State Senator Jonathan A. Harris
November 24, 2008
Harris Opposes Cuts to Medicaid Interpreters; Advocates for Immediate Expansion of Money Follows the Person Program
State Senator Jonathan A. Harris (D-West Hartford), who is Senate Chairman of the Human Services Committee, stood today against Governor M. Jodi Rell’s proposed cuts to the state’s Medicaid interpreter program, saying that legislative initiative and the long-delayed expansion of Money Follows The Person need to be started right away instead of being counted as “cuts” in the current biennial budget.
Sen. Harris helped craft and pass both of those needed social programs. Gov. Rell proposed cutting $1.175 million from Medicaid interpreters as part of her 2009 deficit reduction plan, but most of that cut was restored today by the Democratic majority in House Bill 7601.
“When we negotiate policy and pass laws implementing those policies, we expect these policies to be carried out,” Sen. Harris said.
“The Medicaid interpreter program should have begun on July 1, 2007. For all the time we spend talking about affordable health care, this is a way for people with limited English proficiency to get fundamental access to health care. It’s an effective way to prevent illness, and a good way to manage chronic diseases and save taxpayers money. Plus, it’s been the law for a year and a half,” Sen. Harris said. “Same thing with expanding the Money Follows The Person program from 700 to 5,000 people. I strongly support expedited efforts to get this expansion off the ground. We’ll get people out of nursing homes and into their own homes with an equivalent level of care, and we’ll be saving half a million dollars in the bargain.”
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Senator Harris’ |
Listing of Senator Harris’ recent press releases and a Press Kit with official head shots and bio. |
Press Aide Laurence Cook |
