Bill (SB 1068) on care coordination for chronic diseases was introduced in the State of Connecticut by the Public Health Committee during the General Assembly’s January 2013 session. The bill calls for the Commissioner of Public Health to consult with the Comptroller and representatives of hospitals, healthcare facilities, along with local and regional health departments to develop a plan to meet the needs of the chronically ill.
The goal is to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, improve chronic care coordination, and reduce the incidence and effects of chronic disease in healthcare facilities. The bill proposes that each year by January 15th, a report must be submitted to the General Assembly and then to the Joint Committee on Public Health. The annual report would be posted on the Department of Public Health’s web site within 30 days.
Each report would need to include information on but not be limited to:
- A description of the chronic diseases that are most likely to cause a person’s death or disability
- The approximate number of persons affected by chronic diseases and an assessment of the financial effects of each disease on the state, hospitals, and healthcare facilities
- A description and assessment of programs and actions that have been implemented by the department, hospitals, and healthcare facilities to improve chronic care coordination
- The source and amounts of funding received by the department to treat persons with multiple chronic conditions that are the most prevalent in the state
- A description of the chronic care coordination that exists between the Department of Public Health, hospitals, and healthcare facilities
- Detailed recommendations on actions that need to be taken by hospitals and healthcare facilities and recommendations to reduce hospital readmission rates, and how to achieve effective drug therapy monitoring
- Identify future goals for coordinating care and reduce the incidence of persons having multiple chronic conditions
The legislation was referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health and a public hearing is expected to be held in March.