SB 1502 sec 164 (the "Budget Bill") enacted legislation establishing a new state agency: the Office of Health Strategy (OHS). The Office of Health Strategy will include employees who are currently employed by the Department of Public Health and the entirety of employees assigned to the Office of Health Care Access. The Department of Public Health will perform administrative services for the newly formed Office of Health Strategy but the OHS will be its own agency.. Employees of the Office of Healthcare Access will be assigned to OHS and will remain in their current office location and maintain the same reporting relationships, with the addition of an OHS Executive Director. The initial transition is expected to take place effective February 2, 2018, and finalized shortly thereafter.
The actual language from the bill is as follows:
Sec. 164. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2018) (a) There is established an Office of Health Strategy, which shall be within the Department of Public Health for administrative purposes only. The department head of said office shall be the executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, of the general statutes, with the powers and duties therein prescribed.
(b) On or before July 1, 2018, the Office of Health Strategy shall be responsible for the following:(1) Developing and implementing a comprehensive and cohesive health care vision for the state, including, but not limited to, a coordinated state health care cost containment strategy;
(2) Directing and overseeing (A) the all-payers claims database program established pursuant to section 113 of this act, and (B) the State Innovation Model Initiative and related successor initiatives;
(3) Coordinating the state's health information technology initiatives;
(4) Directing and overseeing the Office of Health Care Access and all of its duties and responsibilities as set forth in chapter 368z of the general statutes; and
(5) Convening forums and meetings with state government and external stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, to discuss health care issues designed to develop effective health care cost and quality strategies.(c) The Office of Health Strategy shall constitute a successor, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39 of the general statutes, to the functions, powers and duties of the following:
(1) The Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, established pursuant to section 38a-1081 of the general statutes, relating to the administration of the all-payer claims database pursuant to section 113 of this act; and
(2) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, relating to the (A) development of a chronic disease plan pursuant to section 19a-6q of the general statutes, (B) housing, chairing and staffing of the Health Care Cabinet pursuant to section 19a-725 of the general statutes, and (C) (i) appointment of the health information technology officer pursuant to section 19a-755 of the general statutes, and (ii) oversight of the duties of such health information technology officer as set forth in sections 17b-59, 17b-59a and 17b-59f of the general statutes.(d) Any order or regulation of the entities listed in subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of this section that is in force on July 1, 2018, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation until amended, repealed or superseded pursuant to law.