Last week, lawmakers didn't act on a proposal to expand membership on a board that will help shape the future of health care in the state. WNPR's Jeff Cohen explains.
As part of the controversial Affordable Care Act, states across the country are working to set up what are called exchanges -- marketplaces that will eventually let the uninsured comparison shop health insurance plans. In Connecticut, that process is run by a board. The board will decide which types of benefits insurance companies will have to offer as part of their plans.
Arielle Levin Becker covers healthcare for the Connecticut Mirror. She says that some in the state who support universal healthcare coverage have argued that the board doesn't adequately represent a variety of perspectives. They were pushing bills in the general assembly's recent session.
"What they have said is that there are not consumer advocates on the board, there's not enough small business representation, and that there's too much representation on the board by people who have ties to the insurance industry."
In the end, though, the plan didn't get enough support to pass the senate. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who chairs the board, told the Mirror that she was surprised the bill failed.
For WNPR, I'm Jeff Cohen.
