Opportunities for Improving Care for Families in the HUSKY Program

The Governor’s decision to end contract negotiations with the four managed care plans that provided services in the HUSKY Program has created an unexpected and unprecedented opportunity for redesign of the HUSKY Program. In the upcoming months, Medicaid agency staff, policy makers, providers, and family health advocates can come together in an effort to identify what aspects of the program worked and did not work well in improving care for children, parents and pregnant women in the HUSKY Program. A comprehensive review should include examination of the impact of the program on outreach and enrollment, provider participation, access to care, utilization and quality of health services, member services, program oversight and accountability, and the state budget. The findings can be used for thoughtful redesign of the health care financing and delivery system that currently serves over 325,000 Connecticut children and their parents and other caretaker relatives.