Healthcare

passed · Connecticut · House May 2, 2026

HB 5482: AN ACT CONCERNING TWELVE-MONTH COVERAGE FOR CONTRACEPTION AND HORMONE THERAPY.

This bill requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover a twelve-month supply of prescription contraception and hormone therapy at one time, effective January 1, 2027. It applies to individuals with private insurance and Medicaid enrollees, allowing them to receive up to one year of medication and administration supplies in a single dispensation unless they or their provider request less. The law excludes certain drugs like glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists from hormone therapy coverage and permits health plans to use standard drug management rules, including limiting refills near the end of a plan year if the full supply was already provided.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for contraception and hormone therapy, expanding access to essential healthcare services and protecting patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Women's Health

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in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 5506: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELIGIBILITY OF EMPLOYEES OF TRANSIT DISTRICTS FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE STATE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT.

This bill clarifies that employees of transit districts are classified as municipal employees for the purposes of the State Family and Medical Leave Act. By amending the legal definition of "municipality," the legislation ensures transit district workers are treated the same as other municipal employees regarding eligibility for state family and medical leave benefits. The change takes effect on October 1, 2026, and applies to all transit districts operating within the state. This update aligns transit district employees with existing protections and requirements under the state's family and medical leave framework.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands eligibility for family and medical leave benefits to transit district employees, strengthening access to healthcare-related protections and benefits for municipal workers.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands eligibility for family and medical leave benefits to transit district employees, strengthening worker protections and benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 5474: AN ACT CONCERNING OVERSIGHT OF MEDICAL CARE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE INCARCERATED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.

This bill establishes new oversight requirements for medical care provided to incarcerated individuals at the Department of Correction, directly affecting prisoners and correctional facilities. It mandates that the Commissioner of Correction develop a health care plan by October 1, 2025, ensuring sufficient mental health therapists at each institution and requiring specific protocols for psychotropic medication prescriptions, including thorough medical history reviews and benefit-risk assessments. The legislation also requires annual physical examinations, initial health assessments within 14 days of intake, and appropriate placement in medical or mental health housing units when recommended by medical professionals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes oversight for medical care of incarcerated individuals, protecting civil rights and improving correctional facility conditions through mandated health care plans and medication protocols.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes oversight requirements, mandates health care plans, ensures mental health therapists, and requires protocols for psychotropic medications, strengthening incarcerated individuals' healthcare access and quality.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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signed · Connecticut · House May 19, 2026

HB 5447: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRANSFORMING CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.

This bill directs state officials to establish working groups focused on eating disorder treatment and food insecurity, requiring them to compile public resources and develop best practice guidelines by July 2026. It also mandates a feasibility study for a new inpatient psychiatric facility serving children and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, with results due by January 2027. Additionally, the bill increases Temporary Family Assistance benefits to at least 55% of the federal poverty level and requires annual cost-of-living adjustments tied to consumer price index increases when funding lapses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes working groups for eating disorder treatment, develops best practice guidelines, mandates feasibility study for new psychiatric facility, and increases Temporary Family Assistance benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 429: AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION.

This bill updates how the state calculates reimbursement for ambulance services under Medicaid, specifically changing how out-of-district mileage is measured. Starting July 1, 2026, the Department of Social Services will base payments on the actual distance traveled with the patient onboard, rounded to the nearest tenth of a mile, rather than using fixed town-to-town rates. Ambulance providers can use GPS data, navigation systems, or mapping programs to document mileage and must keep trip reports with patient details and pickup and destination addresses in their records. The change aims to ensure reimbursement reflects actual service costs while maintaining flexibility for providers to choose verification methods.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services by using actual mileage, improving provider compensation and potentially enhancing emergency medical transport access.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 433: AN ACT EXPANDING LONG-TERM CARE OPTIONS.

This bill directs the Connecticut Department of Social Services to rebalance its long-term care strategy to increase home and community-based care options for Medicaid recipients and low-income individuals who currently do not qualify for Medicaid. The law requires the department to develop a strategic plan that considers regional aging trends, service gaps, and provider quality, with a specific goal of expanding access to home care for people earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for the Long-Term Care Planning Committee to study methods for expanding these care options and submit a report by December 2026 that includes estimated cost savings from reducing reliance on skilled nursing facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands long-term care options and increases access to home care for Medicaid recipients and low-income individuals, strengthening healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 5091: AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND HUSKY C ASSET LIMITS.

HB 5091 changes eligibility for Connecticut's medical assistance program by requiring undocumented immigrants to have lived in the state for at least one year and applied for legal immigration status to qualify. It also increases asset limits for the HUSKY C Medicaid program to $5,000 for single individuals and $7,500 for married couples. The bill directly affects undocumented residents seeking medical aid and low-income households enrolled in HUSKY C. These changes aim to target state medical assistance toward residents meeting specific residency and immigration status criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases asset limits for HUSKY C Medicaid, expanding coverage for low-income households. Restriction on undocumented immigrants is a minor, separate provision; overall expansion advances healthcare access.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires undocumented immigrants to reside 1 year and apply for legal status for medical aid, restricting access to services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5040: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

HB 5040 updates cash assistance rates for the state's general assistance program, setting monthly payments at $269 for unemployable individuals, $200 for transitional people paying shelter costs, and $50 for others not paying shelter. It creates a new "working persons with disabilities" Medicaid program allowing disabled workers earning under $85,000 annually to qualify for medical assistance, with asset limits of $20,000 for singles and $30,000 for couples, plus specific income disregards. The bill also modifies drug formulary rules to require prior authorization for nonpreferred drugs (except mental health drugs filled recently) and excludes antiretroviral drugs from preferred lists. These changes directly affect low-income residents, disabled workers seeking Medicaid, and Medicaid patients using prescription drugs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new Medicaid funding and adjusts assistance rates within state budget, directing resources to health/social services per Governor's recommendations.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new Medicaid program for disabled workers under $85k income, expanding healthcare access and coverage through asset limits and income disregards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Prescription Drugs Tags People with Disabilities

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failed · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5299: AN ACT ALLOWING TRAINED ASSISTED LIVING AIDES TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION TO ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS.

HB 5299 allows trained assisted living aides employed by an assisted living agency to administer medication to residents, directly affecting residents who receive care in these facilities. The bill permits registered nurses (RNs) to delegate medication administration to these trained aides, provided the aides have completed specific training. Agencies must indemnify RNs against liability for non-wanton negligence during this delegated task, and the Public Health Commissioner will create implementing regulations. This changes current practice by expanding aides' responsibilities under RN supervision, without altering prescription authority.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows trained aides to administer medication under RN delegation, improving access to care in assisted living facilities without requiring constant RN presence.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Public Health

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signed · Connecticut · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 196: AN ACT CONCERNING HOSPITAL SALE-LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS AND ATTESTATIONS CONCERNING LACK OF A CONTROLLING INTEREST OF A HOSPITAL OR OF INTERFERENCE WITH THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT AND CLINICAL DECISIONS OF CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OF A HOSPITAL BY A PRIVATE EQUITY ENTITY.

This bill restricts most Connecticut hospitals from selling and leasing back their main campus property (a "sale-leaseback") after October 1, 2026, except for hospitals in financial distress that obtain board approval and notify the state health commissioner and attorney general. It requires all hospitals to annually submit a written attestation confirming no private equity firm controls the hospital or interferes with clinical decisions, such as patient care timing, discharge policies, or medical diagnoses. The attestation must cover specific areas like emergency department triage, patient discharge decisions, and medical record entries. Hospitals must use a standard form developed by the state health commissioner to comply.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts private equity control over hospitals to protect clinical decision-making and patient care, aligning with healthcare protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals