The recommendations will address (1) the phased-in offering of the SustiNet plan to state employees and retirees, HUSKY A and B beneficiaries, people without employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) or with unaffordable ESI, small and large employers, and others; (2) establishing an entity that can contract with insurers and health care providers, set reimbursement rates, develop medical homes for patients, and encourage the use of health information technology; (3) a model benefits package; and (4) public outreach and ways to identify uninsured citizens.

The act also establishes an independent information clearinghouse to inform employers, consumers, and the public about SustiNet and private health care plans and creates task forces to address obesity, tobacco usage, and health care workforce issues.

[5] In February, the 18,500-member Connecticut Association of Realtors announced its support for the SustiNet health care plan.

Fellowship members include Rabbi Stephen Fuchs of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, a co-chairman of the Interfaith Fellowship, and Bilal Ansari, a Muslim chaplain at Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center in Hartford, where much of his counseling involves helping families cope with not just the stress of a relative's illness, but the worries about how they will pay for it.

[8] SustiNet passed its first legislative hurdle Thursday, March 26, receiving an endorsement from the state legislature's Public Health Committee.

[17] With the March 23, 2010 signing of a national health care bill, the SustiNet board had until May 2010 to report to the General Assembly regarding how to implement the federal law in Connecticut.

[19] The Honorable Kevin Lembo, State Comptroller The Honorable Nancy Wyman, Lieutenant Governor Bruce Gould, MD, FACP, Director, Connecticut AHEC Paul Grady, MBA, Principal, Mercer Bonita Grubbs, MPH, MA, executive director, Christian Community Action Norma Gyle, RN, PhD, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Health, State of Connecticut Jeffrey Kramer, PhD, MBA, Associate Professor-in-Residence and Director Programs in Healthcare and Insurance Studies, University of Connecticut School of Business Estela Lopez, PhD, MA Sal Luciano, executive director, Council 4 AFSCME Joseph McDonagh, CLU, ChFC Jamie Mooney, Vice President and CIO, Norwalk Hospital Michael Starkowski, Commissioner, Department of Social Services, State of Connecticut Thomas Sullivan, Commissioner, Department of Insurance, State of Connecticut Christine Vogel, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Care Access, Department of Public Health, State of Connecticut