| Health Care Leadership Council | ||||||||
Concerned about the rising cost of health care, the Business Council of Fairfield County convened a Health Care Leadership Council in 2004 to determine what the regional business organization's corporate members could do to control expenses and improve the health of their employers. The rapid increase in the cost of health insurance premiums comes in an era when employers are facing increased global competition and cannot raise prices to cover the increased costs of doing business. Since its inception, the Council has broadened its scope to concentrate on the issues of health care quality, access and affordability. It develops and publishes health metrics, conducts a communications and events program to raise awareness of health issues and options, hosts best practices exchanges among health care stakeholders, educates small business owners about health insurance options and conducts a public policy advocacy program. Today the Health Care Leadership Council is a diverse group of employers, providers, payers, and consumer advocates that has produced several policy papers on health care reform, with specific recommendations to solve Connecticut’s health care crisis. The Council has been actively engaged in the work of the Health First Connecticut Authority, the entity created by the Connecticut General Assembly to make recommendations to reform Connecticut’s health care system; the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut; and the Metro Chambers Alliance of regional business organizations. All organizations have produced policy documents to improve access, quality and cost of the health care system that will likely find its way into legislation this year. |
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This legislative session was an active one for health
care, statewide and nationally. In Connecticut, several proposals were
raised aimed at revamping the state health care system, a system that accounts
for 1/3 of the state's spending. Several Critical Health Care Related
Bills The SustiNet bill, creating a self-insured health care delivery plan, however became law after an override of the Governor's veto. SustiNet was a health care proposal originally made by the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut. Their stated goal is to make sure everyone in Connecticut has high quality, affordable health care regardless of pre-existing conditions, job changes, self-employment, divorce and other life changes. A copy of the legislation is available at the Connecticut General Assembly website: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ACT/PA/2009PA-00148-R00HB-06600-PA.htm. Details of the SustiNet Legislation: Establishment of Board of Directors The SustiNet Legislation creates a SustiNet Health Partnership board of directors. The board of directors shall consist of nine members, as follows:
Establishment of Committees and
Taskforces It is too early to determine how the SustiNet Health Partnership Board of Directors and the Governor’s Connecticut Health Care Reform Advisory Board will interact. No doubt that there will be more to follow in the coming months. Stay tuned. |
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the Comptroller;
The Business Council of Fairfield County
One Landmark Square, Suite 300
Stamford, CT 06901-2679
General Phone: (203) 359-3220
Fax: (203) 967-8294
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The Business Council of Fairfield County
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