How They Voted: Suzio Votes Against Minimum Requirements For Health Care

The 2018 regular session of the State Legislature has come to a close. There were a number of bills that were controversial. This is the sixth of a series of brief reports on how those who represent our city voted in the capitol.  The description of the bill is from a State publication, Major Public Acts.

Previous posts: Gun Safety Measure, Educational Assistance for Undocumented Residents, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, New Clean Energy Program.
------------------------
A new law requires individual and small employer group health insurance policies to cover 10 essential health benefits and prohibits the policies from including annual or lifetime limits on their dollar value. The benefits, which most policies must already cover under the federal Affordable Care Act, include ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn health care, mental health and substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative and habilitative services, laboratory services, preventive and wellness services, and pediatric services. The new law also requires insurance policies to cover contraceptive drugs, devices, and products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including a 12-month supply when prescribed by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse .


The Senate vote was 19 to 17, the House passed the bill 97 to 42 (11 absent).

H.B. 5209: AN ACT CONCERNING LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PREMIUM RATE INCREASES 

• Paul Doyle (Senate District 9)    YES
• Len Suzio (Senate District 13)     NO 

• Joseph Serra (House District 33)    ABSENT
• Matthew Lesser (House District 100)  YES