FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2004DELAURO AND LARSON TO INTRODUCE BILL TO EXEMPT CONNECTICUT FROM MEDICARE PRIVATIZATION PLAN
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Reps. Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) and John B. Larson (CT-1) will introduce legislation today in the House that would exempt Connecticut from having to participate in a Medicare privatization pilot program that was included as part of the new Medicare Reform law. Under the new law, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can designate six sites around the country as participants in a pilot program to provide health care vouchers for private insurance to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. This privatization testing effort is known as the premium support demonstration project. The legislation would prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from choosing Connecticut as one of the demonstration states.
