Connecticut General Assembly

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

On July 9, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-164 “An Act Concerning Social Workers,” (PA 19-164) which sets forth new restrictions on individuals seeking to hold themselves out as social workers in the State. This law takes effect October 1, 2019.
Continue Reading Connecticut Legislature Places Restrictions on the Use of the Title “Social Worker”

On July 9, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-176 (PA 19-176), “An Act Concerning Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.” Starting on January 1, 2020, this law requires hospitals and other institutions that care for newborn infants to screen such infants for spinal muscular atrophy. As with

On July 1, 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 19-99 “An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Regarding Emergency Medication” (PA 19-99). PA 19-99 went into effect on the same date.

Existing law provides for certain court procedures a facility must follow in order to provide treatment without informed consent for psychiatric disabilities to defendant patients in the custody of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. A facility includes any inpatient or outpatient hospital, clinic or other facility for the diagnosis, observation or treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities. For patients incapable of giving informed consent, the facility can petition the probate court for the appointment of a conservator with limited powers, who would have the specific authority to give or withhold informed consent to the administration of medication on behalf of the patient. For patients capable but unwilling to give informed consent, the facility can petition the probate court to authorize the treatment.
Continue Reading Connecticut Legislature Permits Facilities to Administer Emergency Medication to Defendants Without Consent in Limited Circumstances