Connecticut Governor Rell Improving State Health Care

The governor of Connecticut, Governor M. Jodi Rell, has just announced plans that are aimed at helping to stabilize Connecticut hospitals, many of which are struggling financially.

Governor Rell has set up a Hospital Task Force. The groups first meeting will be held on August 8, 2007. It includes representatives from Connecticut's hospitals including St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center CEO, Chris Dadlez and the President of the Connecticut Association of Health Plans Tim Meyer.

In a press release about the Hospital Task Force, Governor Rell said, "All of us count on having a hospital available-close by, there when we need it and prepared for almost any kind of medical emergency, day or night. Yet many of the hospitals in Connecticut are struggling. Some of the largest hospitals in some of our biggest cities, including Hartford and Waterbury, face serious financial problems, while smaller community hospitals battle daily to attract and retain doctors and nurse and to buy the high-tech equipment that modern medicine requires."

According to Governor Rell the new group will carry out a number of tasks with the aim of helping Connecticut's hospitals. Items that will be looked at and discussed included reviewing the financial situation of the hospitals. The group will also take a close look at the access to care residents of the state have. How and how well emergency room facilities are being used will be reviewed along with cost and alternatives to primary care.

The Connecticut Hospital Task Forces will carry out its reviews over the next few months and will be expected give a report on their findings to Governor Rell by December 31, 2007.

By setting up this group Governor Rell hopes that is will improve access to care for Connecticut residents and that is will also help make health care more affordable and of a higher quality.

The Hospital Task Force is just a small part of the health care changes that Connecticut Governor Rell is trying to carry out. Governor Rell is attempting to make health care available and affordable for every resident in Connecticut.

This plan is called the Charter Oak Health Plan. The plan which, includes providing health care for adults that do not have insurance was approved this year by the General Assembly. The plan will ensure that those people who fall through the gap will now get health care coverage. This applies to those who work but don't receive health insurance from work and don't qualify for other health programs such as the HUSKY Plan, Medicaid or Medicare.

Under the Charter Oak Health Plan residents will be offered various health packages for as low as $75 dollars a month and no higher than $250 dollars a months. The Charter Oak Health Plan is currently set to start in July 2008.

Sources

CT GOV, Governer Rell press release.
http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=2791&Q=389508