Substitute House Bill No. 7048 seeks to revise the structure and responsibilities of the Health Care Cabinet within the Office of Health Strategy in Connecticut. The bill proposes to increase the number of appointed members from five to seven by the Governor, ensuring representation from community health centers, insurance producers, and a state-wide association of community nonprofits. It also introduces two appointments by the president pro tempore of the Senate and two by the speaker of the House of Representatives, while eliminating previous provisions related to appointments by the SustiNet Health Partnership board. The Commissioner of Health Strategy will serve as the chairperson, and the Behavioral Health Advocate will now be included as an ex-officio voting member.

In addition to these structural changes, the bill updates the Cabinet's advisory role to the Governor, emphasizing the development of an integrated health care system, evaluating the health care workforce, and identifying gaps due to federal health care reform. The Cabinet will have the authority to convene working groups of health care experts to recommend improvements in service delivery and payment reforms. Other revisions include reducing the initial term for gubernatorial appointees from four years to three years, removing the governor's nonprofit liaison as a non-voting member, and making technical changes to eliminate obsolete language regarding the cabinet's duties. The bill is set to take effect upon passage and does not impose any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable:
File No. 163: