Insurance and Real Estate Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-15
Title: AN ACT ENCOURAGING PRIMARY AND PREVENTIVE CARE.
Vote Date: 3/10/2022
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/1/2022
File No.: 39
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Request of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 9
Sen. Saud Anwar
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill requires that provider-issued insurance cards must include the insureds designated
in-network primary care provider (PCP) and their contact information as well as telehealth
network contact information. If the insured does not designate a PCP, then the card must
display the telephone number for a hotline to provide the individual with a list of local in-
network PCPs accepting new patients or the address of an internet site for the same
purpose. These provisions seek to make it easier for patients in need to contact their PCP,
find a new such provider, or receive assistance via telehealth in order to reduce the burden
on emergency departments for care that otherwise could have been provided in a less
stressful and more affordable setting.
This bill also seeks to improve access to preventive care by requiring fully insured health
plans to offer a form of the Health Enhancement Program (HEP) currently offered by the
State of Connecticut Health Plan. The program seeks to increase rates of compliance for
preventative care in order to reduce emergency room and doctors office visits and as a
result, reduce overall healthcare costs. Additionally, improving rates of preventative services
result in quality-of-life benefits for plan participants.
Proposed Substitute Language
This change deleted primary care and primary care services definitions in order to allow
patients to have more freedom to choose which provider to include on the card; no insured is
required to participate in a HEP program; language regarding a listing of telehealth number;
and allowing individuals to request an electronic card rather than hard copy.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Jonny Dach, Policy Director, Office of the Governor
The Governors Office supports this bill because by providing individuals with preventative
care this program affords opportunities to significantly reduce monthly healthcare costs and
reduces costs in the long term by catching and treating issues early. Additionally this bill
seeks to create stronger relationships between individuals and their primary care providers.
When individuals have existing contact with a PCP, they are less likely to utilize emergency
departments, saving time and money.
Natalie Braswell, State Comptroller, Office of the State Comptroller
The State Comptroller supports this bill because HEP programs significantly increase rates
of compliance for preventative care. Many HEP participants have shared their stories with the
office and specific instances of this programs success are included in the testimony.
Deidre Gifford, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Social Services
The Department of Social Services supports this bill because it would further encourage
members to connect with their PCP on a regular basis and compliments the departments
existing efforts to promote primary care.
Josh Hershman, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Insurance Department
The Connecticut Insurance Department supports this bill because we know that patients
tend to be healthier when they see their primary care physician regularly and receive
appropriate preventative care. When illnesses are caught and treated early, not only does it
lead to a healthier population, it should drive the cost of healthcare down which should
reduce health insurance costs. Additionally, this bill puts primary care provider information at
the fingertips of the insured.
Manisha Juthani, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
The Connecticut Department of Public Health supports this bill because its goal is to
increase preventative health screenings. This bill will help close the income gap that currently
exists for cancer screenings.
Victoria Veltri, Executive Director, Connecticut Office of Health Strategy
The Office of Health Strategy supports this bill because it forwards the vision of more
effective, efficient, and equitable primary care that better meets the needs of patients. This
bill helps to ensure that patients can maintain their optimal health and access services they
need to avoid the deterioration of conditions that lead to poor outcomes and increased costs.
Kevin Kelly, Connecticut Senate Republicans
This speakers opposing testimony for this bill is the Senate Republican caucuss healthcare
platform.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Mathew Dimond, Connecticut Chiropractic Association
The Connecticut Chiropractic Association supports this bill, but is seeking a few minor
language changes to ensure that chiropractors are included in this initiative. First, the word
and in line 12 should be substituted for or and also the definition of primary care services
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should be amended to include chiropractors who provide many of the same services as
described to their patients each day.
Karen Siegel, Health Equity Solutions
This speaker supports the bill because the initiatives proposed are common sense
measures for increasing awareness of primary care options and incentivizing engagement
with primary care, particularly for underserved communities of color. Several
recommendations were also included to better the bill including, ensuring that lists of in-
network providers who are accepting new patients are kept up to date, listing costs of
telehealth visits on the insurance card, and only incentivizing appointments and screenings
that are truly accessible as to not penalize anyone of lower means.
Diana James, Radiological Society of Connecticut
Brian Lynch, Connecticut Association of Optometrists
Jason Prevelige, Connecticut Academy of PAs
Several speakers support the bill because of its goal of encouraging patients to complete
screening exams using financial incentives such as lower premium costs, deductibles, and
co-pays and its goal of strengthening relationships between patients and primary care
providers.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Linda Bronstein
Thomas Burr, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Connecticut
Social Welfare Action Alliance, Connecticut
Jordan Fairchild, Keep the Promise Coalition
David Gedraitis
Karen Healy
Rose Reyes
Patricia Vener-Saavedra
Carol Scully, The Arc of Connecticut
Sheldon Toubman, Disability Rights Connecticut
Eileen Healy, Independence Northwest
Kathleen Flaherty, Connecticut Legal Rights Project
Several speakers opposed this bill because they were concerned that this bill would reduce
access to care for patients, particularly the elderly, disabled, and those with mental illness.
Lynn Rapsilber, Connecticut Coalition of Advance Practice Nurses
The Connecticut Coalition of Advance Practice Nurses opposes this bill because nurse
practitioners are not included under the definition of primary care providers even though
they are licensed to provide a vast majority of these services.
Tim Gabriele, Medicare for All CT
Eileen ODonnell
Kerri Colombo
A number of speakers opposed this bill because it would not provide any savings to the state
or taxpayers, but would rather subsidize private insurance companies and would also take
funding away from Medicaid.
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Connecticut State Medical Society
This speaker opposes the bill because the definition of primary care services in two sections
of the bill are incompatible with each other. Additionally, the definition of primary care
services does not include routine gynecologic services and excludes
obstetrician/gynecologists from the definition of a primary care provider.
Connecticut Association of Health Plans
This speaker opposes the bill because it would be extremely challenging to meet the ID card
requirements as laid out in this bill because information is constantly changing and it would
be costly and onerous to print and distribute the cards continuously to meet these
requirements.
Reported by: Andrew Miano Date: March 17, 2022
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