CT lawmakers propose bill to implement federal program to curb hospital costs
HBJ PHOTO | DAVID KRECHEVSKY
The State Capitol in Hartford.
State legislators are moving along a bill to implement a federal program that is intended to curb the growth of healthcare costs.
The General Assembly’s Public Health Committee is expected to vote Wednesday on the bill, House Bill 6036, to move it for consideration by the full House of Representatives.
The legislation, which was initiated by the committee, seeks to implement the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model.
In addition to curbing hospital costs, the model also seeks to improve population health and advance health equity. It will be guided by the state Health Care Cabinet.
Connecticut was one of just three states selected in July by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the voluntary program. Maryland and Vermont also were selected, while Hawaii would also participate, pending “satisfaction of certain requirements,” CMS said at the time.
For participating in the project, Connecticut will receive $12 million over five years to develop and implement the model. Initial funding will support recruiting participants, Medicaid payment model development, a state health equity plan, data alignment and analysis, and additional quality and cost-growth benchmark initiatives, the state said.
CMS said it selected Connecticut based on a joint application submitted by the state Office of Health Strategy (OHS) and state Department of Social Services (DSS).
The bill would implement “a global budget payment methodology for licensed acute care hospitals, including, but not limited to, children's hospitals, that choose to participate in such model.”
If approved and signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont, who has said previously that he supports the initiative, the legislation would take effect on Oct. 1.
Also on the agenda for the meeting is Senate Bill 1190, which would require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to be equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED). A vote to move that bill to the House is also expected.
The Public Health Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in Room 2A of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford
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