Gov.-Elect Dan Malloy on Tuesday tapped a senior level executive from the state’s chief hospital lobbying group as his special advisor on health care reform and the deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Health.
In her new role, Jeannette DeJesús, who is currently vice president of the Connecticut Hospital Association, will be charged with making sense of the federal healthcare reform legislation and finding ways to implement it in Connecticut in order to increase affordability and access to care, Malloy said.
“We won’t be able to create new jobs or keep the ones we have until we address the rising cost of healthcare in a serious way,” said Malloy.
During her time with the Connecticut Hospital Association, DeJesús has led advocacy efforts and helped to develop strategies for implementing national healthcare reform, particularly with regard to special populations.
Prior to her time there, DeJesús spent eight years as the president and CEO of the Hispanic Health Council.
Malloy seeks greater voice for nonprofits
In a separate appointment Tuesday, Malloy also appointed State Rep. Deborah Heinrich to a newly-created cabinet-level position within his administration, specifically advocating on behalf of nonprofit providers.
Heinrich’s role will require her to resign her member-elect status and not be sworn in to a new term in the State House.
Malloy first spoke about this new position in the fall of 2009, urging the legislature to once again take up the Nonprofit Human Services Cabinet Bill. The bill was passed unanimously by the House and Senate, but vetoed by the Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Heinrich, a Democrat who represents Madison and Guilford, will serve as the head of the Community Nonprofit Human Services Cabinet, a position that will function at the same level as commissioner of a state agency.
“I have been clear that getting our fiscal house in order will require a shared sacrifice on all our parts, but I’ve been equally clear that I will not cut the safety net,” Malloy said.
