Connecticut Prenatal Program, CHIP Program Expansion Face Elimination Unless Legislators Reverse Proposed Cut

Unless Connecticut legislators decide not to instate a $5.4 million budget cut, a prenatal care program and an initiative to increase enrollment in HUSKY will be eliminated, the state's CHIP program, the Hartford Courant reports. The state government last week sent letters notifying agencies that their contracts to run the prenatal care program, called Healthy Start, will be cancelled July 1. Through Healthy Start, caseworkers help uninsured pregnant women obtain prenatal care, escort them to appointments and provide housing and nutrition guidance. Advocates have said that eliminating the program will lead to an increase in premature or low-birthweight babies. The proposed $5.4 million cut also would eliminate an effort to expand the HUSKY program, a telephone hotline to help individuals enroll and funding for the Children's Health Council, which monitors the program to ensure beneficiaries receive proper care. Legislative leaders have said that they will have to trim $200 million in state spending, including the $5.4 million for prenatal care and HUSKY, to balance the state budget. Gov. John Rowland (R) and legislative leaders are expected to meet this week to discuss the budget (Waldman, Hartford Courant, 6/26).