Markley seeks support to override veto

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Joe Markley
Joe Markley

HARTFORD — State Sen. Joe Markley (R-16) sent a letter last week to legislative leaders asking for support in overriding the Governor’s veto of House Bill 5375.

House Bill 5375 would have required managed care organizations to report more information on substance abuse treatment to the state Insurance Department, according to a press release issued by Markley. The bill received unanimous support in both the Senate and House of Representatives this year, but was vetoed by Gov. Dannel Malloy on May 29.

“It is imperative that our state improve the availability and accessibility of care for those who suffer from substance abuse. House Bill 5375 is an important step in the improvement process. By giving officials more information about Connecticut’s treatment system, we can move closer to identifying the gaps that prevent individuals from finding the care they need,” said Markley in the press release. “I am saddened to see the Governor’s veto interrupt the bipartisan progress our legislature has made on this issue.”

The legislation would require managed care organizations in Connecticut to report the information to the state including the estimated prevalence of substance use disorders by county among children, young adults and adults covered by insurance, and the median length of a covered treatment provided

“If we want to improve the care offered to those suffering from substance abuse and their families, our legislature must continue to move forward with implementation of the recommendations made by the Program Review and Investigations Committee. We must encourage more transparency so we can identify and close the gaps that severely impact treatment,” Markley said.