Fasano: Docs deserve economic incentives too [Hartford Biz Journal]

Article as it appeared in the Hartford Business Journal

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) was speaking doctors’ language Wednesday night.

Fasano and Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) received legislative awards Wednesday from the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) at its annual meeting for their bipartisan efforts on healthcare legislation over the past several years.

CSMS lobbyist Ken Ferrucci said the society’s legislative award recognized the two senators’ “commitment and dedication to preserving and strengthening the practice of medicine in Connecticut for physicians and their patients.”

Their work helped lead to an expansive 2015 law that created restrictions on surprise medical bills for patients who were treated out of their provider network in emergency and other situations. Public Act 146 also created an enhanced regulatory process for proposed sales of nonprofit hospitals to for-profit operators. In addition, a law passed this year placed restrictions on physician non-compete agreements.

In an acceptance speech, Fasano told the audience that the state should consider incentives for physicians, particularly in underserved areas like mental health.

“We have to look at the model for small professionals and see if we could give them help where they need it, because the capital input is tremendous and they need that help,” said Fasano, whose father was a physician. “The debt that new young physicians are getting when they come out of school is a deterrent. We need to look at that.”

Debt-forgiveness programs, which exist in some states, have been one idea floated to spur more doctors who are trained in Connecticut to remain here.

Looney arrived after the award presentation and did not give a speech.

Fasano’s biggest applause line came when he said high-deductible health plans, which are becoming increasingly common, have forced physicians to become debt collectors.

Fasano also referenced his calls for Insurance Commissioner Katherine Wade to recuse herself from the state’s review of the proposed $54 billion merger between Cigna and Anthem.

He said the deal should be “totally redone from square one,” which also prompted applause from CSMS members, who have opposed the merger, arguing it would lead to higher healthcare costs and reduced physician autonomy and patient choice.

Looney had also urged Wade to recuse herself. Wade, a previous Cigna employee whose husband is still employed there, originally resisted those calls, but in September reversed course, though she continues to maintain she has no conflict of interest.

The Department of Justice sued in July to block the Cigna-Anthem deal, as well as a proposed $37 billion deal between Aetna and Humana on antitrust grounds.