HB 5536 An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership was delivered to Governor Rell's desk yesterday by Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz following a spirited rally in front of the Capitol.

A brief re-cap on the importance of HB 5536:

As it stands, there is not a lot of competition in the health care marketplace: non-profits, small businesses, and municipalities do not have bargaining power on their own to negotiate lower rates, and no one entity among them represents a large enough group for insurers to vie for their business. These small unaffiliated groups are forced to pay higher rates than they would as members of a larger pool. By signing HB 5536, Governor Rell will increase competition in the health care marketplace because all of the state's major insurers will be able to bargain for the contract to cover what seems to me would be the second largest insurance pool in Connecticut.

At yesterday's rally, future Speaker of the House Chris Donovan started off by leading a chant of "Good Plan, Costs Less," which of course Governor Rell would have a hard time hearing considering that she's down in Kentucky at the Council of State Governments. So Donovan instructed the assembled crowd of 100 or so to face the Bluegrass State and raise their voices.

Nevertheless, Governor Rell has 15 days to act on the bill and supporters from non-profits, small businesses, municipalities, and unions all spoke favorably of HB 5536, encouraging Governor Rell to live up to her ideal of helping small businesses during these economic hard times.

Such was her logic in vetoing the minimum wage raise anyhow. Senator Looney pointed out at the rally yesterday that if Governor Rell were to apply same logic to her course of action on HB 5536, she would undoubtedly sign it. If she vetoed raising the minimum wage to keep expenses down for Connecticut businesses, it is only reasonable that she will sign HB 5536 so that businesses can take advantage of health care cost savings.

Of course, there are those who claim that there will not be savings, like Anthem, which is using scare tactics to encourage Governor Rell to veto HB 5536 by promising to raise rates by 4% (roughly 24 million bucks) on July 1st. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal again dismissed this argument against HB 5536 yesterday as bogus and baloney.

Fortunately, employees covered in the state pool have a choice. Chris Donovan had chosen to give his business to Anthem, but in light of their bullying he announced yesterday that he is looking to switch his coverage to another provider covering the state employee pool.

HB 5536 will lower costs and provide choice to employees covered by the pool. If you have not yet, please heed Tessa's call to action and encourage Governor Rell to sign HB 5536:

Ask Governor Rell to sign HB 5536, CT Healthcare Partnership (Pretty Please)
Call the Governor's Office - (860) 566-4840 or (800) 406-1527
Tell them

• Your name and address - This will prove that you are a legitimate and legal resident of the State of Connecticut
• You support HB 5536, An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership - So they know what to write on the "While You Were Out" pad, and
• You want her to sign this bill into law.

Be polite. Be thorough. Tell your friends to do the same.

Healthcare4Every1 is recording responses from the Governor's office to your calls. Be sure to let them know what you heard.

Other Media reports on yesterday's event:

• Christine Stuart at CT News Junkie - "Good Plan, Costs Less"
• Christopher Keating at Capitol Watch - "Democrats, Union Members Urge Rell To Sign "Pooling'' Bill At Rally; Deliver Bill To Rell's Office"

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued his legal opinion on HB 5536 yesterday, concluding that if passed the state can neither expand the pool of insureds, nor can insurers raise rates (as Anthem has threatened to do). What this means is that for the first few years after Governor Rell signs HB 5536, there would be a separate pool created for municipalities, non-profits and small businesses to join. Insurers could bid on the contract to cover that pool.

And we answer NO.

There is an article in today's Hartford Courant about a health care bill (HB-5536 An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership) that passed through the legislature with no Republican support and would allow smaller groups like municipalities, non-profits and small businesses to participate in the state's health insurance pool. Governor Rell is considering a veto, and the Hartford Courant wants to know what you think.

Click here and vote no in the Hartford Courant poll asking "Should Gov. Rell Veto the Bill?"

Sign the Petition

The president mischaracterizes congressional efforts to expand the SCHIP program.

Summary
President Bush gave a false description of proposed legislation to expand the 10-year-old federal program to provide health insurance for children in low-income working families.

By Robert Pear and Carl Hulse

New York Times

September 25, 2007

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 — President Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress prepared Monday for a showdown over the future of health insurance for more than 10 million children.

President Bush denounced "an incremental step toward the goal of government-run health care for every American."

By Paul Krugman

New York Times, Op-Ed Columnist

September 21, 2007

All the evidence suggests that it has finally become politically possible to give Americans what citizens of every other advanced nation already have: guaranteed health insurance. The economics of universal health care are sound, and polls show strong public support for guaranteed care. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Health Care and Anti-War Advocates Blast Lieberman at Health Care Forum for Squandering Money On War Instead of Investing a Fraction of that Money on Health Care for Children

Families USA Special Report

You may know that Congress is poised to pass the children's health bill. But what does this mean for children in Connecticut?

A new report from Families USA spells out how many additional children would be covered in each state under the House and Senate bills.

Click here to view the report (pdf).