Senate Leadership
June 22, 2006
Williams Says Universal Healthcare Should Be an Economic Development Issue
Comprehensive coverage must stabilize costs without sacrificing quality of coverage
State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) today said the issue of providing access to quality healthcare for all Connecticut residents will be a top priority for Connecticut's future, and the state should address the issue as one of economic development. Approximately 11% of the state's population is without health insurance.
"We must redesign the health care delivery system to provide a greater emphasis on primary care and prevention, including open access to clinics and screenings," Sen. Williams said. "We should start with the goal of providing quality healthcare to all in a way that provides stability as to costs, and strengthens not only the health of our citizens but also our ability to grow our economy and jobs. Simply finding a way to pay for today's care without further reform will not be sustainable in the future because of the spiraling costs of the existing system. Universal healthcare should be a right, and it is our responsibility to provide it in a way that improves the quality of care and is affordable."
Added Sen. Williams, "The lack of healthcare coverage is directly affecting our workforce, which means it is having a negative effect on our economic development efforts. 83% of uninsured households in the state have at least one working adult-low-income families who earn too much for public assistance but not enough to buy coverage. If we are to retain and grow jobs in the state, we must address this problem."
"Up to this point, the debate on this issue across the country and here in Connecticut has focused on how to pay for universal healthcare," Sen. Williams said. "What has been lacking is a discussion on how to fundamentally change the healthcare delivery system so as to stabilize-and potentially reduce-the cost of healthcare without sacrificing quality or access."
Sen. Williams noted that some of these efforts are already underway as our larger corporations have instituted on-site "wellness" clinics and programs. "These successful businesses get it. The result is that companies save money when they keep their employees healthy and productive-revenue that is better spent on expanding their business and hiring new workers," he said.
"Health insurance costs are high, and great disparities in access to quality healthcare exist based on income and employer," said Sen. Williams. "More than 350,000 of our residents have no health insurance at all. We spend billions of dollars on healthcare in our state, including hundreds of millions of dollars on care for the uninsured, which focuses mostly on emergency room service or critical care. Those dollars could be better spent as part of a universal healthcare plan that emphasizes preventative care and wellness."
Sen. Williams has said that in the coming months, he will work with legislators, advocates, labor, and the business and insurance communities to formulate new ideas for a universal healthcare plan for Connecticut citizens.
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
