CONNECTICUT health insurance : EasyToInsureME : health reform bills

CONNECTICUT health insurance : The House and Senate have passed two key health reform bills. The first is pooling legislation that would require the comptroller to offer employee and retiree coverage under the state benefit plan, to non-state public employers, municipal-related and nonprofit employers, and small employers. It would allow the pool to self-insure. In 2008, Governor M. Jodi Rell vetoed similar pooling legislation. The second measure would establish a board of directors charged with implementing the SustiNet plan, a single-payer health plan. Both bills now go to the Governor. The House also passed the amended autism mandate legislation in concurrence with the Senate. Coverage for behavioral therapy is limited to $50,000 yearly for a child who is less than nine years of age, $35,000 for a child who is at least nine and less than 13 years of age, and $25,000 for a child who is at least 13 and less than 15 years of age. The measure now goes to Governor Rell who is expected to sign it into law effective January 1, 2010. In addition, the House passed a new omnibus mandate bill that pulls together seven different mandates ranging from increased coverage of ostomy supplies to coverage for bone marrow testing. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.