(Hartford, CT) – Kristin Whitney Daniels rationed insulin when she realized she couldn’t afford her medication and basic expenses like food or rent. “I found it deeply isolating,” she said of the experience. “No one, no matter their disease, no matter their medication, no matter their income, should have to experience this.” Kristin joined the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (OHS) at an informational public hearing on Monday, June 23, 2025 to share her experiences and explore solutions with key stakeholders from across the state.
Kristin Whitney Daniels, Sheri Lee, Associate Vice President of Operations and Human Resources, University of St. Joseph, Dinesh Kapur, MD, Eastern CT Hematology and Oncology, and the Reverend Robyn Anderson, Ministerial Health Fellowship (not pictured) opened the day’s discussions with perspectives of the impact of healthcare costs on consumers and employers.
The hearing featured the results of annual analyses of the state’s Cost Growth, and Quality Benchmarks, as well as Primary Care Spending Targets. The annual Healthcare Benchmark Initiative reports, released earlier this year, showed that while healthcare quality remains steady for the most part, cost growth is leaving consumers behind.
Total statewide healthcare expenditures grew by 7.8% from 2022 to 2023. All commercial and Medicare Advantage payers exceeded the benchmark of 2.9%. Investment in primary care did not meet the primary care spending target of 6.9% for 2023, and showed a decrease to 4.5%, from 4.8% in 2022.
“Healthcare affordability impacts every individual, family, community and employer in Connecticut,” said Amy Porter, acting commissioner. “Having diverse stakeholders come together to discuss the issues with candor and collaboration can inform effective health policy that promotes health and well-being for Connecticut residents.”
Monday’s event featured presentations and panel discussions exploring the impact of healthcare affordability on state residents and employers as well as perspectives from hospitals and insurers. Connecticut’s Healthcare Advocate Kathleen Holt and Rhode Island’s Health Insurance Commissioner, Cory King, joined a distinguished group of experts in the day’s discussions which also focused on prescription drugs as a healthcare spending driver and price variation among hospitals.
Brian Briscombe, a RAND 5.1 analyst, reviewed Connecticut hospital price variation data and national efforts to increase pricing transparency in healthcare. Michael Bailit, Bailit Health, cited recent policy initiatives in Indiana, Oregon and Washington, designed to cap healthcare costs. The sessions, attended by nearly 100 healthcare consumers, policy makers, healthcare providers, advocates, associations and other stakeholders were held both in person and virtually and were also broadcast on the Connecticut-Network.
This year, the hearing also included presentation of proposed Cost Growth and Quality Benchmarks as well as Primary Care Spending Targets for 2026-2030. The proposed cost growth benchmark, 2.8% for each of the next five years is tied to projected Connecticut median household income values over the same period. A highly functioning and affordable healthcare system requires a strong foundation of primary care. Both OHS and the Healthcare Benchmark Initiative Technical Team recommended that the state target 10% of healthcare spending on primary care for each of the next five years.
The proposed benchmark values were proposed earlier this month and are open to public comment. OHS will review all public comment before determining final benchmarks for the next five-year period.
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Presenters and panelists included:
- Loren Adler, Fellow and Associate Director, Center on Health Policy, Brookings Institution
- Rev. Robyn Anderson, Ministerial Health Fellowship
- Timothy Archer, United HealthCare
- Michael Bailit, Bailit Health
- Patricia Blodgett, Principal Healthcare Analyst, OHS
- Brian Briscombe, Senior Quantitative Analyst, RAND 5.1
- James Cardon, MD, Hospital of Central CT
- Ellen Carter, Vice President of Program, Connecticut Health Foundation
- Patrick Charmel, President and CEO, Griffin Hospital
- Mehul Dalal, MD, MSc, Senior Policy Advisory, Connecticut Department of Social Services
- Louis Fiorillo, VP, Provider Network Management – CT. Cigna Healthcare
- Paul Golino, VP of Finance, Stamford Hospital
- Paul Grady, Moving to Value
- Maureen Hensley-Quinn, Senior Director, Coverage, Cost, and Value at the National Academy of State Health Policy, NASHP
- Kathleen Holt, CT Office of the Healthcare Advocate
- Dinesh Kapur, MD, Eastern CT Hematology and Oncology
- Cory King, Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, Rhode Island
- Sheri Lee, Associate Vice President of Operations and Human Resources, University of St. Joseph
- Alexander Reger, Ph.D. Healthcare Benchmarks Initiatives Director, OHS
- Phil Roland, MD, MHA, FACOG, Market Medical Executive – CT. Cigna Healthcare
- Ed Schreiner, Vice President of Network Development, NPSC - Northeast Pharmacy Services Corporation
- Kristen Whitney Daniels
- Josh Wojcik, Director, Health Policy & Benefits Division, Office of the State Comptroller
Representatives from Amgen, Sanofi and Janssen were also invited.