CT GENERAL ASSEMBLY- NO ACTION

The legislative session adjourned last evening with NO VOTE being taken on the bill that would have commenced a study commission to evaluate the costs and benefits of mandating bariatric surgery coverage. Also, the Public Health bill that would have mandated coverage for bariatric procedures never saw the light of day when it was sent to the INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE. So, for the second year in a row, people who suffer from the disease of morbid obesity have lost if they live in Connecticut. Even with perfect grassroots lobbying efforts, bills can die in committee and some that are fortunate enough to be approved there (albeit in a watered-down form) might still not make it past the leadership that decides what measures get put on the House and Senate calendars. We can always fight again next year and make a particular effort to find our peers in the districts of the legislative leadership to concentrate our lobbying efforts on them.

Thanks for the update, Steve. I'm so terribly disappointed to read this. I've been checking the Connecticut General Assembly site every few days and hoping to see some progress... nothing. I didn't realize it was over tho. I've been hoping and praying for them to pass SOMETHING... even if it meant the actual changes were a year or more away. I've written tons of letters as have my family and friends. I even attended and spoke at one of the Public Hearings. I'm among those who NEED WLS and have been qualified by my doctor and surgeon, but my insurance not pay regardless. I'd been waiting on the outcomes of 552 & 579 to figure out my next move. My pockets aren't too deep and complications and unexpected costs scare the heck outta me, but I need to figure out a way to pay for the surgery myself.

Tracey- Unfortunately, there was just no sense of outrage among those of us who have had weight loss surgery to motivate the leaders in the General Assembly to pass any type of bill that might prompt future action. We simply had no concerted effective method of contacting leadership to voice what should be the moral outrage that people like you are being denied the same life-saving surgery that has been afforded to many of us. Maybe next year, with a slightly different approach, we can better move our elected officials along.