Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut

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Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut
Type Nonprofit
Headquarters Middletown, Connecticut, United States
Chair
Laura McCargar
Revenue US$1.47 million (2016)
Expenses US$1.3 million [1] (2016)
Website www.universalhealthct.org

Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut is an independent, nonprofit organization [2] The foundation supports the mission of its parent organization, CHART (Connecticut Health Advancement and Research Trust). As of 2008, the foundation had assets of approximately $30 million. [3]

Contents

History

In 1997, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Comptroller Nancy Wyman and a coalition of advocacy and labor organizations sued the for-profit Anthem Insurance Co. over its merger with the non-profit Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Connecticut. The aim was to recover tax benefits and other concessions that the former Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Connecticut had received. The lawsuit was dropped after Anthem Insurance agreed to a settlement in 1999. As a result, the state established the Connecticut Health Advancement and Research Trust.[ citation needed ]

It is one of about 165 foundations nationwide to be created by conversions of nonprofit health corporations to for-profit entities. As a condition of these conversions, the law requires that the assets of the nonprofit be retained for some public purpose. [3] The foundation received $41 million to carry out the conditions of the settlement. It was charged with working toward system-wide health care reform. [4]

The foundation was incorporated in 2000. It opened its first offices in New Haven, Connecticut. In January 2003, Juan Figueroa, a former Connecticut legislator, [5] became foundation president. In 2004, the foundation changed its name to reflect a final separation from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut. At the time, Figueroa stated that no relationship with Anthem existed. [6]

Since 2004, the foundation has awarded over $7 million in grants to organizations. [7] In 2007, the Hartford Business Journal chose Juan Figueroa as a 2007 "Health Care Hero". [8] Frances G. Padilla was appointed as the foundation president in 2012. [9]

SustiNet

In January 2009, the foundation announced SustiNet, a proposal for a statewide health care plan for Connecticut that would provide residents with their choice of health coverage and care regardless of their employment status, age, or pre-existing conditions. [10]

In the General Assembly's joint committees on March 26, the Public Health Committee voted 22–8 in favor. [11] On May 20, 2009, the House of Representatives voted 107–35 for SustiNet, [12] and on May 30, the Senate voted 23–12. [13] SustiNet was sent to Governor M. Jodi Rell, who vetoed it on July 8. [14] On July 20, the governor's vetoes were overridden by the Connecticut House of Representatives with a vote of 102–40 and then by the Connecticut Senate with a vote of 24–12. [15]

References

  1. ↑ "Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, Inc" (PDF). Foundation Center. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  2. ↑ "Black business group receives $40,000 grant". Waterbury Republican American. May 10, 2005.
  3. 1 2 "Why Not Connecticut". The American Prospect. April 21, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Wyman, Blumenthal Announce $41 Million Settlement of Lawsuits Against Anthem Insurance Co. Inc" (Press release). Connecticut Attorney General’s Office. July 27, 1999. Archived from the original on 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  5. ↑ "Public Lives; Memories of Paradise (Plus a Few Bombs)". The New York Times. May 9, 2000.
  6. ↑ "New Haven, Conn.-based foundation splits from Anthem with Name Change". New Haven Register. July 28, 2004.
  7. ↑ "The Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, Inc., Promoting Health Care Access for All". Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  8. ↑ "Health Care Heroes 2007". Hartford Business Journal. December 10, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Staff & Board :: Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut".
  10. ↑ "Hartford Hears Health Care Proposal". The New York Times. January 16, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Health Plan Advances". Hartford Courant. March 28, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Connecticut House Backs Universal Health Care Coverage". Hartford Courant. May 21, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Senate Approves Two Controversial Healthcare Bills Saturday". Hartford Courant. May 30, 2009.
  14. ↑ Christopher Keating (July 8, 2009). "Rell Vetoes Controversial Pooling and SustiNet Bills". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10.
  15. ↑ Christopher Keating (July 20, 2009). "House and Senate Both Override Rell on Universal Health Bill". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2009-07-24.
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