Today, State Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams (D-Meriden, Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire) joined Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), and other members of the Senate Democratic caucus to announce “A Healthy Connecticut,” the first of four legislative agendas for the 2020 legislative session from Senate Democrats. The series of bills outlined the policy proposals from Senate Democrats to strengthen Connecticut’s health care, environmental and energy systems.
Sen. Abrams discussed legislative proposals to expand patients’ rights, allowing them the opportunity to tell their medical story to an insurance company after a new medicine or test is ordered by a doctor. Currently, patients can only share that information after an insurance company has denied that coverage.
“Sometimes it is hard to believe how far afield we have gone with health care,” said Sen. Abrams. “In our current system, a patient is only given the opportunity to speak to an insurance company after their claim has been denied. Individuals need a voice and the chance to tell their story to avoid a denial of coverage. Waiting for that chance puts them on the defensive and can serve as effective health care rationing. In relation to their insurance, a patient is essentially a consumer. They should be given additional power to participate in the system they’re already paying for.”
Additional legislative proposals in the “A Healthy Connecticut” agenda discussed today included:
Capping Insulin Costs and Providing Emergency Insulin
To cap exorbitant insulin costs and provide patients accessibility to emergency insulin supplies.
Prescription Drug Cost Controls
To reduce and limit prescription drug costs.
Expanding Patients’ Rights
To allow patients an opportunity to tell their own “story” to insurance companies when a new medicine or test is ordered by the doctor. This can prevent frustrating and unnecessary denials as well as provide timely medical care.
Expanding Dental & Eye Insurance to Age 26
To expand the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that those under 26 remain on their parent’s health insurance for dental and eye insurance.
Public Option
To create a public option for businesses and residents to buy-in to a state public health care plan.
Protecting the Affordable Care Act
To protect health care for Connecticut residents considering the Federal Government’s continuous attempts to change and dismantle the Affordable Care Act.
Preventing Unnecessary Utility Shut-Offs
To hold utility companies responsible and provide customers with the necessary information to avoid unnecessary utility shut-offs.
Protecting Water from Lead & Harmful PFAS
To help protect Connecticut’s public drinking water supplies from PFAS chemicals and lead.