Governor Rell Marks Passage of Bill Adding Cities & Towns to State's Drug Purchasing Program

Press Release

Governor M. Jodi Rell today marked passage of a new law that allows non-state public employers such as cities and towns to take advantage of the state's bulk prescription drug purchasing program, an effort to help local governments combat rising health care costs and reduce the expenses borne by property taxpayers.

"Like so many employers, Connecticut's municipalities -- along with quasi-public agencies, local boards of education, libraries and other agencies -- are fighting a constant battle against to hold down the costs of health care," Governor Rell said during a bill-signing ceremony in her office today. "These costs get passed on to taxpayers, so managing them is a critical issue."

Under the legislation -- House Bill 5295, An Act Concerning the Purchasing of Prescription Drugs by Nonstate Public Employers -- municipalities and other eligible agencies can buy prescription drugs for their employees, employee families and retirees using the state's bulk purchasing power.

These agencies may be eligible to join the drug program established under the contract negotiated between the state and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) -- but only if the Health Care Cost Containment Committee signs off on the agreement. The law also gives the state Comptroller the option of devising a separate purchasing program for non-state employers.

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