State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Greenwich Republican and candidate for governor, outlined a healthcare plan on Thursday at a media briefing outside a Shelton electronics manufacturer, saying it would lower costs and improve quality by increasing competition, removing government red tape and cracking down on fraud.
Fazio proposes healthcare cost plan in Shelton as Democrats fault his record
State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Greenwich Republican and candidate for governor, outlined a healthcare plan on Thursday at a media briefing outside a Shelton electronics manufacturer, saying it would lower costs and improve quality by increasing competition, removing government red tape and cracking down on fraud.
Fazio was joined at the Shelton event by about a half dozen small business owners and political candidates. The source states that both candidates for governor agree healthcare costs for Connecticut residents are too high and rising, and that they disagree on how to address them. A photo caption in the source dates the briefing to Oct. 8, 2026.
Fazio advocated reducing licensing fees for nurses and other healthcare professionals, expanding interstate licensing reciprocity, reforming Connecticut's certificate of need laws that require healthcare providers to get state approval before making major changes, expanding association health plans and strengthening fraud detection and enforcement.
Fazio criticized the state's healthcare record under Ned Lamont, saying: "Connecticut families are paying more for healthcare under Ned Lamont, but what are they getting in return? Higher premiums, rising prescription drug costs and fewer affordable options." He said: "My plan will increase competition, eliminate unnecessary government red tape and give families more choices," and: "Our plan will cut health care costs over 10 percent for many residents and won't rely on tax increases to do it."
Democrats said Fazio's record was of making healthcare worse and more expensive, according to the source. It cited a 2017 essay in which Fazio wrote that President Donald Trump should "eviscerate" the Affordable Care Act; his vote as one of five Senate Republicans against Senate Bill 10 in 2025, a law that instituted limits on health insurers' rate requests; and his position as one of eight senators who opposed the state's emergency response fund established to respond to federal cuts in food and health care assistance programs.
Fazio called the criticisms demonstrably false or misleading and questioned why the party in charge of state government was discussing him rather than its own record. "They're talking about me. If they're doing such a good job they should be talking about themselves," he said, adding: "We are providing a solution that will reduce costs for the long term, that don't require tax increases or more government control." He also said he did not support repeal of the Affordable Care Act, saying: "It's been there; it needs to be improved - all federal programs need to be improved for the better," and: "But it's a federal issue and they're trying to distract from their record, as I've stated, which they actually were elected to address."
At a press conference of his own, Democratic Sen. Matt Lesser of Middletown attributed responsibility to Trump and Congressional Republicans for Senate Bill 1, which he said devastated Medicaid, and for allowing ACA subsidies to expire, which he said increased healthcare costs for many.
- The source does not state how the plan would produce the reduction of over 10 percent in health care costs or over what period.
- The source does not state which office Matt Lesser is seeking, though it states that both candidates for governor agree healthcare costs are too high and identifies Fazio as one of them.
- The source does not include a response from Ned Lamont to Fazio's criticism of healthcare costs under him.
- The source does not include a response from President Donald Trump or Congressional Republicans to Lesser's statement that they are responsible for Senate Bill 1 and for ACA subsidies expiring.
- The source provides no independent estimate of the plan's effect on premiums or of how many residents would receive a reduction of over 10 percent.
Read the original at CT News Junkie