STATE OF CONNECTICUT 

BY HER EXCELLENCY 

M. JODI RELL

GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 43 

WHEREAS, legislation to reform national health care was signed into law by the President of the United States in March 2010; and

WHEREAS, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, health care coverage will be extended to additional Connecticut residents; children will not be denied coverage by insurance companies because of pre-existing conditions; lifetime coverage caps will be eliminated; small businesses will receive tax credits to help purchase their employees’ health insurance; and more adults with pre-existing health conditions will be able to obtain coverage; and

WHEREAS, national health care reform includes key strategies to reduce the cost of health insurance for individuals and businesses; and

WHEREAS, the State of Connecticut is a national leader in providing affordable and accessible quality health care coverage; and

WHEREAS, Connecticut’s HUSKY (Healthcare for UninSured Kids and Youth) program now serves 260,000 children and teenagers in families of all incomes and 126,000 eligible parents, relative caregivers and pregnant women with comprehensive health benefits; and

WHEREAS, the innovative Charter Oak Health Plan provides health coverage to nearly 14,000 previously uninsured adults of all incomes; and

WHEREAS, Connecticut’s health care access system leads the nation and, indeed, was the first to seek significant reimbursement under this new national legislation through its SAGA conversion to Medicaid through a State Plan Amendment; and

WHEREAS, Connecticut currently has a vast number of far-reaching health care initiatives that may be positively impacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 including, but not limited to, the Medicaid program, HUSKY, SAGA, Charter Oak Health Plan, Health Reinsurance Association, SustiNet, Municipal Employees Health Insurance Program, Healthy Start, CT Homecare Program, CONNPace, CONNMap, and Refugee Medical Assistance programs; and

WHEREAS, national health care reform builds upon Connecticut’s successes, allowing the State to continue leading the way and ensuring access to affordable health care to the less than 10 percent of Connecticut’s residents who currently are without health insurance; and

WHEREAS, the governance, policy, and administrative infrastructure must facilitate the planning and implementation of the health care reforms in Connecticut; and

WHEREAS, all states, including Connecticut, will need to prepare for and implement the federal legislation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, acting by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1.      That a Health Care Reform Cabinet (Cabinet) be created; and

2.      That the Cabinet be chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Health whose primary focus is health care access; and

3.      That the Cabinet be comprised of commissioners or their designees from the following agencies:

• Office of Policy and Management

• Department of Insurance

• Department of Social Services

• Department of Public Health

• Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

• Department of Developmental Disability Services

• Department of Children and Families

• Department of Revenue Services

• Department of Economic and Community Development

• Department of Information Technology

• Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority

4.      That the Cabinet develop a strategy that applies national health care reform so as to build upon Connecticut’s successful health care programs; and

5.      That the Cabinet ensure that Connecticut’s residents and businesses realize the benefits of national health care reform by:

                                                               i.      providing transparent access to information so individuals and businesses can make informed decisions;

                                                            ii.      assessing insurance market reforms needed to prepare Connecticut for final implementation of national health reform in 2014;

                                                           iii.      developing a plan to pursue federal funds for a temporary high-risk health insurance pool to maximize affordable coverage options for uninsured persons with pre-existing conditions; and

                                                           iv.      creating a health insurance purchasing exchange that will:

1.      create a consumer-friendly website where small business owners and individuals can find an easy-to-understand comparison of insurance policies including costs incurred and benefits provided;

2.      provide a point of access for all eligible residents and businesses to choose their insurance; and

3.      proactively be structured to promote the highest quality and most cost-effective health care providers and insurers.

6.      That the Cabinet shall pursue federal funding and/or foundation funding opportunities to assist in developing the aforementioned exchange and implementing any other aspects of health care reform; and

7.      That the Department of Public Health, on behalf of the Cabinet, launch and regularly update a website that will provide Connecticut residents with information about national health care reform, the phases of implementation and how changes may benefit them; and

8.  That this Order shall take effect immediately.

Dated in Hartford, Connecticut, this 14th day of April 2010.

____________________________________________

M. Jodi Rell, Governor

By Her Excellency’s Command:

_____________________________________

Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State