HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES POLICY AND PLANNING DIVISION Informed Public Policy – The OPM Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHS) addresses health and human services issues and is responsible for:
  • Identification of emerging issues and trends and the development of strategic policy proposals to address such issues;
  • Development of implementation plans in support of the Governor's policy initiatives;
  • Providing inter-agency coordination and facilitating the collaboration between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government;
  • Providing inter-agency coordination and facilitating the collaboration between the State of Connecticut, the Federal government and local municipalities; and
  • Responding to federal legislation, regulation and policy initiatives and implementation of federal programs and mandates.
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The Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division leads a number of policy and planning teams aimed at improving the delivery of health care, long-term services and supports and human services in the state.  The Division provides research and staff support, represents OPM on numerous legislatively mandated councils and committees, manages federal grants, and monitors state and national activities that address quality, access and cost issues.  Some examples of HHS' activities in the area of health and human services are:

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

RFI # 2022_0204_OPM_HHS

Health Disparities & Prevention Insights

Release Date: 02/04/2022

Responses Due:  03/14/2022, 5:00 PM eastern time

Summary:  The Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is interested in learning about potential uses of capital investment to address public health disparities and has issued this RFI to gather knowledge, ideas or best practices in the community health and behavioral health industry to strengthen the operations, effectiveness, and accessibility of community health centers and mental health and substance use treatment providers to address disparities in public health and accelerate the post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery. 

To view the complete RFI and related information please click THIS LINK, or paste the following into your browser:

https://webprocure.perfect.com/wp-web-public/#/bidboard/bid/97423?customerid=51

SUMMARY OF RESPONSES RECEIVED

Long-Term Services and Supports 

  • Public Policy Development - HHS identifies and analyzes emerging long-term services and supports issues in the areas of financing, service delivery, and types of care.  The Division emphasizes the importance of shifting the balance between public and private resources and institutional and community-based care. 
 
  • Partnership for Long-Term Care HHS administers Connecticut's Partnership for Long-Term Care, the State's partnership with the insurance industry that educates Connecticut's residents about the importance of planning ahead for future long-term services and supports needs and provides high-quality private long-term care insurance to help with those planning efforts. 
 
  • Long-Term Care Planning CommitteeHHS staff Chair and provide staff support for the Planning Committee, which is responsible for issuing a State long-term services and supports plan every three years.
 
 
 
  • Annual Nursing Home Census HHS staff surveys Connecticut nursing facilities annually on September 30th of each year and provides aggregate information on the status of nursing facilities and their residents.

  Health and Human Services

  • Block Grants HHS coordinates the development and legislative submission of eight allocation plans for over $165 million in federal block grants pursuant to C.G.S. Section 4-28b. This involves initiating the formal planning process, providing technical assistance to state agencies, coordinating the review and analysis of plans, coordinating submission to the legislature, facilitating legislative approval of the plans, and following up on outstanding issues raised at the public hearing.
 
  •  Non-Profit Collaboration Incentive Grant HHS coordinates the Non-Profit Collaboration Incentive Grant Program (NCIP) established in Section 25 of Public Act 09-2. Activities include drafting guidelines, issuing a Request for Application (RFA), evaluating responses and recommending grant recipients to the Secretary of OPM.  Click here for a list of NCIP Grant Awardees for 2015.
 
  • Tobacco and Health Trust Fund HHS Chairs and provides staff support to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund, including disbursement of up to $6 million annually in accordance with C.G.S. Section 4-28f.
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Workforce Council
  • The PCA Workforce Council was established in 2012 to represent the interests of the state and PCA employers. The Council, and OPM's Office of Labor Relations, negotiates and administers the PCA collective bargaining agreement with the union that represents PCAs, 1199 SEIU-NE. Members of the Council are appointed by the Governor, the Commissioners of the Departments of Social Services and Developmental Services, the State Healthcare Advocate, and leaders in the Connecticut General Assembly (legislature). The PCA Workforce Council receives administrative support from OPM.
Completed Projects
  • Child Poverty and Prevention Council- In June 2015 the State's Child Poverty and Prevention Council statutorily sunsetted.  HHS had Chaired and provided staff support to the Council, assisting in the development of various reports.
 
  • Prevention Services Funding - Through the biennium budget that ended June 30, 2011, OPM developed a Prevention Services Budget every two years in conjunction with the Governor's Biennial Budget.  In 2014, Connecticut's General Assembly removed from the statutes the requirement that OPM produce a Prevention Service Budget.
 
  • Interagency Council on Affordable Housing -Authorized by Section 8-37nnn of the Connecticut General Statutes to advise and assist the Commissioner of the Department of Housing in the planning and implementation of the department.  HHS had Chaired and provided staff support to the Council.
  •  Certificate of Need Task Force - Per Governor Malloy's Executive Order 51A, the Certificate of Need (CON) Task Force was established to undertake a review and analysis of the state's CON process and programs and determine if changes are necessary to ensure quality of care and access for all state residents and the preservation of an open and competitive health care market.  The Task Force convened from April 12, 2016 - January 9, 2017 and submitted a final report of recommendations to Governor Malloy on January 15, 2017.  Click here to access the CON Task Force final report.
  • Abolishment of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities and Creation of a Nonprofit Protection and Advocacy System.  Effective July 1, 2017, the State Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities was abolished and Connecticut's Protection and Advocacy System for Persons with Disabilities was redesignated to a non-profit entity, Disability Rights Connecticut.  HHS staff oversaw the entire redesignation process.

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For Additional Information on HHSPPD Please Contact

Claudio Gualtieri

Senior Policy Advisor - Health and Human Services Policy and Planning

State of Connecticut

Office of Policy and Management

450 Capitol Avenue - MS#52ASP

Hartford, CT 06106-1379

Phone: (860) 418-6268
Fax: (860) 418-6495

Email: claudio.gualtieri@ct.gov