the recession. According to the most recent data available from the federal Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, Connecticut has more than 75,000 small employers in operation in the state. These businesses represent 97.4 percent of all our employers and 49.6 percent of private-sector employment.
A recession is the wrong time to eliminate state support for small businesses, which is why I opposed efforts to shut down business incubators, economic assistance grants and supply-chain initiatives — all of which help businesses boost productivity and grow jobs.
Additionally, I supported legislation that will help keep an eye on regulations that might impact our small businesses and requires any state agency that proposes a regulation to identify how it will affect small businesses.
Positive Changes to ConnPACE Rx Program
Changes are on the way for ConnPACE — Connecticut’s prescription drug assistance program for some Medicare-eligible seniors and the disabled. These changes, however, will save both seniors and the state money as the  federal government steps up to cover more of the costs of this important program.
The ConnPACE Plus program, approved back in February and beginning its implementation this month should save the state $4-to-5 million per year. The new program lowers co-pays for generics to $2.25 and for brand-name drugs to $5.60. Additionally, the state Department of Social Services will pay some of seniors’ Medicare Part B premiums under the program, saving many seniors approximately $1,000 per year.
If you’re already enrolled in the ConnPACE program, you should automatically receive information about the new Plus program as it is rolled out. If you have any questions, please call DSS toll-free at 1-800-423-5026 or contact me at my office using the above information.
Insurance Coverage for Autistic Children
 Help is on the way for the thousands of Connecticut families with children who suffer from autism spectrum disorders. This year, I cosponsored this ground-breaking legislation that makes Connecticut the tenth state in the nation to mandate comprehensive health insurance for autism.
Beginning on January 1, health insurance policies in Connecticut must cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, including behavioral therapy or a child age 15 and younger, certain prescription drugs and certain psychiatric and psychological services. This will improve treatment for children with autism and provide substantial savings in the often devastating medical costs to their families.
For more information about autism spectrum disorders, visit AutismSpeaks.org.
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