2019 Connecticut Legislative Update

Multiple public acts from Connecticut’s 2019 legislative session go into effect on October 1, 2019. Below is a list of public health legislation effective October 1, with links to our previous posts summarizing the acts:

  • Public Act No. 19-89 “An Act Concerning Nursing Home Staffing Levels” (previous post available here).
  • Public Act No. 19-98

On July 1, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-109 “An Act Concerning The Prevention Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus” (PA 19-109) which increases access to preventative and prophylactic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) interventions for minor patients, and adds two exceptions to the confidentiality requirements for HIV/AIDS treatment of a minor patient. The Act is effective July 1, 2019.
Continue Reading Connecticut Expands Minors’ Confidential Access to Treatment for HIV and AIDS, Adds Reporting Requirement

On June 28, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-76 “An Act Expanding Medicaid Coverage of Telehealth Services” (PA 19-76).  PA 19-76 revises the criteria and process by which the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) determines the telehealth services covered by the Medicaid program. PA 19-76 is effective July 1, 2019.
Continue Reading Connecticut Empowers DSS to Expand Medicaid Coverage of Telehealth Services

On July 9, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act 19-144, “An Act Concerning A Collaborative Relationship Between Physician Assistants And Physicians” (19-144). This legislation revises the statutory definition of a “physician assistant” (PA) under Connecticut law to provide that a PA functions in a “collaborative” relationship with a physician

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed into law Public Act No. 19-98 “An Act Concerning The Scope Of Practice Of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses” (PA 19-98), which generally expands the scope of practice for Connecticut-licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Among other things, PA 19-98 addresses matters related to medical records, emergency treatment, insurance coverage, and workers’ compensation, as further described below. PA 19-98 becomes effective October 1, 2019.
Continue Reading Connecticut Expands Scope of Practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

On July 9, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-118 “An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health’s Recommendations for Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes” (PA 19-118). Certain relevant provisions of PA 19-118 are described below.
Continue Reading Connecticut Legislature Modifies Public Health Statutes

On July 1, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-89 “An Act Concerning Nursing Home Staffing Levels” (PA 19-89). PA 19-89 sets forth new state-level daily nurse staffing level disclosure requirements for nursing home facilities (including nursing homes and rest homes with nursing supervision as set forth in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-521), authorizes the Department of Public Health (DPH) to take disciplinary action against or issue citations to nursing home facilities for non-compliance with nurse staffing requirements, and newly requires nursing home facilities and residential care homes to take remedial actions in the event employees or residents suffer retaliation as a result of filing or reporting any violation of these staffing level disclosure requirements or other state law obligations. PA 19-89 is intended to reflect federal nursing home staffing regulations. PA 19-89 becomes effective October 1, 2019.
Continue Reading Connecticut Codifies Nursing Home Daily Posting Requirements, Adds Requirement for Reinstatement after Retaliation

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed into law Public Act No. 19-117 (PA 19-117), which contains provisions affecting health care providers, including revisions to the hospital provider tax, a prohibition on non-compete agreements for home care workers and an expansion to Connecticut’s current surprise bill law. Highlights of PA 19-117, including the effective dates for each provision, are described below.
Continue Reading Connecticut Enacts Budget that Includes Provisions Affecting Health Care Providers

On July 9, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-191 “An Act Addressing Opioid Use” (PA 19-191). PA 19-191 makes various revisions to Connecticut’s opioid use prevention and treatment statutes, and also creates new legislation pertaining to opioid use prevention and treatment.
Continue Reading Connecticut Legislature Modifies Statutes Relevant to Preventing and Treating Opioid Use Disorder

On July 1, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-113 “An Act Concerning the Use of Automatic External Defibrillators” (PA 19-113). This law takes effect October 1, 2019.
Continue Reading Connecticut Legislature Extends Immunity for Emergency Assistance by Health Care Professionals to Cover Malfunctioning Automatic External Defibrillators