Rep. Klarides-Ditria Votes to Restore Funding for Medicare Savings Program

HARTFORD— State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria joined her colleagues on Tuesday to restore funding to the Medicare Savings Program, which helps over 100,000 seniors and individuals pay for Medicare co-insurance, deductibles and premiums. The MSP plan was approved in the House and Senate by veto-proof majorities.

“I heard from many seniors and individuals with disabilities that depend heavily on the Medicare Savings Program about the importance of restoring the funding for this program,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. “My colleagues and I worked together to find a bipartisan solution to restore the funding this year. Our mounting fiscal crisis continues to deepen, and as we move forward it is vitally important that we address our fiscal challenges by prioritizing state spending and reforming state government.”

Among the methods used to restore program funding is a requirement that Gov. Malloy reduce the number of managers and consultants—a provision included in the adopted budget ignored by the governor. Other components include moving human resources-related functions of some state agencies into the state’s Department of Administrative Services, and requiring the governor to find savings in Executive Branch functions while limiting his ability to cut more than 10 percent from any one program.

The 2018 legislative session—a so-called short session—starts Feb. 7 and will see lawmakers focus primarily on issues tied to the state budget.