Nutmeg State Panel Promotes Universal Health Bill

H.B. 7060 also would create a nonprofit corporation that would shop for health care coverage for uninsured persons, people who have lost coverage due to job changes or early retirement and small employers without health coverage.

To pay for the plan, the bill would impose a 3% provider tax on hospitals, doctors, laboratories and home health care services; a “vanity” sales tax on nonessential cosmetic surgery; and increases in the state cigarette tax. The bill also would set aside funds from tobacco litigation settlements and federal Medicaid reimbursements for health care provided to uninsured children.