OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-5291
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMPROVED
OPIOID MONITORING.
Primary Analyst: SB 3/25/24
Contributing Analyst(s): ES
Reviewer: JS
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 25 $ FY 26 $
UConn Health Ctr. GF - Cost Minimal Minimal
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill, which requires hospitals that treat a patient for a nonfatal
opioid drug overdose to administer a toxicology screening in certain
circumstances, could result in minimal costs to the University of
Connecticut Health Center (UHC), with half-year costs beginning in FY
25, as the effective date of the provision is January 1, 2025.
It is estimated that there are approximately 6,600 nonfatal overdose
visits to emergency departments across Connecticut, annually.
1
The per
unit cost of a toxicology screening at UHC is approximately $12.26. It is
unknown how many nonfatal overdoses UHC would screen annually,
and what portion of screenings would be covered by insurance, but the
additional costs to UHC will be minimal. Each 1,000 eligible screenings
could result in a cost of up to $12,260.
1
Connecticut Department of Public Health, https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DPH/Injury-and-Violence-Prevention/Opioid-
Overdose-Data/CT_DOSE-Syndromic-Annual-Report-2022.pdf
2024HB-05291-R000105-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue through August 31, 2028 (a few months into FY 29), subject to
the number of toxicology screenings and the cost of each screening.
Hospitals are required to complete screenings through August 31, 2028,
so there will not be costs incurred past that date.