Health Care Organizations Recognize State Senator Heather Somers as Legislative Champion

GROTON — State Senator Heather Somers of Groton announced Saturday she has been recognized as a “Legislative Champion” by the Radiological Society of Connecticut and the Connecticut Society for Respiratory Care.

“In Hartford, I’m using my experience in business and health care to combat the pandemic and fight for more accessible and affordable health care for all Connecticut residents,” Somers said. “I’m proud to be recognized by these organizations for helping to expand breast cancer screenings and access to skilled respiratory therapists.”

In a letter informing Somers of the Radiological Society of Connecticut recognition, President Michael Crain, MD., said: “Senator Heather Somers has been a strong and tenacious advocate for programs that provide assistance to women who need help with their annual mammograms. We appreciate her work in this regard and believe that lives will be saved as more women have the important imaging test.”

In a letter informing Somers of the Connecticut Society for Respiratory Care’s recognition, President Margaret Guerrera MS RRT, said: “Sen. Somers is a leader in working to see that state healthcare laws are patient friendly. Without Sen. Somers’s decisive action to support this important endeavor and update to our scope of practice, patients might have encountered barriers to the knowledge and technical expertise of highly skilled respiratory therapists.”

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Senator Somers Named “Legislator of the Year” by Emergency Physicians

GROTON — State Sen. Heather Somers of Groton was honored by the Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians Wednesday as the organization’s 2018 Legislator of the Year.

“As co-chair of the Senate Public Health Committee, I’ve fought to improve the quality, availability and affordability of health care,” Somers said. “By supporting common sense policies, working diligently to improve our health care system and reaching across the aisle, we can continue to make Connecticut a better place for both providers and patients.”

The organization cited Somers’ efforts to pass SB-378 (Reimbursement of High Deductible Health Plans) during the 2018 session and commitment to fighting for more equitable reimbursement practices for health care providers.

“Putting the onus of collecting outstanding payments from patients on physicians increases overhead costs, puts a negative strain on the doctor-patient relationship and can cause patients to avoid necessary care from their physician,” Somers said. “That is why I’ll continue to fight for an equitable reimbursement process that protects physicians and patient care.”

THE CCEP announced its recognition of Senator Somers at a meeting of the organization on Wednesday, October 24 at the Sheraton Hartford South in Rocky Hill.

In addition to the award Somers accepted Wednesday, Somers has been recognized by eight organizations with awards for her work in the 2018 session as Co-Chair of the Public Health Committee.

  • The Arc New London County – Legislative Service Award
    • Presented: June 19, 2018
    • For efforts on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • CT Children’s Medical Center-Recognition Award
    • Presented: September 12, 2018
    • For tireless advocacy on behalf of their most vulnerable patients and helping to facilitate their ECMO team.
  • Radiological Society – Patient Hero Award
    • Presented: September 13, 2018
    • For advocacy for patients and legislation that will encourage women to have life saving breast cancer screenings.
  • CT State Medical Society – 2018 Legislative Recognition Award
    • Presented: September 27, 2018
    • For tireless efforts on behalf of the physicians of Connecticut and the patients they serve.
  • Keep the Promise Coalition – Legislative Leadership Award
    • Presented: October 9, 2018
    • For protecting the rights of people living with mental health challenges.
  • CT Association of Optometrists – Certificate of Recognition
    • Presented: October 2018
    • For outstanding leadership in promoting quality and safe vision care services for patients.
  • Hartford County Medical Association – Legislative Citation
    • Presented: October 10, 2018
    • For advocacy for Hartford County physicians and their patients.
  • CT College of Emergency Physicians – 2018 Legislator of the Year Award
    • Presented: October 24, 2018
    • For Senator Somers’ work on SB-378.

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Senator Somers Receives State Medical Society Award for Leadership in “Promoting the Practice of Medicine”

GROTON — State Sen. Heather Somers of Groton accepted the “2018 Legislative Recognition Award” from the Connecticut State Medical Society at an event in North Haven Thursday, it is Somers’ eighth award this year from various health care and advocacy organizations related to her leadership on the issue of health care as Co-Chair of the Public Health Committee.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition for the work we’ve done to improve the quality, availability and cost of health care for Connecticut families,” Somers said. “Whether working to expand telemedicine opportunities, fighting the scourge of opioids, ensuring we are attracting physicians to work here in Connecticut, bringing care to those most in need or holding state agencies who are failing those in their care accountable, I am immensely proud of the results I’ve been able to achieve.”

The award from the Connecticut State Medical Society recognized Somers for “dedication to preserving and promoting the practice of medicine in addition to your efforts to identify and address existing barriers currently hampering the recruitment and retention of physicians in Connecticut.”

In addition to the award Somers accepted Thursday, the freshman legislator from Groton has been recognized by eight different organizations with awards for her work this year as Co-Chair of the Public Health Committee.

  • The Arc New London County – Legislative Service Award
    • Presented: June 19, 2018
    • For efforts on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • CT Children’s Medical Center-Recognition Award
    • Presented: September 12, 2018
    • For tireless advocacy on behalf of their most vulnerable patients and helping to facilitate their ECMO team.
  • Radiological Society – Patient Hero Award
    • Presented: September 13, 2018
    • For advocacy for patients and legislation that will encourage women to have life saving breast cancer screenings.
  • CT State Medical Society – 2018 Legislative Recognition Award
    • Presented: September 27, 2018
    • For tireless efforts on behalf of the physicians of Connecticut and the patients they serve.
  • Keep the Promise Coalition – Legislative Leadership Award
    • To Be Presented: October 9, 2018
    • For protecting the rights of people living with mental health challenges.
  • CT Association of Optometrists – Certificate of Recognition
    • To Be Presented: October 2018
    • For outstanding leadership in promoting quality and safe vision care services for patients.
  • Hartford County Medical Association – Legislative Citation
    • To Be Presented: October 10, 2018
    • For advocacy for Hartford County physicians and their patients.
  • CT College of Emergency Physicians – 2018 Legislator of the Year Award
    • To Be Presented: October 24, 2018
    • For Senator Somers’ work on SB-378.

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