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HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | FEBRUARY 6, 2022 19 CENTRAL TO EXTRAPOLATING THE POSSIBILITIES MS in Accounting (MSA) • Ideal for working professionals • Flexible, 30 credit, 10 course program • Aligned with CPA academic standards • Curriculum capitalizes on emerging technological trends and analytics • Graduates hired by local, regional, national, and international firms, as well as large public corporations • No GMAT/GRE required in most cases SCHOOL OF BUSINESS The CCSU School of Business is an accredited member of AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. LEARN MORE ccsu.edu/hbj/msa junk plans," said Ruth Canovi, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Connecticut. "Comprehensive coverage is vital to ensure all lung disease patients have access to the medications, treat- ments and specialists they require to live. We have seen that in other states, association health plans are not subject to many of the require- ments established by the Affordable Care Act – require- ments necessary for people living with lung disease like protections against discrimination." Also opposed back in 2021, the wider health insurance industry, as represented by the Connecticut Association of Health Plans. Its concerns centered around the fragmenting effect AHPs could have on the market, potentially removing lower-risk employees from the fully insured market. In 2021, Connecticut Association of Health Plans Executive Director Susan Halpin urged lawmakers to focus instead on lowering under- lying healthcare costs for everyone as the best mechanism for making premiums more affordable. This session, Halpin said she wants to see the bill's final language before weighing in. "We are awaiting the fine details and look forward to working with the proponents to assure that what's put forward for consideration is right for Connecticut," she said in an email. Better stability While the industry is still cautious, many of the businesses that might want to adopt AHPs are strongly in favor. The concept has already attracted backing from groups including the Credit Union League of Connecticut and Connecticut Retail Merchants Association. They're likely to be joined this year by more voices in support, including the CT Realtors association and CT Community Nonprofit Alliance. "We're new to the effort this year," said Gian-Carl Casa, president of the CT Community Nonprofit Alli- ance. "Health insurance costs have been a major concern for nonprofits for some time, and this kind of aggre- gation may give us an opportunity to get some savings." Casa said he hopes association health plans may also supply some better stability for organizations that want to provide coverage for their employees, in contrast to the troubled fully insured marketplace. And for those who worry that the association health plan route is simply a road to provide cheap coverage that avoids the mandates of the fully insured market, Hogan, the insurance broker and advisor, has this thought. "That ship has sailed. Small group employers, especially in Connecticut over the last 10 years, have left the fully insured marketplace," he said. Gian-Carl Casa Susan Halpin Purchase a group subscription for your team or entire organization. Get access to HBJ for your entire team! EMAIL>> CIRCULATION@HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION