Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut

Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut is an independent, nonprofit organization^[2] The foundation supports the mission of its parent organization, CHART (Connecticut Health Advancement and Research Trust). As of 2008, the foundation had assets of approximately $30 million.^[3]

Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut

Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Middletown, Connecticut, United States
Chair	Laura McCargar
Revenue	US$1.47 million (2016)
Expenses	US$1.3 million[1] (2016)
Website	www.universalhealthct.org

History

In 1997, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Comptroller Nancy Wyman and a coalition of advocacy and labor organizations sued the for-profit Anthem Insurance Co. over its merger with the non-profit Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Connecticut. The aim was to recover tax benefits and other concessions that the former Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Connecticut had received. The lawsuit was dropped after Anthem Insurance agreed to a settlement in 1999. As a result, the state established the Connecticut Health Advancement and Research Trust.^{[citation needed]}

It is one of about 165 foundations nationwide to be created by conversions of nonprofit health corporations to for-profit entities. As a condition of these conversions, the law requires that the assets of the nonprofit be retained for some public purpose.^[3] The foundation received $41 million to carry out the conditions of the settlement. It was charged with working toward system-wide health care reform.^[4]

The foundation was incorporated in 2000. It opened its first offices in New Haven, Connecticut. In January 2003, Juan Figueroa, a former Connecticut legislator,^[5] became foundation president. In 2004, the foundation changed its name to reflect a final separation from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut. At the time, Figueroa stated that no relationship with Anthem existed.^[6]

Since 2004, the foundation has awarded over $7 million in grants to organizations.^[7] In 2007, the Hartford Business Journal chose Juan Figueroa as a 2007 "Health Care Hero".^[8] Frances G. Padilla was appointed as the foundation president in 2012.^[9]

SustiNet

In January 2009, the foundation announced SustiNet, a proposal for a statewide health care plan for Connecticut that would provide residents with their choice of health coverage and care regardless of their employment status, age, or pre-existing conditions.^[10]

In the General Assembly's joint committees on March 26, the Public Health Committee voted 22–8 in favor.^[11] On May 20, 2009, the House of Representatives voted 107–35 for SustiNet,^[12] and on May 30, the Senate voted 23–12.^[13] SustiNet was sent to Governor M. Jodi Rell, who vetoed it on July 8.^[14] On July 20, the governor's vetoes were overridden by the Connecticut House of Representatives with a vote of 102–40 and then by the Connecticut Senate with a vote of 24–12.^[15]