Health care in brief

CVS Caremark Corp. backed off a threat to suspend a pharmacy discount program in Connecticut, after the state threatened in June to explore legal action.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said the Woonsocket, R.I.-based company informed her of its plans to continue its Health Savings Pass program in Connecticut. CVS Caremark had balked at a new state law that requires Connecticut pharmacies to offer the same discounts to individuals on Medicaid that are made available to the general public.

Pre-existing condition plan
Applications are now available for the Connecticut Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which is funded by $50 million allocated to the state under the federal health care reform bill.

Premiums for adults under the new plan start at $285 monthly for those under 30, and rise gradually to nearly $900 for people 65 and older. Information and applications are available online at  HYPERLINK “http://www.ctpreexistingconditionplan.com” www.ctpreexistingconditionplan.com.

The state”™s Charter Oak Health Plan for lower-income residents also includes a pre-existing condition guarantee and has more than 12,000 members today.

In April, Connecticut became the first state to formally seek approval under the new federal law to cover more people under Medicaid and capture tens of millions of dollars in new federal revenue. The state is transferring 45,000 single, low-income adults covered by State-Administered General Assistance into the larger Medicaid program, which could save the state $53 million over the next year.