HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Gov. legislation, a key issue for Dannel P. Malloy's budget House Speaker Chris Donovan, director on Monday said he D-Meriden, currently a has serious concerns about candidate in the 5th opening up the state of congressional district race, Connecticut's health also called for allowing more insurance plan next month to than 174,342 employees of municipal workers and wants nonprofit agencies to join the initiative delayed until the state plan beginning 2013. the state's risks can be Donovan and other advocates examined further. maintain that by grouping In a letter obtained by The more people together, the Associated Press, Benjamin state can help drive down Barnes said he's worried the health care costs and make state could face financial sure more people are insured. exposure if only small groups The legislation required of city and town workers are Lembo to open up the plan to pooled into the self-insured, municipalities in January. state employee and retiree However, Barnes said OPM and health insurance system. the State Employees "In particular, I am Bargaining Agent Coalition, concerned that the plan will which represents unionized not be able to accommodate state employee on health and most municipal employees benefits matters, have to because of collective first sign off on the bargaining agreements in proposal before any municipal place," said Barnes, the workers could join. Barnes secretary of the Office of said in his letter OPM "will Policy of Management, in the not be able to support it letter to Comptroller Kevin absent significant changes Lembo. He said if union and more rigorous evaluation." contracts prevent many Barnes said he understands municipal workers from that additional analysis will immediately switching over to delay the opening of the the state's plan, the groups program beyond January. But that do agree to participate he said, "I am sure we can could have older, sicker all agree that protection of employees with high the state's resources is utilization rates, possibly critical. This is especially driving up the state's costs. true now given the fiscal Barnes told the AP that while challenges that we all face." he sees health care pooling A message was left seeking "as a very viable way to cut comment with Lembo. costs," he wants the state's During the legislative debate health care actuary to in June, some Republican analyze the program further lawmakers voiced concern to determine how many about opening up the state's municipal employees can be health insurance plan to expected to participate, what other groups. State Sen. their health insurance Leonard Suzio, R-Meriden, utilization rates would be said he worried the move and how much risk the state's could drive up claims and insurance plan could expect. eventually drive up premiums He said it could take years paid by state employees and to get a large enrollment. costs for taxpayers. Earlier this year, the Barnes said expects the General Assembly passed additional review could delay legislation requiring Lembo opening the program until to offer coverage to late winter or early spring, municipalities. At the time, unless the actuary determines state officials estimated the state will be facing that nearly 578,000 municipal large financial risks. employees, retirees and their If that happens, Barnes said, dependents could join the "we'll just have to go back state plan, which currently to the drawing board and covers about more than 202, figure out how to adjust that. 000 state employees, retirees " and dependents. The
Tags: Conn, Delay, faces, health, plan, pooling
