Connector Board Meeting Thursday. Where’s the Valentine?

Hello Health Reform Trackers. The next Connector Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 14th (9am, One Ashburton, 21st Floor). This meeting will be the first of three, leading up to critical votes on March 20th: on Commonwealth Care cost-sharing, the 2008 Affordability Schedule, and the Commonwealth Care and Choice contracts. Each of these is vitally important to the continuing successful implementation of health reform. Materials for the meeting are here; as of late Tuesday night Wednesday morning only the agenda is posted (see our comments at the end).
[Update 11:30 am Wednesday: materials are now online; our analysis to come]

The Connector Board is scheduled to examine enrollee cost-sharing in Commonwealth Care as well as continue the discussion on the 2008 Affordability Schedule. Both discussions will have a significant impact on residents, determining what people must pay for insurance under the individual mandate.

We recognize and appreciate the challenging position of the Connector in implementing the various moving parts of health reform. We are also deeply concerned about the individuals and families who will be impacted by any significant changes to Commonwealth Care enrollee contributions or the Affordability Schedule. The ACT!! Coalition encourages the Connector staff and Board to think critically about the affordability needs of consumers.

We oppose increases in Commonwealth Care cost-sharing because:

• Commonwealth Care should protect low-income families. The program was designed to protect—not harm—our most financially at-risk population.
• Increased copays discourages needed medical care, and risks the health of patients. Evidence shows that increased cost-sharing harms vulnerable patients, particularly for the chronically ill and disabled.
• Many cannot afford existing premiums. Enrollment trends show many low-income people cannot afford the current premium levels. We should not consider higher cost-sharing without strong data and utilization evidence of affordability.
• Poor and sick residents are least able to afford increased costs. Why ask the most vulnerable residents to make up funding shortfalls by passing costs to them?

We also oppose significant increases in the Affordability Schedule. Affordability should be defined by real peoples’ costs and situations. The current frame is backwards. Affordability is not affected by external factors such as who will fall out from under the mandate, or rising premiums, or overall cost increases for Commonwealth Care. Reverend Hamilton of GBIO eloquently laid out our view here, on the WBUR Commonhealth blog.

A second ask: It is just a day before this key Connector Board meeting. Only the agenda is available online. The Health Reform Fan Club respectfully requests that documents for the meeting be publicly posted. We value the open dialogue the public is able to have with the Connector, and we hope it can continue throughout this difficult and critical process over the next six weeks. Thank you.
Lindsey Tucker