Reeves Meets with Wiltonian/Medical Society President About Health Care

State Representative Peggy Reeves, who represents Norwalk and Wilton in the Connecticut General Assembly, met with Wilton resident and Connecticut State Medical Society President Kathleen LaVorgna, M.D., to discuss health system reform in Congress and the challenges of practicing medicine in the state.

"Over 80% of medical practices in the state are small businesses with fewer than four physicians. Yet just a handful of insurance companies in the state control the market and these companies have seen huge increases in profit margins despite the downturn in the economy." said Reeves. "We have seen some insurers increase rates 32% on policies in the past year. At the same time they are reducing payments to doctors and making it more difficult for patients to receive appropriate medical care."

Rep. Reeves and Dr. LaVorgna met at the annual Connecticut State Medical Society meeting for legislators at the capitol. Reeves is sponsoring An Act Concerning Rate Approvals for Individual Health Insurance Policies (SB 194), which would require a public hearing of any proposed rate increases by an insurer.

"Health insurance companies like to blame physicians for what they say are rising costs, but they are the ones with profits in the billions," said Dr. LaVorgna. "It's high time health insurance companies justify the double-digit increases they impose.  "Many patients struggle to get the care they need paid for by their insurer. I don't know any physician who's getting paid more now by a health insurance company than they did in the past."

"Doctors just want to provide the best possible care for their patients. It's important that we at the legislature do everything possible to make sure that nothing stands between doctors and their patients when it comes to making medical decisions," said Reeves. "Insurers must justify their requests for increased premiums and their arbitrary denials of care."