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Connecticut lawmakers discuss legislative proposals surrounding health care access

HARTFORD, CT - February 22, 2021: Trinity Health RN Kayla Bennett gives Hartford resident James Watts his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a neighborhood vaccine clinic at the Parker Memorial Community Center. (Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public)
Ryan Caron King
/
Connecticut Public
Trinity Health RN Kayla Bennett gives Hartford resident James Watts his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a neighborhood vaccine clinic at the Parker Memorial Community Center, Feb. 22, 2021.

During this legislative session, Connecticut state lawmakers are tackling a number of proposals, including health care reform.

They met Wednesday at the state Capitol to discuss the proposed bills that would make changes to Medicaid and mental health care access for children in Connecticut.

Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney says the stress and anxiety that many consumers experience over rising health care costs while dealing with a preexisting illness is becoming a compounding problem.

“Everyone in Connecticut needs and deserves the confidence that when they need health care, they will be able to receive it in a way that’s not financially crushing,” Looney said.

Sen. Ceci Maher emphasized that mental health issues are taking the biggest toll on children.

“A lot of parents, families and communities think of mental health as being something that is not talked about,” Maher said. “We know that our children now, they talk about it, they’re aware. So if they’re aware and understand the needs that they have, we need to be sure that we are providing the care for them.”

Sen. Matt Lesser says he hopes 2023 is a “banner year” in Connecticut for health care reform.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.