Sen. Cicarella, CT Senate Republicans Unveil Plan to Make Health Care More Affordable

Deputy Senate Republican Leader Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven) yesterday joined Connecticut Senate Republicans to unveil “A Better Way to Affordable Health Care” – a comprehensive set of legislative proposals aimed at lowering the cost of health care in Connecticut. Senator Cicarella, who has been a strong advocate for affordability and access to healthcare, offered praise for the Senate Republican plan.

“Connecticut’s average insurance premium for family coverage is one of the highest in the entire country, at a staggering $24,018 per year. That’s not just an inconvenience, it’s a crisis that is affecting families in our district and across the state. We recognize that crushing insurance rate increases and rising healthcare costs are making it increasingly difficult for people to afford the care they need. There is a better way. Quality health care should be affordable. We can no longer accept the status quo and allow families to continue struggling to pay for their medical care. This situation can be corrected through common-sense changes, and that is what we’re offering,” said Senator Cicarella.

The CT Senate Republican plan will:

• Reduce health insurance premiums by up to 30% over the long term by implementing a state-based reinsurance program
• Reduce healthcare cost growth through benchmarking
• Address prescription drug affordability by tackling practices that drive up the costs of prescription drugs by examining pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and practices such as spread pricing
• Maximize pool purchasing for prescription drugs and health care supplies
• Increase transparency and data sharing to drive down costs
• Allow small businesses to join each other in associations to purchase group health plans together, utilizing the enhanced economy of scale to negotiate significantly lower rates.
• Subject hospitals to the same cost growth benchmarking requirements as insurance carriers and pharmaceutical companies
• Ensure hospital billing practices are transparent and reflect the site at which the health care service was provided
• When implementing cost growth benchmarking, ensure the needs of complex care patients, including the IDD community, are being met
• Promote growth of high-paying, innovative insurance technology jobs

Read the plan HERE.