State lawmakers tell Norwalk commission they will push for higher Medicaid rates, reproductive-care protections and childcare funding

Members of a Norwalk City commission heard from state legislators on a range of gender-equity priorities on the legislative calendar, including proposals to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates, expand funding for reproductive-health providers, and pursue childcare and lactation-policy changes.

The conversation on state priorities centered on access to care and workforce concerns in Connecticut’s health system, plus planned work on reproductive-rights protections, endometriosis research and programs for families affected by immigration enforcement. Commissioners also asked the lawmakers about protections for undocumented children and for ways the commission and residents can track and influence bills.

Shannon O'Toole Janderco, co-chair of the commission, introduced the discussion and noted the group had finished its agenda in time to hear the lawmakers’ briefing. Representative Gilchrist, a state lawmaker who chairs the House human services committee, said increasing Medicaid rates is “one of the top priorities this year.” He added, “About a third of Connecticut residents receive their healthcare through Medicaid and the rates ... haven't been increased ... since 2007.”

Gilchrist said the low reimbursement rates are both an access and a workforce problem because providers have limited incentives to serve Medicaid patients. He said planned work includes raising rates for family-planning services and for other providers whose payment levels have declined over time.

On family-planning funding, Gilchrist warned the commission that federal funding streams are uncertain and said state investments would be critical if Title X funding or other federal supports are reduced. “We actually get a big bang for our buck, when we invest in family planning,” he said.

The lawmakers also described priorities inside reproductive-health policy. Gilchrist said the caucus will seek stronger patient and provider protections for reproductive-health emergencies, citing concern about hospitals that are unclear about what emergency care they must provide. He described work to expand the state’s shield law to include telehealth providers who serve out-of-state patients and to adopt a federal non-cooperation clause so Connecticut agencies would not share information with other states seeking to restrict care.

The commission heard that endometriosis remains a legislative focus. “Endometriosis impacts 1 in 10 individuals with a uterus, and yet it takes about 10 years on average to get a diagnosis,” Gilchrist said, describing a biorepository partnership with Jackson Laboratory and a health system that has been collecting samples to support research and potential diagnostic advances. He said funding tied to that effort was included in the current two-year state budget and the caucus will seek continued support.

Commissioners asked about childcare, early-education funding and lactation services. One state lawmaker said early-childhood education and child-care funding would be prominent priorities and noted a bill number discussed informally during the briefing; the speaker described the bill number as tentative. Lawmakers also discussed licensure and Medicaid coverage for lactation consultants: because the state statute does not currently recognize the highest credentialed lactation consultants for Medicaid reimbursement, access to those services is largely limited to those who can pay out of pocket.

Commissioners asked how Norwalk residents and the commission could follow bills. One legislator recommended contacting state representatives and senators directly, testifying at public hearings and using the Connecticut General Assembly bill tracker at cga.ct.gov. Lawmakers also suggested following advocacy organizations that track bills on social media and email lists for opportunities to testify.

On immigration and state supports, legislators described existing state policy that allows certain undocumented children to enroll in Husky (Connecticut’s Medicaid program) and said there is existing coverage for pregnant and postpartum undocumented individuals; they said discussions are underway with state agencies about data protections and about possible bills to respond to federal immigration actions.

No formal votes or formal directions to staff were taken during the session; the visit was a legislative briefing and question-and-answer period. The commission did vote earlier in the meeting (separate agenda items) to forward a proposed wording change on an ordinance language update to the city ordinance committee, but that vote was not part of the legislators’ visit.

The legislators’ remarks and commissioners’ follow-ups reflect the items lawmakers said they expect to press this session: Medicaid rate increases, funding for reproductive-health providers including Planned Parenthood, research funding for endometriosis, protections for emergency reproductive care and telehealth providers, childcare and early-education funding, and potential statutory changes to recognize certain providers (for example, lactation consultants) in Medicaid coverage.

The commission said it would follow the legislative process and consider advocacy steps where the commission’s priorities align with bills as they are filed.