HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Democrats and Republicans are proposing health care bills for lawmakers this session in an effort to bring more affordable and accessible health care to Connecticut.
Senator Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) introduced a bill that implements three different programs to reduce health care costs.
According to Kelly, the bill would implement a reinsurance program that reduces the cost of insurance premiums, a drug importation program to reduce prescription drug costs, and a benchmarking program to control the growth of health care costs.
The drug importation program would allow the importation of lower cost and safe prescription drugs from Canada, Kelly says. It is pending federal approval.
Kelly says the benchmarking program is based on a similar program in Massachusetts that keeps health care expenses from growing out of control. According to officials, the Massachusetts program is estimated to have saved consumers over $5 billion since 2013.
In the state capitol Thursday, Kelly announced the bill with Insurance Committee co-chairs Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and Representative Sean Scanlon (D-Guilford) who showed support.
Lesser and Scanlon also introduced a bill that aims to create more health care options for small business owners, nonprofits and labor unions.
According to lawmakers, the bill would establish a ConnectHealth Plan in order to provide more health care choices for nonprofit and small employers and employees as well as those under a multi-employer plan.
Lesser says this bill would provide immediate relief to those worrying about health care costs if passed.
