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Legislative
Testimony Archives
CHA members
and staff routinely testify before the Connecticut General
Assembly on a variety of issues that impact the healthcare
industry, including Medicare reimbursement, medical liability
reform, and the healthcare workforce shortage.
(The
items below will require the Adobe Reader which is free.
If the item does not immediately appear after clicking one
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page.)
2007 Testimony
Tuesday,
November 13, 2007
Testimony
by Connecticut Hospitals on proposed recommendations submitted
to the
Governor's
Hospital System Strategic Task Force.
Bridgeport
Hospital
The
Hospital of Central Connecticut
Connecticut
Children's Medical Center
Danbury
Hospital
Eastern
Connecticut Health Network
Griffin
Hospital
Hartford
Hospital
Middlesex
Hospital
Saint
Mary's Hospital
Hospital
of St. Raphael
St.
Vincent's Medical Center
University
of Connecticut
Waterbury
Hospital
Windham
Community Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
Monday,
March 26, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Judiciary Committee on SB
1448, An Act Extending The State Physician Profile And Related
Malpractice Reporting Requirements To Certain Other Health
Care Providers.
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1448.
CHA
submitted testimony to the Appropriations Committee on HB
5806, An Act Excluding State Expenditures For Medicaid And
Medicare From The Spending Cap.
Click
here for CHA testimony on HB 5806.
Friday,
March 16, 2007
CHA
testified before the Public Health Committee on HB
6921, An Act Concerning Behavioral Health.
Click
here for CHA testimony on HB 6921.
Thursday,
March 15, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Human Resource Committee on several
bills, including SB 3, An Act Concerning Increased
Access To Health Care Through The Husky Program; SB
1127, An Act Concerning The Charter Oak Health Plan And
Health Care Access; SB 1425, An Act Concerning
Managed Care Organizations Contracting With The Department
Of Social Services; HB 7278, An Act Concerning Improved
Access To Health Insurance; HB 7322, An Act Concerning Medicaid
Managed Care Reform; and HB 7375, An Act
Concerning Health Care Access And Expansion Of The Husky
Program.
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 3.
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1127.
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1425, HB 7278, HB 7322 and
HB 7375.
See
also CHA and member hospital testimony on SB 1383,
An Act Concerning Medicaid Modernization submitted
to the Human Services Committee on Tuesday,
March 13.
Wednesday,
March 14, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Public Health Committee on the
following
bills:
SB
1226, An Act Establishing A Fall Prevention Program
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1226.
SB
1342, An Act Concerning Linguistic Access In Hospitals And
Continuing Education In Cultural And Linguistic Competence
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1342.
HB
7293, An Act Concerning Emergency Department Overcrowding
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 7293.
The Hospital
of Saint Raphael testified on SB 7293 as well.
HB
7111, An Act Concerning On-Line License Renewal For Nurses,
Physicians and Surgeons
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 7111.
HB
7089, An Act Concerning Supervising Physicians For Physician
Assistants
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 7089.
SB
1067, An Act Authorizing Civil Fines For Hospital Violations
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1067.
Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center also submitted testimony
on SB 1067.
SB
1188, An Act Requiring State-Funded Hospitals To Return
Excessive Profits To The State
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1188.
HB
1191, An Act Concerning Public Disclosure Of Hospital Staffing
Levels For Patient Safety
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1191.
Middlesex
Hospital and Yale-New
Haven Hospital also provided testimony on HB 1191.
SB
1144, An Act Establishing A Central Index For Advance Health
Care Directives
Click
here for CHA testimony on SB 1144.
HB
7376, An Act Establishing The Connecticut Health Information
Network
Click
here for CHA testimony on HB 7376.
HB
7155, An Act Concerning A Professional Assistance Program
For Health Care Professionals
Click
here for CHA testimony on HB 7155.
CHA
submitted testimony to the Judiciary Committee on the following
bills:
HB
7326, An Act Concerning Captive Audience Meetings
Click
here for CHA testimony on HB 7326.
HB
7328, An Act Concerning Enforcement Of Charitable Purposes
of Nonprofit Hospitals
and HB 7363, An Act Concerning Public Oversight
Of Hospitals And Hospital Societies Or Corporations Receiving
Substantial Medicaid Funding
Click
here for CHA testimony on HB 7328 and HB 7363.
Tuesday,
March 13, 2007
CHA
and several hospitals submitted testimony to the Human Services
Committee on SB 1383, An Act Concerning Medicaid
Modernization.
CHA
Bristol
The
Hospital of Central Connecticut
Connecticut
Children's Medical Center
Danbury
Hospital
Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Saint
Mary's Hospital
Hospital
of Saint Raphael
Windham
Community Memorial Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
Tuesday,
March 6, 2007
CHA
and several hospitals submitted testimony to the Insurance
and Real Estate Committee on HB 6652, An Act Establishing
The Connecticut Healthy Steps Program.
CHA
Bridgeport
Hospital
Connecticut
Children's Medical Center
Griffin
Hospital
Middlesex
Hospital
Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Saint
Mary's Hospital
Windham
Community Memorial Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
Tuesday,
February 27, 2007
CHA and several hospitals submitted
testimony to the Legislative Program Review and Investigations
Committee regarding HB 7110, An Act Implementing
The Recommendations Of The Legislative Program Review and
Investigations Committee Concerning The Funding Of Hospital
Care.
CHA
Hospital
of Central Connecticut
Connecticut
Children's Medical Center
Danbury
Hospital
John
Dempsey Hospital
Hartford
Hospital
Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Saint
Mary's Hospital
Hospital
of Saint Raphael
Windham
Community Memorial Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
CHA,
Windham Community Memorial Hospital, and Yale-New Haven
Hospital submitted testimony to the Human Services Committee
regarding SB 1128, An Act Implementing The Governor's
Budget Recommendations With Respect To Social Services Programs.
CHA
Windham
Community Memorial Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
CHA
submitted testimony to the General Law Committee concerning
HB 7210, An Act Concerning The Prevention Of Abusive
And Deceptive Debt Collection Practices.
Click
here for testimony on HB 7210.
CHA
submitted testimony to the General Law Committee concerning
HB 7203, An Act Concerning Antiepileptic Drugs.
Click
here for testimony on HB 7203.
Monday,
February 26, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Public Health Committee concerning
HB
7163, An Act Concerning Revisions To Department Of Public
Health Statutes.
Click
here for testimony on HB 7163.
Wednesday,
February 21, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Public Health Committee concerning
SB 1013, An Act Requiring Acute Care Hospitals To
Make Forensic Nursing Services Available To Patients.
Click
here for testimony on SB 1013.
Tuesday,
February 20, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Human Services Committee concerning
SB 198, An Act Concerning The Availability Of Interpreter
Services Under The Medicaid Program.
Click
here for testimony on SB 198.
CHA
submitted testimony to the Labor and Public Employees Committee
concerning SB 602, An Act Concerning Employer-Sponsored
Meetings.
Click
here for testimony on SB 602.
Friday,
February 16, 2007
CHA
and several hospitals submitted testimony to the Appropriations
Committee regarding HB 7077, An Act Concerning The
State Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2009, And
Making Appropriations Therefor.
CHA
Bridgeport
Hospital
John
Dempsey Hospital
Middlesex
Hospital
Saint
Mary's Hospital
Hospital
of Saint Raphael
Waterbury
Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
Thursday,
February 15, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Higher Education and Employment
Advancement Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly
in support of several bills that would strengthen the state's
healthcare workforce, including: HB 7102, An Act
Adopting The Recommendations Of The Connecticut Allied Health
Workforce Policy Board; SB 799, An Act Concerning A Nursing
Faculty Student Loan Program; HB 5627, An Act Providing
Funding For Academic Nursing Programs; and HB
6024, An Act Concerning Scholarships And Financial Assistance
For Nurses Pursuing Master’s Degrees.
Click
here for testimony on these bills.
Thursday,
February 8, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Insurance and Real Estate
Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly regarding
SB 2, An Act Concerning Health Care Insurance Reform
and HB 6661, An Act Establishing Universal
Health Care Insurance In Connecticut.
Click
here for testimony on SB 2/HB 6661.
Tuesday,
February 6, 2007
CHA,
Connecticut Children's Medical Center, and John Dempsey
Hospital gave testimony to the Select Committee on Children
of
the Connecticut General Assembly regarding
HB 6722, An Act Concerning Healthy Kids Initiatives:
CHA
Connecticut
Children's Medical Center
John
Dempsey Hospital
Wednesday,
January 31, 2007
CHA
and several member hospitals gave testimony to the Public
Health Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly on
SB
1, An Act Increasing Access to Affordable, Quality Health
Care, and HB
6332, An Act Increasing Access to Health Care:
CHA
Connecticut
Children's Medical Center
John
Dempsey Hospital
Middlesex
Hospital
Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Hospital
of Saint Raphael
Waterbury
Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
CHA
also submitted testimony to the Public Health Committee
on HB 6839, An Act Concerning Health Information
Technology.
Click
here for testimony on HB 6839.
Tuesday,
January 30, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Higher Education and Employment
Advancement Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly
in support of SB
136, An Act Concerning Diversity In The Health Care Workforce,
which would require public and private institutions of higher
education that offer health professional programs to develop
strategic plans to ensure institutional diversity and cultural
competence in the healthcare workforce.
Click
here for testimony on SB 136.
Friday,
January 26, 2007
CHA
submitted testimony to the Environment Committee
of the
Connecticut General Assembly concerning HB 5292,
An Act Prohibiting The Disposal Of Medications By Hospitals,
Nursing Homes And Other Institutions To Public Or Private
Waste Water Treatment Facilities.
Click
here for testimony on HB5292.
Thursday,
January 18, 2007
CHA
and several member hospitals gave testimony to the Human
Services Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly at
a public hearing on the adequacy of hospital reimbursement
from private managed care organizations serving HUSKY and
Medicaid clients:
CHA
Bridgeport
Hospital
Bristol
Hospital
Connecticut
Children's Medical Center
Day
Kimball Hospital
John
Dempsey Hospital
Johnson
Memorial Hospital
Middlesex
Hospital
Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Saint
Mary's Hospital
Hospital
of Saint Raphael
St.
Vincent's Medical Center
Waterbury
Hospital
Windham
Hospital
Yale-New
Haven Hospital
2006 Testimony
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Funding Hospital Care in Connecticut
Stephen Frayne, Senior Vice President, Health Policy, testified before the Legislative Policy Review and Investigations Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly at a public hearing on the Committee's study, Funding Hospital Care in Connecticut. The Committee is conducting the study - which is examining the mix of revenue sources hospitals rely on to fund services, and how government payments impact the financial viability of Connecticut hospitals - in preparation for the 2007 Legislative Session.
Click here to view CHA's testimony.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
SB 647, An Act Concerning Surgical Services
CHA testified in support of this bill, which improves existing law by ensuring that all outpatient surgical facilities, regardless of ownership structure, abide by certificate of need laws and by physical plant requirements that recognize the best interests of patients.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 647.
HB 5788, An Act Concerning Health Care Decision-Making
CHA testified on this bill regarding advance directives.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5788.
HB 5789, An Act Concerning The Establishment Of A Public Umbilical Cord Blood Bank And Umbilical Cord Blood Donations
CHA testified on this bill, which would establish a public umbilical cord blood bank and to require physicians and hospitals to inform pregnant patients of the option to donate umbilical cord blood to the blood bank following childbirth.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5789.
SB 649, An Act Examining Hospitals' Cultural and Linguistic Competence
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would require the Department of Public Health to survey the state's acute care hospitals regarding their policies, practices and procedures related to communication with individuals of limited English proficiency, individuals who have low literacy skill or are not literate, and individuals with disabilities.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 649.
[ Back to top]
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
HB 5595, An Act Concerning The Healthy Kids Initiative
CHA testified in support of this bill, which would:
-
Restore self declaration of income in the HUSKY Plan, Part A and Part B
-
Restore continuous eligibility in the HUSKY Plan, Part A and Part
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5595.
[ Back to top]
Monday, March 13, 2006
SB 578, An Act Implementing The Recommendations Of The Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council and SB 622, An Act Concerning Community-Based Mental Health Care
CHA testified in support of these bills, which would improve various aspects of Connecticut's system for providing mental healthcare to children and adults with behavioral health needs.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 578 and SB 622.
SB 601, An Act Concerning Community Mental Health Reinvestment For Adults and SB 604, An Act Concerning Community Mental Health Reinvestment For Children and Families
CHA testified in support of these bills, which would ensure the reinvestment of federal funds resulting from the Behavioral Health Partnership into other mental health initiatives.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 601 and SB 604.
HB 5468, An Act Concerning Certificate Of Need Capital Expenditure Thresholds and SB 386, An Act Concerning Revisions To The Office Of Health Care Access Statutes
CHA testified in support of HB 5468, which would increase the certificate of need threshold for all capital expenditures, including major medical equipment, to three million dollars, and SB 386, which would eliminate obsolete provisions, and makes technical and minor language changes to the Office of Health Care statutes.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5468 and SB 386.
HB 5718, An Act Concerning A Professional Assistance Program For Health Care Professionals
CHA testified in support of this bill, which would facilitate the establishment of programs to provide prevention, intervention, referral assistance and support services to healthcare professionals with a chemical dependency or an emotional, behavioral, or psychological disorder.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5718.
SB 621, An Act Concerning Outpatient Surgical Facilities
CHA testified in opposition to this bill which would reduce the oversight of outpatient surgical facilities by the Office of Health Care Access and Department of Public Health.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 621.
HB 5721, An Act Concerning Consultations Between Hospitalists And Primary Care Physicians And Banning Nonprofit Hospital Advertisements
CHA testified on this bill, which would require the Department of Public Health to regulate the frequency with which hospitalists consult and communicate with primary care physicians, and would prohibit hospitals from advertising healthcare services in the public media.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5721.
HB 5717, An Act Requiring Acute Care Hospitals To Provide Forensic Nursing Services To Victims Of Physical Or Sexual Assault
CHA testified on this bill, which would require acute care hospitals to make forensic nursing services available to patients who are victims of physical or sexual assault or trauma.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5717.
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
SB 475, An Act Concerning Revisions To The Husky Plan, Part A And Part B
HB 5641, An Act Concerning Revisions To The Medicaid Program
CHA submitted testimony in support of these bills and encouraged the legislature to:
- Establish a cost of living increase for hospital inpatient and outpatient Medicaid rates so that, at a minimum, the difference between funding and costs does not continue to deteriorate.
- Return to hospitals the $27 million SAGA cut that was not needed to balance the budget.
- Increase the ongoing annual hospital SAGA cap by $15 million so that SAGA funding can be on par with Medicaid funding.
- Return to hospitals the $5 million Uncompensated Care Pool cut that was not needed to balance the budget.
- Eliminate the next $5 million Uncompensated Care Pool cut scheduled for this July.
- Restore declaration of income in the HUSKY Plan, Part A and Part B
- Restore continuous eligibility in the HUSKY Plan, Part A and Part B
- Eliminate cost sharing requirements (premiums and co-pays) in the HUSKY Plan, Part A
- Fund outreach to help families apply for and remain on HUSKY
- Ensure working families on HUSKY remain on the program for up to 24 months ("transitional medical assistance")
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 475 and HB 5641.
SB 478, An Act Concerning Revisions To The State-Administered General Assistance Program
CHA submitted testimony in support of this bill which would expand the scope of medical services available under the State-Administered General Assistance (SAGA) Program and require the Commissioner of Social Services to ensure that medical transportation services are available to program beneficiaries.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 478.
HB 5642, An Act Concerning Programs Administered By The Department Of Social Services
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5642.
HB 5619, An Act Concerning Nursing Shortages And Loan Repayment For Nurses
CHA submitted testimony in support of this bill, which increases funding for state nursing education and nursing loan repayment programs and expands existing financial assistance to students attending independent institutions of higher education.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5619.
HB 5590, An Act Regulating Rates For The Provision Of Emergency Treatment By Health Care Providers
Stephen Frayne, Senior Vice President, Health Policy, testified in opposition to this bill, which would limit the amount a hospital can charge, to patients or any third party, for emergency care to no more than two hundred percent of the amount Medicare would pay for those emergency services.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5590.
SB 450, An Act Ensuring Pharmaceutical Emergency Preparedness
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would allow for the rapid transfer and dispensing of medications and to create a mechanism for the Department of Consumer Protection to obtain the location of specific medications in the event of an emergency.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 450.
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Monday, March 6, 2006
SB 160, An Act Concerning Hospital Acquired Infections
Pat Monahan, General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, and Louise M. Dembry, MD, MS, Hospital Epidemiologist, Yale-New Haven Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, testified in opposition to this bill and encourage legislators to support CHA's infection prevention initiative.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 160.
SB 385, An Act Concerning Public Disclosure Of Hospital Staffing Levels For Patient Safety
Judith Carey, RSM, Vice President for Mission Integration at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and Pat Monahan, CHA's General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, testified on this bill, which would require hospitals to post staffing information in patient care areas that indicates numbers of registered nurses and other caregivers, the ratios of patients to each type of caregiver and the methods used to adjust and determine staffing levels.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 385.
HB 5477, An Act Concerning The Supervision Of Physician Assistants
CHA submitted testimony in opposition to this bill as written because it inappropriately imposes a more restrictive standard of supervision on hospital-based physician assistants.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5477.
HB 5469, An Act Concerning Hospital Emergency Departments
Steven Hanks, Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at New Britain General Hospital and the Central Connecticut Health Alliance, and Pat Monahan, CHA's General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, testified in opposition to this bill and urged legislators to address the factors causing emergency department overcrowding.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5469.
SB 402, An Act Concerning Certain Labor Disputes
CHA submitted testimony in opposition to this bill, which would lead to the imposition of penalties on state contractors, including hospitals, in the event of a disruption of services that coincides with a labor dispute.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 402.
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Friday, March 3, 2006
HB 5246, An Act Ensuring The Safety Of Medicine Through The Use Of Automated Drug Delivery Systems
CHA submitted testimony on this bill regarding automated drug delivery systems.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5246
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Thursday, March 2, 2006
HB 5528, An Act Establishing A Loan Forgiveness Program For Employees In High Needs Occupations
CHA submitted testimony in support of this bill, which would establish a loan forgiveness program for employees in high needs occupations.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5528
[ Back to top]
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
SB 175, An Act Concerning The Electronic Monitoring Of Prescriptions Of Controlled Substances
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would require the Department of Consumer Protection to collect controlled substance prescription information electronically.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on SB 175
HB 5480, An Act Concerning A Mandatory Autopsy
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would require a mandatory autopsy when a person passes away suddenly and is to be cremated.
Click here to view CHA's testimony on HB 5480
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Thursday, February 23, 2006
HB 5198, An Act Concerning State Payments to Hospitals
Stephen Frayne, Senior Vice President, Health Policy, testified before the Committee on Human Services, in support of this bill, which seeks to establish more equitable reimbursement rates for state payments to hospitals based on the costs incurred by hospital in providing care.
Click here to view Mr. Frayne's testimony on HB 5198
HB 5090, An Act Concerning Nursing Pool Services Provided to Health Care Institutions
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which requires nursing pools in Connecticut to register annually with the Department of Social Services and regulates the rates that they may charge.
Click here to view testimony on HB 5090
HB 5092, An Act Concerning The Admission And Care Of Patients In Nursing Homes
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would increase the level of scrutiny given to mentally ill patients before they can be admitted to a nursing facility by requiring the nursing facility to make a written determination that it has the appropriate resources required to care for the patient.
Click here to view testimony on HB 5092
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Friday, February 17, 2006
HB 5007, An Act Making Adjustments To The Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2007
Stephen Frayne, Senior Vice President, Health Policy, testified on this bill, urging modifications to the proposed midterm budget adjustments in order to make critical investments in the state's hospitals and improve access to health coverage, including:
- Returning to hospitals the $27 million SAGA cut that was not needed to balance the budget.
- Increasing the ongoing annual hospital SAGA cap by $15 million so that SAGA funding can be on par with Medicaid funding.
- Returning to hospitals the $5 million Uncompensated Care Pool cut that was not needed to balance the budget.
- Eliminating the next $5 million Uncompensated Care Pool cut scheduled for this July.
- Establishing a cost of living increase for hospital inpatient and outpatient Medicaid rates so that, at a minimum, the difference between funding and costs does not continue to deteriorate.
Click here to view Mr. Frayne's testimony on HB 5007
[ Back to top]
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
HB 5007, An Act Making Adjustments To The Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2007
Patrick J. Monahan II, General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, testified on this bill, urging funding for recommendations advanced by the Lieutenant Governor's Mental Health Cabinet, increased funding to ensure adequate payment for mental health services, a budget provision that requires the Behavioral Health Partnership to provide for annual adjustments to all hospital rates at least equal to the average increase granted during the fiscal year by the Department of Public Social Services to HUSKY managed care organizations, and a commitment of resources that ensures proper placement of patients in need of mental health treatment and reduces the number of patients waiting in hospital emergency departments for mental health services.
Click here to view Mr. Monahan's testimony on HB 5007
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Tuesday, February 14, 2006
SB 21, An Act Concerning Card Checks; HB 5030, An Act Concerning Captive Audience Meetings; HB 5032, An Act Concerning Neutrality Agreements And The Use Of State Financial Assistance For Certain Labor Organizing Activities
John Zandy, partner at the law firm of Wiggin and Dana, testified on behalf of CHA in opposition to these bills, stating, among other reasons, that federal law would preempt all three because they would prohibit activities allowed under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and limit employers' ability communicate with their employees.
Click here to view Mr. Zandy's testimony on SB 21
Click here to view Mr. Zandy's testimony on HB 5030
Click here to view Mr. Zandy's testimony on HB 5032
[ Back to top]
2005 Testimony Friday, April 8, 2005
SB 1052, An Act Concerning Medical Malpractice; SB 1364, An Act Concerning Reforms Related To Medical Malpractice Insurance; SB 513, An Act Limiting Expert Testimony In Medical Malpractice Cases; SB 514, An Act Concerning Periodic Payment Of Medical Malpractice Awards; SB 515, An Act Concerning The Bifurcation Of Medical Malpractice Actions; SB 1354, An Act Requiring Notice Of Medical Malpractice Actions And Notice To Patients Of Diagnostic And Laboratory Test Results; SB 1362, An Act Requiring Disclosure Of Liability Insurance Policy Limits Prior To The Filing Of A Claim; HB 6811, An Act Concerning Offers Of Judgment; HB 6814, An Act Concerning Collateral Source Benefits In Civil Actions; and HB 6817, An Act Requiring Specific Findings Of Damages In Jury Verdicts
Patrick J. Monahan, CHA General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, testified on medical malpractice-related legislation and the impact of increasing malpractice insurance premiums on hospitals and physicians. Also providing testimony were Richard A. Brvenik, President & CEO, Windham Community Memorial Hospital; Patrick Charmel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Griffin Hospital; Sarah Cohn, Executive Director, Legal Services, Yale New Haven Health System; Christopher Hartley, Senior Vice President, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center; Peter J. Karl, President & CEO, Eastern Connecticut Health Network; Kevin Kinsella, Vice President, Hartford Hospital; Alfred A. Lerz, President & CEO, Johnson Memorial Hospital; Richard E. Pugh, President/CEO, New Milford Hospital; and Laurence Tanner, President/CEO, New Britain General Hospital.
Click here to view Mr. Monahan’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Brvenik’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Charmel’s testimony.
Click here to view Ms. Cohn’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Hartley’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Karl’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Kinsella’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Lerz’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Pugh’s testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Tanner’s testimony.
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Monday, March 28, 2005
SB 1360, An Act Concerning The Sales And Use Tax
Stephen Frayne, CHA Senior Vice President, Health Policy, testified in opposition to this bill, which would impose a three and one half percent sales tax on patient care services.
Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6970, An Act Concerning Collaborative Drug Therapy Management Agreements Between Physicians And Pharmacists
CHA submitted testimony in support of this bill, which would allow hospitals to implement collaborative practice arrangements between physicians and pharmacists in the outpatient setting for patients with specified chronic conditions, including diabetes, asthma and hypertension.
Click here to view the testimony.
SB 1237, An Act Concerning Community-Based Mental Health Care
CHA submitted testimony in support of this bill, which would implement the recommendations of Lieutenant Governor Kevin Sullivan’s Mental Health Cabinet. The recommendations are designed to comprehensively improve the state’s mental health system by improving outreach services, ensuring that “best practices” continue to be developed and implemented, expanding mental health services for children, expanding supportive housing, providing mental health parity, and increasing rates to providers, including certain hospital outpatient clinics.
Click here to view the testimony.
SB 1239, An Act Concerning Collaborative Treatment Plans For Persons With Psychiatric Disabilities
J. Kevin Kinsella, Vice President of Hartford Hospital provided testimony in opposition to this bill, which would create unnecessary obstacles to the psychiatric treatment planning process. CHA also submitted testimony on this bill.
Click here to view Mr. Kinsella’s testimony.
Click here to view CHA’s testimony.
SB 1333, An Act Concerning Medical Malpractice Reform
Patrick J. Monahan, CHA General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, testified about the impact of increasing malpractice insurance premiums on hospitals and physicians. Yale New Haven Health System also submitted testimony on the bill.
Click here to view Mr. Monahan’s testimony.
Click here to view Yale New Haven Health System’s testimony.
HB 6974, An Act Concerning The Collection And Analysis Of Forensic Evidence And The Review Of Wrongful Arrests
CHA submitted testimony that this bill as drafted does not provide for the establishment of a minimum reimbursement fee to ensure that hospitals are reimbursed for costs associated with the examination and the collection of sexual assault evidence. CHA requested that the language of the bill be modified to state that the maximum reimbursement shall in no case be less than the cost to perform the services.
Click here to view the testimony.
SB 1286, An Act Requiring Disclosure Of Information From Clinical Trials
Yale-New Haven Hospital and CHA submitted testimony opposing this bill, which would have the unintended consequence of discouraging certain types of vital research from being done in Connecticut.
Click here to view Yale-New Haven Hospital’s testimony.
Click here to view CHA’s testimony.
HB 6887, An Act Concerning Investigative Subpoenas
CHA submitted testimony in opposition to certain provisions of this bill because they do not fully account for existing state or federal law protections relating to medical records. If enacted, this bill would create competing mandates and may inevitably require hospitals to challenge some of these criminal subpoenas.
Click here to view the testimony.
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Tuesday, March 22, 2005
SB 1323, An Act Concerning The Administration Of The Husky Plan, Part A And Part B and HB 6927, An Act Concerning Restoration Of Services Available Under The State-Administered General Assistance Program
CHA submitted testimony in support of these bills, which would expand the HUSKY program and restore needed funding to the SAGA program. Click here to view the testimony.
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Monday, March 21, 2005
HB 6713, An Act Concerning Revisions To Department Of Public Health Statutes
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, expressing concerns that hospitals will be subject to increased litigation and administrative burdens due to the legal issues raised by the bill. Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6715, An Act Concerning Strike Contingency Plans For Health Care Institutions
CHA submitted testimony opposing this bill as unnecessary, given existing regulation of hospitals that includes requirements relating to strike contingency planning.
Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6908, An Act Concerning A Connecticut Clean Car Incentive Program
CHA submitted testimony in support of this bill, which would establish incentives to encourage car buyers to select more environmentally responsible vehicles.
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HB 6947, An Act Concerning Dialysis Patient Care Technicians
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would allow dialysis patient care technicians to administer medication necessary to initiate or terminate dialysis provided a certain staffing ratio and composition is met and dialysis patient care technicians have obtained certification by successful completion of a national certification examination.
Click here to view the testimony.
SB 1208, An Act Concerning Public Health Preparedness
CHA submitted testimony in support of issues raised in this bill, but requested revision of the language to clarify the role of hospitals with respect to nerve agent antidote kits and provide hospitals with the appropriate protections.
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Friday, March 18, 2005
HB 6872, An Act Requiring Information And Counseling About Treatment Options For Life-Threatening Fetal Diseases
CHA submitted testimony in opposition to this bill, which would unnecessarily intrude upon the physician-patient relationship.
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HB 6768, An Act Concerning Public Disclosure Of Staffing Levels In Certain Health Care Facilities
Elizabeth Beaudin, CHA Director of Nursing and Workforce Initiatives, testified in opposition to this bill, which would require hospitals to post staffing information in patient care areas on a daily shift-to-shift basis, compile and report this information monthly to the Department of Public Health, and be subject to civil penalties of up to five thousand dollars per day should they fail to comply.
Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6717, An Act Concerning Organ Donors
CHA submitted testimony supporting this bill, which would increase the number of ways Connecticut residents can consent to become organ and tissue donors.
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SB 1143, An Act Concerning Certificate Of Need Applicants And Public Hearing Requests
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which establishes a specific time period within which the public may request that the Office of Health Care Access hold a public hearing on a completed certificate of need application, makes several technical changes and clarifications, and modifies the definition of “affiliate.”
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SB 1207, An Act Concerning The Capital Expenditure Threshold For The Regulation Of Equipment Acquisitions and SB 1145, An Act Concerning Revisions To The Office Of Health Care Access Statutes
CHA testified on these bills, which would provide greater accountability on the part of all providers by eliminating the monetary CON threshold for imaging equipment.
Click here to view CHA's testimony.
SB 1192, An Act Concerning Open Disclosure Of Information In Legal Matters
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would interfere with parties' rights to settle cases privately on their own terms and discourage amicable resolution of lawsuits.
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SB 1095, An Act Concerning Hospital Patients' Rights
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would expose hospitals to new levels of liability and hamper progress being made in connection with the medical liability insurance crisis.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2005
HB 6910, An Act Concerning Disclosure by Nonprofit Hospitals
Pat Monahan, CHA General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, testified in opposition to this bill, which, in addition to other requirements, would mandate that each not-for-profit hospital based in Connecticut file with the Commissioner of Revenue Services and the Ethics Commission copies of all filings made to federal agencies pursuant to the federal tax code.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2005
HB 6890, An Act Concerning Ergonomics And Workplace Safety
CHA submitted testimony in opposition to this bill, which would require will require employers, in collaboration with their employees, to evaluate the workplace environment and develop procedures to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). CHA testified that is more appropriate for the Occupational safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the regulatory body responsible for workplace safety, to create reasonable guidelines based on empirical data and scientific expertise than to expect an employer to carry put the mandates proposed in the bill without such guidance.
Click here to view the testimony.
SB 1274, An Act Concerning Companies That Violate State Labor Or Employment Laws
CHA submitted testimony in opposition to this bill, which would create harsh, cumulative, and unconstitutional punishment for employers that would bear no rational relationship to the employer's underlying infraction.
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SB 1296, An Act Concerning Professional Liability Premium Relief For Research Obstetricians And Gynecologists Who Provide Medicaid Care In Academic Institutions, and SB 1299, An Act Concerning The Extension Of Medical Malpractice Insurance Coverage Upon Retirement
CHA testified in support of these bills, which would establish a state-funded reimbursement mechanism or post-retirement coverage mechanisms that result in the stabilization or reduction of liability premiums for hospitals and other providers.
Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6914, An Act Concerning Utilization Review Determinations And Appeals Under Health Insurance Plans, and SB 1297, An Act Concerning Managed Care Grievance Procedures
CHA testified in support of these bills, which require a utilization review company to notify providers, along with enrollees, when it has made a decision not to certify an admission, service, or extension of a stay ordered by the provider, and establish a presumption that services ordered by participating providers are medically necessary.
Click here to view the testimony.
Monday, March 14, 2005
HB 1056, An Act Providing For Additional Units For The Supportive Housing Initiative And For Financing Of The Initiative By The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.
J. Kevin Kinsella, Vice President of Hartford Hospital, testified in support of this bill, which provides funding for 500 additional units of supportive housing in Connecticut. CHA submitted testimony on this bill.
Click here to view Mr. Kinsella's testimony.
Click here to view CHA's testimony.
SB 703, An Act Establishing A Uniform System For Distributing Influenza Vaccines
CHA testified in support of this bill, which would authorize the Department of Public Health to adopt regulations specifying a uniform policy for distributing and administering influenza vaccines. The testimony specified that a uniform system should be designed to deal with either a vaccine shortage or a pandemic, and need not be implemented during seasons during which an adequate amount of vaccine is available.
Click here to view the testimony.
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Friday, March 11, 2005
HB 6557, An Act Concerning Electronic Prescriptions And Electronic Medical Records
Patrick J. Monahan, CHA General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, presented testimony on this bill, which would remove outdated regulatory impediments to electronic medical record advances and section and would allow the Office of Health Care Access to waive Certificate of Need review of proposed purchases of electronic medical record systems.
Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6648, An Act Concerning Emergency Medical Service Organizations And Personnel
Patrick J. Monahan testified in opposition to this bill, which would interfere with hospitals' relationships with emergency medical service providers, compromise hospitals' ability to exercise appropriate medical supervision over emergency medical services outside the hospital, and force some hospitals, as a matter of sound practice, to reconsider whether they can continue to provide the current level of resources committed to EMS care.
Click here to view the testimony.
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Thursday, March 10, 2005
SB 1252, An Act Establishing A Medical Malpractice Reinsurance Fund
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would create a state-funded Medical Malpractice Reinsurance Fund for the purpose of reimbursing professional liability insurers for medical malpractice awards in excess of $1 million.
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Tuesday, March 8, 2005
HB 6688, An Act Implementing The Governor's Budget Recommendations With Respect To Social Services Programs
Stephen Frayne, CHA Senior Vice President, Health Policy, testified in opposition to this bill, which would implement a series of cuts to Department of Social Services safety net programs to control expenditure growth. J. Kevin Kinsella, Vice President of Hartford Hospital, submitted testimony on the bill.
Click here to view Mr. Kinsella's testimony.
Click here to view Mr. Frayne's testimony.
SB 277, An Act Concerning Employer Communications About Politics, Religion Or Labor Organizing Activities
John Zandy, partner at the law firm of Wiggin and Dana, testified on behalf of CHA in opposition to this bill, which would make it illegal for employers to require their employees to attend employer-sponsored meetings or to participate in communications with them regarding union activities.
Click here to view the testimony.
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Tuesday, March 1, 2005
HB 6790, An Act Implementing The Recommendations Of The Legislative Program Review And Investigations Committee Relative To The Medicaid Eligibility Determination Process
CHA submitted testimony in support of this bill, which would implement the recommendations of the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee relative to the Medicaid eligibility determination process. Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6758, An Act Concerning Union Activities Relative To Certain Recipients Of State Funds
John Zandy, partner at the law firm of Wiggin and Dana, testified on behalf of CHA in opposition to this bill, which if passed, would be preempted, and therefore invalid, because it would establish standards inconsistent with the substantive requirements of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). Click here to view the testimony.
SB 965, An Act Concerning The Duties Of The Conservator Of A Person
Carrie Brady, CHA Vice President, Quality and Performance Reporting, testified in opposition to this bill, which would have the effect of unnecessarily prolonging hospital stays for individuals who no longer need treatment in an acute care facility, exacerbate emergency department overcrowding problems by making beds unavailable to those who truly need hospitalization, and create an unnecessary and potentially detrimental layer of bureaucracy in an area that is already heavily regulated to safeguard the interests of persons in the care of conservators. Click here to view the testimony.
SB 1168, An Act Concerning Support for Schools of Nursing, Allied Health and Pharmacy
SB 1050, An Act Implementing the Governor's Budget Recommendations Concerning Higher Education
Liz Beaudin, CHA Director, Nursing and Workforce Initiatives, testified in support of these bills, which would assist in addressing current and future faculty shortages that are barriers to creating an adequate healthcare workforce. Click here to view the testimony.
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Thursday, February 24, 2005
HB 6135, An Act Concerning Standards In Contracts Between Managed Care Organizations And Physicians
CHA submitted testimony on this bill, which would establish specified requirements to be included in contracts between managed care organizations and physicians. Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6671, An Act Concerning The State Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2007, And Making Appropriations Therefor
Patrick J. Monahan, CHA General Counsel and Vice President, Patient Care Regulation, submitted testimony on this bill, supporting the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' proposed expansion of certain mental health community initiatives and increases in supportive housing funding, as these proposals reflect in part some of the recommendations recently presented to the Governor by the Lieutenant Governor's Mental Health Cabinet. Click here to view the testimony.
HB 6225, An Act Requiring Recipients Of State Financial Assistance To Sign Neutrality Agreements
John Zandy, partner at the law firm of Wiggin and Dana, t | 
