The top health officials of the Obama administration are preparing a database of information to help Gov.-elect Daniel Malloy implement the federal health care reform law.
During a recent meeting at the Capitol with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Malloy said he wanted to take a “much more activist role” in embracing the sweeping overhaul than his predecessor had.
Ellen Andrews, executive director of the Connecticut Health Policy Project, said that after the state’s efforts under Gov. M. Jodi Rell there was a significant opportunity for progress to benefit from the new law”™s changes, including issue-hinging grant opportunities.
Rell”™s administration has resisted the inclusion of 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries in a federal grant proposal for a three-year medical home demonstration project that would have meant more capital from the federal government.
Malloy”™s running mate, Lt. Gov.-elect Nancy Wyman, started the state’s Municipal Employee’s Health Insurance Program and co-chairs the SustiNet Health Partnership board of directors, which must recommend ways to control costs and improve access to health care by Jan. 1.
Malloy said Health and Human Services officials gave him the impression that Connecticut is acceptable, though not a standout, when it comes to complying with health care reform.
Health and Human Services officials have agreed to set up a database of information for Malloy outlining guidance, such as what federal waivers might be helpful for the state, and where Connecticut is positioned on major reform benchmarks.
“I want to implement health care in Connecticut in a way that it makes us more competitive with the other states,” said Malloy.
Malloy, who has in the past month shown a trend in tapping his home city of Stamford for support positions, has not indicated who he would bring on board for the health care reform effort.
Malloy also made a request to Sebelius for the University of Connecticut”™s grant application to help refurbish the John Dempsey Hospital for $100 million.
“We’re going to produce a plan with respect to the updating of that facility, building a first-class research facility capable of doing late-stage trials in cooperation with the Yale medical complex,” said Malloy.
In keeping with his running rhetoric of using job creation as a prime weapon to combat the state”™s massive budget deficit, Malloy said his administration will look at the health center, and particularly the research foundation, as a job producer.
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