“We hope someday, there will be the same level of services for children with mental health care needs as there are for children with medical needs,”
— Dr. Lisa Namerow, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Institute of Living who practices at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, reacting to Governor Malloy’s plan released this week to help expand children’s’ access to mental and behavioral health services.
Senate Leaders Form Group to Solicit Feedback on Healthcare Mergers, Acquisitions
Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, and Senate Republican Leaders Len Fasano, R-North Haven, and Rob Kane, D-Watertown, have pulled together a small group of legislators – Public Health, Human Services and Labor committee chairs and ranking members primarily – to seek feedback and status reports on the numerous healthcare mergers, acquisitions and affiliations.
Following is a preliminary schedule of appearances, which is subject to change:
Oct 23 – Officials from Greater Waterbury Health Network, Eastern CT Health Network, St. Mary’s Health System, and Bristol Hospital will discuss their affiliations.
Nov. 6 – Yale New Haven Hospital and Hartford Healthcare will speak about their hospital and physician-based practice affiliations.
Nov. 20 – Host municipalities, hospital employers and employees, and healthcare advocates will discuss their experiences and field questions.
Dec. 4 – Presentations by Western CT Health Network, which includes Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital and their affiliates. Griffin Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital and for-profit Sharon Hospital may also be asked to give presentations.
Dec. 18 — The AG will provide an antitrust analysis of an Idaho antitrust case; Comptroller Lembo will give an update on facility fees; and the Office of Healthcare Access and DPH may be asked to answer questions.
Note: The ad hoc group was light on details at its first meeting Thursday, but more information will be forthcoming.
Malloy Appoints 5 to Pardons and Paroles Board; Nominates 4 Judges to Superior Court
Governor Malloy on Wednesday nominated four individuals to serve as Superior Court judges, and appointed five members to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The Superior Court nominees are:
- Kevin Doyle of North Haven, currently a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven.
- Alex V. Hernandez of Bridgeport, a member of Pullman & Comley’s Litigation Department.
- Sheila M. Prats of Simsbury, currently a self-employed attorney and formerly a Deputy Assistant Public Defender for the State of CT Division of Public Defender Services.
- Omar A. Williams of West Hartford, currently an Assistant Public Defender for the State of CT Division of Public Defender Services.
Finally, Governor Malloy’s appointees to Board of Pardons and Paroles are: Joy Chance of Bloomfield; Kenneth Ireland of New Britain; Rufaro Berry of Hamden; Patricia Thomas Camp of Bloomfield; and Terry M. Borjeson of Newington. The last two appointees are part-time.
Some Relief in Sight? Workers’ Comp Rates in 2015 May Take Slight Dip
Word on the street is that, pending approval by the Connecticut Department of Insurance, workers’ compensation rates purchased in the normal or voluntary market will decline by 0.6 percent overall, while rates for assigned risk policies will drop by 0.5 percent.
Congressional Debate Schedule
- HIMES & DEBICELLA (4th Congressional District) will participate on three debates on October 19 in Wilton, October 20 in Stamford and on October 28 in Norwalk.
- JOE COURTNEY & HOPKINS-CAVANAGH (2nd Congressional District) on Oct. 20 at Eastern Connecticut State University hosted by the Norwich Bulletin and moderated by Ray Hackett.
Gubernatorial Debate Schedule
- THE DAY, CPTV & WNPR will host a debate on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London.
- **Cancelled –WNPR’s John Dankosky will host a debate on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. with light refreshments at 6 p.m. at the Career High School, 140 Legion Avenue, New Haven.
- NBC CONNECTICUT will host a debate on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at their studio in West Hartford.
