STATE OF CONNECTICUT
KEVIN LEMBO COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARTHA CARLSON DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

Comptroller Kevin Lembo today issued a comprehensive plan by the SustiNet Health Partnership Board of Directors to reform the state's health care system and potentially save the state more than $226-$277 million a year.

The SustiNet Board of Directors, which Lembo co-chairs with the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, was established to design and implement a self-insured plan to control costs and increase access to health care for individuals, small businesses, non-profits, those receiving state-assisted care and other groups.

The 200-page report makes several significant recommendations to expand quality coverage and minimize health care costs in Connecticut, including a new state insurance choice for municipalities - and eventually private employers, small businesses, nonprofits and households.

"This report provides the General Assembly with a roadmap for reform - and propels Connecticut to the forefront in addressing a nationwide health care and financial crisis," Lembo said.

"Connecticut asked for a more efficient system for purchasing health care and we got to work, relying on more than 160 experts and intensive research to develop a plan that harnesses new federal resources and potentially saves the state more than $226 million a year. All state residents - particularly small businesses - will benefit from new competition and cost reductions."

Currently, the Connecticut state government spends about $8 billion annually on health care for state employees, retirees, Medicaid recipients and other populations.

Specifically, the report recommendations include:

• Providing a more coordinated, patient-centered, evidence-based approach to health care;
• Establishing a quasi-governmental agency to administer SustiNet, governed by a board of directors appointed by the governor and the legislature with staff and administrative support initially provided by the Office of the Comptroller;
• SustiNet serving state employees and retirees along with Medicaid and HUSKY beneficiaries -- and eventually becoming a new health insurance choice for municipalities, private employers and households;
• Expanding HUSKY to cover all adults with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and
• Harnessing federal dollars to replace state spending on health coverage for low-income residents.

Today's report is the culmination of an intensive 16-month public study that involved experts including physicians and other health professionals, organized labor, small business leaders, members of faith communities and individuals with specific expertise in employee health benefits, actuarial science, information technology and racial and ethnic disparities in health care.

These experts served on volunteer committees that examined public health challenges such as obesity and smoking cessation, health care delivery systems, payment reforms and electronic medical records. The SustiNet Board reviewed these reports, received public input and developed recommendations in today's report.

The recommendations in the report were overwhelmingly approved by the board of directors.

In all, the Board held 20 meetings and three briefing/feedback sessions that were all open to the public and attended by ordinary citizens, news media and interest group representatives.

To learn more about SustiNet or to access the full report, transcripts and recordings of the Board's meetings and briefings, please visit www.ct.gov/SustiNet.

Attachment: Complete Final Report to the CGA (pdf format)

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