Connecticut Gov. Rell’s Budget Proposal Would Eliminate Office of the Healthcare Advocate

The Connecticut Office of the Healthcare Advocate, an independent agency that advocates for consumers regarding health coverage issues, would be eliminated under Gov. Jodi Rell's (R) proposed budget for the next fiscal year, the Hartford Courant reports. The office has served about 7,500 people since 2005, according to the Courant.

Rell's administration said that eliminating the office is part of an effort to reduce the size of the state government and that other state agencies provide oversight of health insurance issues. In a written statement, Rell's office said that the decision was made based solely on efforts to reduce the state budget deficit. The statement said that state Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo "is a dedicated public servant and has done a fine job. However, we are in a recession. Everyone is hurting. The governor has said that Connecticut families are making do with less and so can state government."

However, state House Speaker Christopher Donovan (D) and other lawmakers said the health care advocate office's budget -- roughly $1 million -- comes from a fund paid into by insurance companies, not taxpayers, so eliminating the office will not help the state budget. Jeffrey Beckham, a spokesperson for the state Office of Policy and Management, said although the cut does not save money for the state directly, it will lead to reduced health insurance premiums because insurers pass on the cost of funding the office to members. Beckham also said many of the services the office provides are available through the state Insurance Department and not-for-profit groups.

State Sen. Jonathan Harris (D) disputed the idea that the office performs the same services as other state agencies as a negative characteristic. He said, "That's almost like saying you don't need to have that attorney represent you because there are other attorneys out there." Lembo said Connecticut will see an even greater need for health care advocacy in the coming year as more people lose jobs, face health benefit cuts or have claims rejected. In addition, advocates said the office saved consumers $5.2 million last year by helping to overturn improperly denied claims (Levin Becker, Hartford Courant, 2/12).