Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06980 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 4742 1 of 11
	3	+	LCO No. 4742 1 of 11
4	4
5	5		General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6980
6	6		January Session, 2025
7	7		LCO No. 4742
8	8
9	9
10	10		Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
11	11
12	12
13	13		Introduced by:
14	14		(PH)
	15	+
15	16
16	17
17	18
18	19		AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
19	20		COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE REGARDING TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO
20	21		PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTES.
21	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
22	23		Assembly convened:
23	24
24	25		Section 1. Subsection (f) of section 17a-210 of the general statutes is 1
25	26		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
26	27		1, 2025): 3
27	28		(f) Any person with intellectual disability, or the legal representative 4
28	29		of such person, may object to (1) a proposed approval by the department 5
29	30		of a program for such person that includes the use of behavior-6
30	31		modifying medications or aversive procedures, or (2) a proposed 7
31	32		determination of the department that community placement is 8
32	33		inappropriate for such person placed under the direction of the 9
33	34		commissioner. The department shall provide written notice of any such 10
34	35		proposed approval or determination to the person, or to the legal 11
35	36		representative of such person, not less than ten days prior to making 12
36	37		such approval or determination. In the event of an objection to such 13
37		-	proposed approval or determination, the commissioner shall conduct a 14 Raised Bill No. 6980
	38	+	proposed approval or determination, the commissioner shall conduct a 14
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
38	40
39	41
40		-	LCO 4742 2 of 11
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 4742 2 of 11
41	44
42	45		hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, provided no 15
43	46		such hearing shall be required if the commissioner withdraws such 16
44	47		proposed approval or determination. 17
45	48		Sec. 2. Subsection (f) of section 17a-227 of the general statutes is 18
46	49		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 19
47	50		1, 2025): 20
48	51		(f) Any person, firm or corporation who operates any facility contrary 21
49	52		to the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one 22
50	53		thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Any 23
51	54		person, firm or corporation who operates any facility contrary to the 24
52	55		regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be 25
53	56		fined not more than one thousand dollars. 26
54	57		Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 17b-59a of the general statutes is 27
55	58		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 28
56	59		1, 2025): 29
57	60		(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the 30
58	61		Commissioner of Health Strategy, shall (1) develop, throughout the 31
59	62		Departments of Developmental Services, Public Health, Correction, 32
60	63		Children and Families, Veterans Affairs and Mental Health and 33
61	64		Addiction Services, uniform management information, uniform 34
62	65		statistical information, uniform terminology for similar facilities [,] and 35
63	66		uniform electronic health information technology standards, (2) plan for 36
64	67		increased participation of the private sector in the delivery of human 37
65	68		services, and (3) provide direction and coordination to federally funded 38
66	69		programs in the human services agencies and recommend uniform 39
67	70		system improvements and reallocation of physical resources and 40
68	71		designation of a single responsibility across human services agencies 41
69	72		lines to facilitate shared services and eliminate duplication. 42
70	73		Sec. 4. Subsection (f) of section 17b-59e of the general statutes is 43
71	74		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 44
72		-	1, 2025): 45 Raised Bill No. 6980
	75	+	1, 2025): 45
	76	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
73	77
74	78
75		-	LCO 4742 3 of 11
	79	+
	80	+	LCO No. 4742 3 of 11
76	81
77	82		(f) The Commissioner of Health Strategy shall adopt regulations in 46
78	83		accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 that set forth requirements 47
79	84		necessary to implement the provisions of this section. The commissioner 48
80	85		may implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the 49
81	86		provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such policies 50
82	87		and procedures in regulation form, provided the commissioner holds a 51
83	88		public hearing at least thirty days prior to implementing such policies 52
84	89		and procedures and publishes notice of intention to adopt the 53
85	90		regulations on the Office of Health Strategy's Internet web site and the 54
86	91		eRegulations System not later than twenty days after implementing 55
87	92		such policies and procedures. Policies and procedures implemented 56
88	93		pursuant to this subsection shall be valid until the time such regulations 57
89	94		are effective. 58
90	95		Sec. 5. Subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 17b-342 of the 59
91	96		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 60
92	97		thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 61
93	98		(2) To the extent permitted by federal law, the commissioner shall 62
94	99		seek any federal waiver or amend the Medicaid state plan as necessary 63
95	100		to attempt to secure federal reimbursement for the costs of providing 64
96	101		coverage to persons determined to be presumptively eligible for 65
97	102		Medicaid coverage. The provisions of this subsection and any other 66
98	103		provision of this section relating to the establishment of a presumptive 67
99	104		Medicaid eligibility system, including, but not limited to, such 68
100	105		provisions located in subsections (c), (g) and (m) of this section, shall not 69
101	106		be effective until the commissioner secures such federal reimbursement 70
102	107		through a federal waiver or Medicaid state plan amendment. 71
103	108		Sec. 6. Subdivision (3) of subsection (i) of section 17b-342 of the 72
104	109		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 73
105	110		thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 74
106	111		(3) Any person who resides in affordable housing under the assisted 75
107	112		living demonstration project established pursuant to section 17b-347e, 76
108		-	~~and whose income is at or below two hundred per cent of the federal 77~~ Raised Bill No. 6980
	113	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
109	114
110	115
111		-	LCO 4742 4 of 11
112	116
	117	+	LCO No. 4742 4 of 11
	118	+
	119	+	and whose income is at or below two hundred per cent of the federal 77
113	120		poverty level, shall not be required to contribute to the cost of care. Any 78
114	121		person who resides in affordable housing under the assisted living 79
115	122		demonstration project established pursuant to section 17b-347e, and 80
116	123		whose income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty 81
117	124		level, shall contribute to the applied income amount determined in 82
118	125		accordance with the methodology established by the Department of 83
119	126		Social Services for recipients of medical assistance. Any person whose 84
120	127		income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level and 85
121	128		who does not contribute to the cost of care in accordance with this 86
122	129		subdivision shall be ineligible to receive services under this subsection. 87
123	130		Notwithstanding any provision of sections 17b-60 and 17b-61, the 88
124	131		department shall not be required to provide an administrative hearing 89
125	132		to a person found ineligible for services under this subsection because 90
126	133		of a failure to contribute to the cost of care. 91
127	134		Sec. 7. Subsection (g) of section 17b-352 of the general statutes is 92
128	135		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 93
129	136		1, 2025): 94
130	137		(g) The Commissioner of Social Services shall not approve any 95
131	138		requests for beds in residential facilities for persons with intellectual 96
132	139		disability which are licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 and are 97
133	140		certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid [Program] program as 98
134	141		intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, 99
135	142		except those beds necessary to implement the residential placement 100
136	143		goals of the Department of Developmental Services which are within 101
137	144		available appropriations. 102
138	145		Sec. 8. Subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 17b-354 of the 103
139	146		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 104
140	147		thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 105
141	148		(e) (1) A continuing care facility, as described in section 17b-520, (A) 106
142	149		shall arrange for a medical assessment to be conducted by an 107
143		-	independent physician or an access agency approved by the Office of 108
144		-	Policy and Management and the Department of Social Services as 109 Raised Bill No. 6980
	150	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
145	151
146	152
147		-	LCO 4742 5 of 11
148	153
	154	+	LCO No. 4742 5 of 11
	155	+
	156	+	independent physician or an access agency approved by the Office of 108
	157	+	Policy and Management and the Department of Social Services as 109
149	158		meeting the requirements for such agency as defined by regulations 110
150	159		adopted pursuant to subsection (m) of section 17b-342, prior to the 111
151	160		admission of any resident to the nursing facility and shall document 112
152	161		such assessment in the resident's medical file, and (B) may transfer or 113
153	162		discharge a resident who has intentionally transferred assets in a sum 114
154	163		which will render the resident unable to pay the cost of nursing facility 115
155	164		care in accordance with the contract between the resident and the 116
156	165		facility. 117
157	166		Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 19a-37 of the general statutes is 118
158	167		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 119
159	168		1, 2025): 120
160	169		(d) Prior to the sale, exchange, purchase, transfer or rental of real 121
161	170		property on which a private or semipublic well is located, the owner 122
162	171		shall provide the buyer or tenant notice that educational material 123
163	172		concerning private well testing is available on the Department of Public 124
164	173		Health Internet web site. If the prospective buyer or tenant has hired a 125
165	174		real estate licensee to facilitate the property transaction, such real estate 126
166	175		licensee, or, if the prospective buyer or tenant has not hired a real estate 127
167	176		licensee, the owner, landlord or closing attorney shall provide to the 128
168	177		buyer or tenant an electronic or hard copy of educational material 129
169	178		prepared by the Department of Public Health that recommends testing 130
170	179		for the contaminants listed in subsection (c) of this section and any other 131
171	180		recommendation concerning well testing that the Department of Public 132
172	181		Health deems necessary. Failure to provide such notice or educational 133
173	182		material shall not invalidate any sale, exchange, purchase, transfer or 134
174	183		rental of real property. If the seller or landlord provides such notice or 135
175	184		educational material in writing, the seller or landlord and any real estate 136
176	185		licensee shall be deemed to have fully satisfied any duty to notify the 137
177	186		buyer or tenant. 138
178	187		Sec. 10. Subsection (c) of section 19a-563h of the general statutes is 139
179		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 140
180		-	1, 2025): 141 Raised Bill No. 6980
	188	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
181	189
182	190
183		-	LCO 4742 6 of 11
184	191
	192	+	LCO No. 4742 6 of 11
	193	+
	194	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 140
	195	+	1, 2025): 141
185	196		(c) The [commissioner] Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt 142
186	197		regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 that set forth 143
187	198		nursing home staffing level requirements to implement the provisions 144
188	199		of this section. The [Commissioner of Public Health] commissioner may 145
189	200		implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the 146
190	201		provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such policies 147
191	202		and procedures as regulations, provided notice of intent to adopt 148
192	203		regulations is published on the eRegulations System not later than 149
193	204		twenty days after the date of implementation. Policies and procedures 150
194	205		implemented pursuant to this section shall be valid until the time final 151
195	206		regulations are adopted. 152
196	207		Sec. 11. Subsection (e) of section 19a-564 of the general statutes is 153
197	208		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 154
198	209		1, 2025): 155
199	210		(e) An assisted living services agency shall: (1) Ensure that all services 156
200	211		being provided on an individual basis to clients are fully understood 157
201	212		and agreed upon between either the client or the client's representative; 158
202	213		(2) ensure that the client or the client's representative [are] is made 159
203	214		aware of the cost of any such services; (3) disclose fee increases to a 160
204	215		resident or a resident's representative not later than sixty days prior to 161
205	216		such fees taking effect; and (4) provide, upon request, to a resident and 162
206	217		a resident's representative the history of fee increases over the past three 163
207	218		calendar years. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit an 164
208	219		assisted living services agency from immediately adjusting fees to the 165
209	220		extent such adjustments are directly related to a change in the level of 166
210	221		care or services necessary to meet individual resident safety needs at the 167
211	222		time of a scheduled resident care meeting or if a resident's change of 168
212	223		condition requires a change in services. 169
213	224		Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 19a-754e of the general statutes is 170
	225	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
	226	+
	227	+
	228	+
	229	+	LCO No. 4742 7 of 11
	230	+
214	231		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 171
215	232		1, 2025): 172
216		-	(a) The Commissioner of Health Strategy, in consultation with the 173 Raised Bill No. 6980
217		-
218		-
219		-	LCO 4742 7 of 11
220		-
	233	+	(a) The Commissioner of Health Strategy, in consultation with the 173
221	234		Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Social Services, the 174
222	235		Connecticut Insurance Department and the Connecticut Health 175
223	236		Insurance Exchange established pursuant to section 38a-1081, shall 176
224	237		study the feasibility of offering health care coverage for (1) income-177
225	238		eligible children ages nine to eighteen, inclusive, regardless of 178
226	239		immigration status, who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid, the 179
227	240		Children's Health Insurance Program, or an offer of affordable 180
228	241		[employer sponsored] employer-sponsored insurance as defined in the 181
229	242		Affordable Care Act, as an employee or a dependent of an employee, 182
230	243		and (2) adults with household income not exceeding two hundred per 183
231	244		cent of the federal poverty level who do not otherwise qualify for 184
232	245		medical assistance, an offer of affordable [,] employer-sponsored 185
233	246		insurance as defined in the Affordable Care Act, as an employee or a 186
234	247		dependent of an employee, or health care coverage through the 187
235	248		Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange due to household income. 188
236	249		Sec. 13. Subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of 189
237	250		section 19a-754g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 190
238	251		substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 191
239	252		(C) (i) The commissioner shall hold at least one informational public 192
240	253		hearing prior to adopting the health care cost growth benchmarks and 193
241	254		primary care spending targets for each succeeding five-year period 194
242	255		described in this subdivision. The commissioner may hold 195
243	256		informational public hearings concerning any annual health care cost 196
244	257		growth benchmark and primary care spending target set pursuant to 197
245	258		subsection (a) of this section or subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this 198
246	259		section. Such informational public hearings shall be held at a time and 199
247	260		place designated by the commissioner in a notice prominently posted 200
248	261		by the commissioner on the office's Internet web site and in a form and 201
249	262		manner prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner shall make 202
	263	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
	264	+
	265	+
	266	+
	267	+	LCO No. 4742 8 of 11
	268	+
250	269		available on the office's Internet web site a summary of any such 203
251	270		informational public hearing and include the commissioner's 204
252	271		recommendations, if any, to modify or not to modify any such annual 205
253		-	benchmark or target. 206 Raised Bill No. 6980
254		-
255		-
256		-	LCO 4742 8 of 11
257		-
	272	+	benchmark or target. 206
258	273		(ii) If the commissioner determines, after any informational public 207
259	274		hearing held pursuant to this subparagraph, that a modification to any 208
260	275		health care cost growth benchmark or annual primary care spending 209
261	276		target is, in the commissioner's discretion, reasonably warranted, the 210
262	277		commissioner may modify such benchmark or target. 211
263	278		(iii) The commissioner shall annually (I) review the current and 212
264	279		projected rate of inflation, and (II) include on the office's Internet web 213
265	280		site the commissioner's findings of such review, including the reasons 214
266	281		for making or not making a modification to any applicable health care 215
267	282		cost growth benchmark. If the commissioner determines that the rate of 216
268	283		inflation requires modification of any health care cost growth 217
269	284		benchmark adopted under this section, the commissioner may modify 218
270	285		such benchmark. In such event, the commissioner shall not be required 219
271	286		to hold an informational public hearing concerning such modified 220
272	287		health care cost growth benchmark. 221
273	288		Sec. 14. Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 19a-906 of the 222
274	289		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 223
275	290		thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 224
276	291		(2) "Facility fee" has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-225
277	292		508c. 226
278	293		Sec. 15. Subsection (f) of section 19a-906 of the general statutes is 227
279	294		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 228
280	295		1, 2025): 229
281	296		(f) The provision of telehealth services and health records maintained 230
282	297		and disclosed as part of a telehealth interaction shall comply with the 231
283	298		provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 232
	299	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
	300	+
	301	+
	302	+
	303	+	LCO No. 4742 9 of 11
	304	+
284	305		1996, P.L. 104-191, as amended from time to time. 233
285	306		Sec. 16. Subsection (c) of section 20-123b of the general statutes is 234
286	307		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 235
287		-	1, 2025): 236 Raised Bill No. 6980
288		-
289		-
290		-	LCO 4742 9 of 11
291		-
	308	+	1, 2025): 236
292	309		(c) The commissioner may renew such permit annually, provided (1) 237
293	310		application for renewal is received by the commissioner not later than 238
294	311		three months after the date of expiration of such permit, (2) payment of 239
295	312		a renewal fee of two hundred dollars is received with such application, 240
296	313		and (3) an on-site evaluation of the dentist's facility has been conducted 241
297	314		in the preceding five years in consultation with [The] the Connecticut 242
298	315		Society of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons by an individual or 243
299	316		individuals selected from a list of site evaluators approved by the 244
300	317		commissioner, provided such evaluation is conducted without cost to 245
301	318		the state on a schedule established in regulations adopted pursuant to 246
302	319		this section and the commissioner approves the results of each such 247
303	320		evaluation. 248
304	321		Sec. 17. Subsection (b) of section 20-195ttt of the general statutes is 249
305	322		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 250
306	323		1, 2025): 251
307	324		(b) There is established within the Office of Health Strategy a 252
308	325		Community Health Worker Advisory Body. Said body shall (1) advise 253
309	326		said office and the Department of Public Health on matters relating to 254
310	327		the educational and certification requirements for training programs for 255
311	328		community health workers, including the minimum number of hours 256
312	329		and internship requirements for certification of community health 257
313	330		workers, (2) conduct a continuous review of such educational and 258
314	331		certification programs, and (3) provide the department with a list of 259
315	332		approved educational and certification programs for community health 260
316	333		workers. [;] 261
317	334		Sec. 18. Subdivision (11) of section 20-207 of the general statutes is 262
318	335		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 263
	336	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
	337	+
	338	+
	339	+
	340	+	LCO No. 4742 10 of 11
	341	+
319	342		1, 2025): 264
320	343		(11) "Manager" means an individual who (A) is licensed as an 265
321	344		embalmer or funeral director pursuant to this chapter, and (B) has direct 266
322	345		and personal responsibility for the daily operation and management of 267
323		-	a funeral service business; and 268 Raised Bill No. 6980
324		-
325		-
326		-	LCO 4742 10 of 11
327		-
	346	+	a funeral service business; and 268
328	347		Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 38a-498a of the general statutes is 269
329	348		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 270
330	349		1, 2025): 271
331	350		(a) No individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the 272
332	351		type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (6), (10), (11) and (12) of section 273
333	352		38a-469 [,] and delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state, on 274
334	353		or after January 1, 2025, shall direct or require an enrollee to obtain 275
335	354		approval from the insurer or health care center prior to (1) calling a 9-1-276
336	355		1 local prehospital emergency medical service system whenever such 277
337	356		enrollee is confronted with a life or limb threatening emergency, or (2) 278
338	357		transporting such enrollee when medically necessary by ambulance to 279
339	358		a hospital. For purposes of this section, a "life or limb threatening 280
340	359		emergency" means any event which the enrollee believes threatens such 281
341	360		enrollee's life or limb in such a manner that a need for immediate 282
342	361		medical care is created to prevent death or serious impairment of health. 283
343	362		Sec. 20. Subsection (a) of section 38a-525a of the general statutes is 284
344	363		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 285
345	364		1, 2025): 286
346	365		(a) No group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type 287
347	366		specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (6), (10), (11) and (12) of section 38a-288
348	367		469 [,] and delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state, on or 289
349	368		after January 1, 2025, shall direct or require an enrollee to obtain 290
350	369		approval from the insurer or health care center prior to (1) calling a 9-1-291
351	370		1 local prehospital emergency medical service system whenever such 292
352	371		enrollee is confronted with a life or limb threatening emergency, or (2) 293
353	372		transporting such enrollee when medically necessary by ambulance to 294
	373	+	Raised Bill No. 6980
	374	+
	375	+
	376	+
	377	+	LCO No. 4742 11 of 11
	378	+
354	379		a hospital. For purposes of this section, a "life or limb threatening 295
355	380		emergency" means any event which the enrollee believes threatens such 296
356	381		enrollee's life or limb in such a manner that a need for immediate 297
357	382		medical care is created to prevent death or serious impairment of health. 298
358	383		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
359	384		sections:
360		-	Raised Bill No. 6980
361		-
362		-
363		-	LCO 4742 11 of 11
364	385
365	386		Section 1 October 1, 2025 17a-210(f)
366	387		Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 17a-227(f)
367	388		Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 17b-59a(b)
368	389		Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 17b-59e(f)
369	390		Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 17b-342(e)(2)
370	391		Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 17b-342(i)(3)
371	392		Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 17b-352(g)
372	393		Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 17b-354(e)(1)
373	394		Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 19a-37(d)
374	395		Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 19a-563h(c)
375	396		Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 19a-564(e)
376	397		Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 19a-754e(a)
377	398		Sec. 13 October 1, 2025 19a-754g(b)(1)(C)
378	399		Sec. 14 October 1, 2025 19a-906(a)(2)
379	400		Sec. 15 October 1, 2025 19a-906(f)
380	401		Sec. 16 October 1, 2025 20-123b(c)
381	402		Sec. 17 October 1, 2025 20-195ttt(b)
382	403		Sec. 18 October 1, 2025 20-207(11)
383	404		Sec. 19 October 1, 2025 38a-498a(a)
384	405		Sec. 20 October 1, 2025 38a-525a(a)
385	406
386		-	PH Joint Favorable
	407	+	Statement of Purpose:
	408	+	To make minor and technical revisions to the public health statutes.
	409	+
	410	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	411	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	412	+	underlined.]
387	413