Connecticut Raised Bill No. 1006 Summary

• Establishes an Office of Health Strategy within the Department of Public Health to develop comprehensive health care cost containment strategies, oversee delivery and payment models, and develop quality benchmarks effective July 1, 2021.

• Requires the Office of Health Strategy to annually establish health care cost growth benchmarks and primary care targets (with a goal of 10% primary care spending by January 1, 2026), and identify health care entities or payers exceeding benchmarks for enforcement action.

• Authorizes the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to establish a Canadian legend drug importation program (subject to federal approval) to import safe and effective prescription drugs from Canada to reduce costs, with regulations effective July 1, 2021.

• Implements restrictions on medical stop-loss insurance policies effective January 1, 2022, establishing minimum attachment points ($20,000 per employee) and prohibiting practices like "lasering" and direct health care coverage, with exemptions for retiree stop-loss policies.

• Establishes a task force to study health insurance coverage and care inequities in minority populations and requires annual audits of state health care plans by the Auditors of Public Accounts, with Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange board members subject to eight-year term limits and insurance expertise requirements.