A COMMITMENT
TO HEALTH

Throughout my career I have been advocating for policies that support the healthy development of children. Whether advocating for mental health supports in our schools, strong protections for children with life threatening food allergies, ensuring that low to moderate income families have access to Husky Healthcare and dental care, or navigating the senior healthcare environment for families, I have been a champion on healthcare issues.
During the pandemic we have learned the importance of prioritizing public health. Our legislative priorities centered primarily on issues related to healthcare and the gaps that revealed themselves throughout the pandemic.
We've seen firsthand the role telehealth can play in improving healthcare for our residents. A week doesn't go by without me hearing from a constituent about the benefits they've experienced from the availability of telehealth care. I am committed to expanding it in applications that are experiencing service gaps in care and hard-to-reach areas. The application of technology has also found a new role to play in nursing homes and hospitals making sure that families are still able to connect with loved ones when they are ill.
This past Fall I had the pleasure of serving on two working groups.
In the Insurance and Real Estate committee which I am now a vice-chair, I proudly championed legislation to increase access to and the affordability of life-saving epinephrine. With this legislation we capped the cost of this medication to $25 on certain state-regulated health insurance plans and worked with insurance companies to ensure that consumers have a formulary available on the lowest tier. The bill passed in a bipartisan fashion out of the house. Unfortunately, it did not get called in the Senate. This year, I am focused again on making sure this gets across the finish line.
We established insurance with the "Covered Connecticut" program to reduce the state's uninsured rate by providing premium and cost sharing subsidies that will help up to 40,000 low-income residents and families. Additionally, we extended dependent eligibility for dental and vision coverage through age 26 for the state regulated fully insured plans. Finally, we passed legislation that provides healthcare for kids through age 8, prenatal care and one year post natal care for women, regardless of status.
Last and certainly not least, mental health has become a major priority over the past few years. Last year, we expanded evidence-based youth suicide prevention training programs so communities can better support youth in crisis. In the 2022 session, the Committee on Children will be taking the lead on a comprehensive mental health bill and I look forward to sharing more as it moves forward.
During the pandemic we have learned the importance of prioritizing public health. Our legislative priorities centered primarily on issues related to healthcare and the gaps that revealed themselves throughout the pandemic.
We've seen firsthand the role telehealth can play in improving healthcare for our residents. A week doesn't go by without me hearing from a constituent about the benefits they've experienced from the availability of telehealth care. I am committed to expanding it in applications that are experiencing service gaps in care and hard-to-reach areas. The application of technology has also found a new role to play in nursing homes and hospitals making sure that families are still able to connect with loved ones when they are ill.
This past Fall I had the pleasure of serving on two working groups.
- I co-chaired a Work Group Concerning Issues Affecting Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind Persons. This workgroup looked at three issues facing the community: Interpreter Standards, Higher Education and Accreditation, and the Mental Health Service area. We all concluded our work in December and are happy to put forward our solutions in a piece of legislation this session.
- I also co-chaired a Community Hospice Ombudsman Work Group. This workgroup brought together stakeholders to educate ourselves and provide possible legislative proposals for the growing industry of at home hospice care in Connecticut.
- I was recently appointed by House Majority Chair Rojas to serve on the Mental Health Service Provider Task Force, to begin work in 2022.
In the Insurance and Real Estate committee which I am now a vice-chair, I proudly championed legislation to increase access to and the affordability of life-saving epinephrine. With this legislation we capped the cost of this medication to $25 on certain state-regulated health insurance plans and worked with insurance companies to ensure that consumers have a formulary available on the lowest tier. The bill passed in a bipartisan fashion out of the house. Unfortunately, it did not get called in the Senate. This year, I am focused again on making sure this gets across the finish line.
We established insurance with the "Covered Connecticut" program to reduce the state's uninsured rate by providing premium and cost sharing subsidies that will help up to 40,000 low-income residents and families. Additionally, we extended dependent eligibility for dental and vision coverage through age 26 for the state regulated fully insured plans. Finally, we passed legislation that provides healthcare for kids through age 8, prenatal care and one year post natal care for women, regardless of status.
Last and certainly not least, mental health has become a major priority over the past few years. Last year, we expanded evidence-based youth suicide prevention training programs so communities can better support youth in crisis. In the 2022 session, the Committee on Children will be taking the lead on a comprehensive mental health bill and I look forward to sharing more as it moves forward.