CONNECTICUT Health Insurance : defeat of several medical loss ratio (MLR) bills : EasyToInsureME

CONNECTICUT Health Insurance : Action was taken on a number of health care bills this week, resulting in the defeat of several medical loss ratio (MLR) bills. Only Senate President Donald Williams' proposal requiring health plans to report their medical loss ratio in the state's "Consumer Report Card on Health Insurance" passed the Senate. It now sits on a House calendar. Legislation expanding coverage for clinical trial patients' routine patient-care costs was voted out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and is now with the Senate Appropriations Committee. This mandate would apply to medically necessary services for trials treating serious or life-threatening diseases. A mandate requiring coverage for wound care supplies for individuals with Epidermolysis Bullosa passed the House and now sits on a Senate calendar. Legislation prohibiting the selling, leasing, renting, assigning or granting access to provider network discounts was defeated in the Judiciary Committee. While the budget is center stage presently, health care reform and pooling legislation are likely to be front and center in May and June. Aetna is meeting with Senate leadership to continue a dialogue on health care reform tailored to Connecticut's small businesses and uninsured individuals.