{"id":1084,"date":"2021-09-13T12:33:18","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T12:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1vbmRhcS5jb20vdW5pdGVkc3RhdGVzL2hlYWx0aGNhcmUvMTExMDU0Mi9jb25uZWN0aWN1dC1wcm92aWRlci1sZWdpc2xhdGl2ZS11cGRhdGXSAQA"},"modified":"2021-09-13T12:33:18","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T12:33:18","slug":"connecticut-provider-legislative-update-food-drugs-healthcare-life-sciences-united-states-mondaq-news-alerts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1084","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut Provider Legislative Update &#8211; Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences &#8211; United States &#8211; Mondaq News Alerts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><h2> <span class=\"region-heading\">United States: <\/span> Connecticut Provider Legislative Update <\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-author-info\">\n<div class=\"article-author-info-left\">\n<div class=\"smalltext\">\n<p>13 September 2021 <\/p>\n<p> Shipman &amp; Goodwin LLP <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"authorphoto\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mondaq.com\/Home\/Redirect\/1958198?mode=author&amp;article_id=1110542\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"View this authors biography on their website\" rel=\"noopener\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/connecticut-provider-legislative-update-food-drugs-healthcare-life-sciences-united-states-mondaq-news-alerts.webp\" width=\"105\" height=\"108\"> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com. <\/p>\n<div id=\"articlebody\">\n<p>Shipman is pleased to share with our Connecticut friends and<br \/>\nclients the following summary of relevant legislative developments.<br \/>\nShould you need any clarification, we are ready to help.<\/p>\n<h3>General:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Telehealth Expansion<\/strong>&#8211;New laws extend last<br \/>\nyear&#8217;s telehealth provisions (which we wrote about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipmangoodwin.com\/insights\/connecticut-expands-telehealth-services.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>) until June 30, 2023. The laws also (1)<br \/>\nexpand the types of health professionals authorized to provide<br \/>\ntelehealth services, (2) expand allowable service delivery of<br \/>\naudio-only services, (3) establish requirements for telehealth<br \/>\nproviders seeking payment from underinsured and uninsured patients,<br \/>\nand (4) expand requirements for insurance and Medicaid coverage of<br \/>\ntelehealth services. (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-9<\/a>, as amended by <a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=133\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 12-133<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 3 and 4, effective<br \/>\nupon passage July 7, 2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Outpatient Mental Health Treatment<\/strong>&#8211;A new law<br \/>\nallows minors to request and receive as many outpatient mental<br \/>\nhealth treatment sessions as necessary from a psychiatrist,<br \/>\npsychologist, independent social worker, or marital and family<br \/>\ntherapist (whereas prior law generally limited this to six<br \/>\nsessions). The new law also allows a provider to notify a parent or<br \/>\nguardian of treatment provided without the minor&#8217;s consent or<br \/>\nnotification if the notification or disclosure is necessary for the<br \/>\nminor&#8217;s well-being, the treatment is solely for mental health<br \/>\nand <strong>not<\/strong> for a substance use disorder, the minor is<br \/>\ngiven an opportunity to express objection, and the provider<br \/>\ndiscloses only a limited subset of information. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=46\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-46<\/a>, \u00a7 10, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Immunization Requirements<\/strong>&#8211;A new law<br \/>\neliminated the state&#8217;s religious exemption from immunization<br \/>\nrequirements for individuals attending public and private schools,<br \/>\nwhich includes higher education institutions, and child care<br \/>\ncenters and group and family day care homes. Certain students&#8217;<br \/>\nreligious exemptions are grandfathered in under the new law. (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-6<\/a>, effective April 28, 2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cannabis Legalization\/Medical Marijuana<\/strong>&#8211;The<br \/>\nstate&#8217;s new cannabis legalization law permits hospitals to<br \/>\nrestrict patients&#8217; cannabis use and the medical marijuana law<br \/>\nwas amended to broaden the types of entities in which physicians or<br \/>\nAPRNs may not have a financial interest if they certify patients<br \/>\nfor medical marijuana use, to require licensed pharmacists working<br \/>\nin dispensary facilities or hybrid retailer employees to transmit<br \/>\ndispensing information on any cannabis sold to a qualifying patient<br \/>\nor caregiver in a manner the DCP commissioner prescribes, and to<br \/>\nallow the DCP commissioner to add to the list of medical conditions<br \/>\nthat qualify for medical use without adopting regulations. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1201&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-1<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 65, 66-82, 94, 104, 146,<br \/>\nwith various effective dates from July 1, 2021 to January 1,<br \/>\n2022)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nonprofit Savings Incentive Program<\/strong>&#8211;New laws<br \/>\nexpand and make permanent a pilot incentive program for nonprofit<br \/>\nhuman services providers that realize savings in the<br \/>\nstate-contracted services they deliver, which must allow providers<br \/>\nto retain any savings realized and must not reduce future<br \/>\ncontracted amounts solely to reflect such savings. Eligible<br \/>\nproviders include nonprofit providers of services to persons with<br \/>\nintellectual, physical or mental disabilities or autism spectrum<br \/>\ndisorder, who, upon retaining savings under the incentive program,<br \/>\nmust submit a report to the OPM secretary on how excess funds were<br \/>\nreinvested. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=65\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-65<\/a>, \u00a7 2, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 339, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Primary Care Direct Services Program and Loan<br \/>\nRepayment<\/strong>&#8211;A new law <strong>requires<\/strong>, rather<br \/>\nthan allows, DPH to establish a program providing three-year grants<br \/>\nto community-based primary care providers to expand access to care<br \/>\nfor the uninsured. Existing law permits program grants to be used<br \/>\nfor providing loan repayment to primary care clinicians and<br \/>\nregistered nurses, and another new law <strong>requires<\/strong><br \/>\nDPH in FY 22 to implement the state loan repayment program for<br \/>\ncommunity-based health care providers in primary care settings. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 28, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-35<\/a>, \u00a7 21, effective June 14, 2021<br \/>\nand July 1, 2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clinical Laboratories<\/strong>&#8211;A new law requires<br \/>\nlicensed clinical laboratories to report to DPH the name and<br \/>\naddress of each blood collection facility they own and operate,<br \/>\nboth before obtaining or renewing their license and whenever<br \/>\nopening or closing a blood collection facility. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-121<\/a>, \u00a7 39, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries Related to<br \/>\nCOVID-19<\/strong>&#8211;A new law makes certain health care providers<br \/>\neligible to receive workers&#8217; comp benefits for post-traumatic<br \/>\nstress injuries (PTSI) if a PTSI is diagnosed by mental health<br \/>\nprofessional as a direct result of a &#8220;qualifying event&#8221;<br \/>\nin the line of duty, which is defined to include 4 events in the<br \/>\ncontext of a provider engaging in activities substantially<br \/>\ndedicated to mitigating or responding to COVID-19. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-107<\/a>, effective June 30, 2021)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Hospitals:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DPH Access to Certain Electronic Hospital<br \/>\nRecords<\/strong>&#8211;A new law requires hospitals to provide DPH<br \/>\naccess, including remote access, to the entirety of certain<br \/>\nelectronic medical records (1) concerning reportable diseases and<br \/>\nemergency illness and health conditions; (2) to perform case<br \/>\nfinding or other quality improvement audits deemed necessary by DPH<br \/>\nto ensure completeness of reporting and data accuracy in the<br \/>\nConnecticut Tumor Registry; (3) to review case information as DPH<br \/>\ndeems necessary related to a maternal death case under review by<br \/>\nthe Maternal Mortality Review Program, as DPH deems necessary; and<br \/>\n(4) to perform quality improvement audits, as DPH deems necessary,<br \/>\nto ensure completeness of reporting and data accuracy of births,<br \/>\nfetal deaths, and death occurrences. Hospitals must grant DPH this<br \/>\naccess by October 1, 2022 if technically feasible. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-121<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 78-81, effective<br \/>\nOctober 1, 2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hospital Patients and Family Caregivers<\/strong>&#8211;A new<br \/>\nlaw requires hospital personnel, when admitting a patient, to<br \/>\npromptly ask the patient if they want the hospital to notify a<br \/>\nfamily member, caregiver, or support person of the admission<br \/>\n(whereas prior law required that hospital personnel ask only about<br \/>\nphysicians the patient wished to be notified). If the patient<br \/>\ndesires, hospital personnel must make reasonable efforts to contact<br \/>\nsuch person as soon as practicable, but within 24 hours of the<br \/>\npatient&#8217;s request. (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-26<\/a>, \u00a7 4, effective October 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Implicit Bias Training<\/strong>&#8211;A new law requires<br \/>\nhospitals, staring October 1, 2021, to include training in implicit<br \/>\nbias as part of their regular training for staff members who<br \/>\nprovide direct care to women who are pregnant or in the postpartum<br \/>\nperiod. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-35<\/a>, \u00a7 13, effective June 14,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Restrictions on Hospital Billing &amp; Collection<br \/>\nEfforts and Facility Fees<\/strong>&#8211;A new law makes several changes<br \/>\nto Connecticut&#8217;s laws regarding restrictions on hospital<br \/>\nbilling and collection efforts, including, but not limited to, the<br \/>\nfollowing: (1) expanding the application of billing and collection<br \/>\nrestrictions beyond hospitals by also including entities that are &#8220;owned by&#8221; or &#8220;affiliated with&#8221; hospitals (both<br \/>\nof these terms are defined by statute); and (2) adding provisions<br \/>\nprohibiting hospitals, entities that are &#8220;owned by&#8221; of &#8220;affiliated with&#8221; hospitals, or collection agents that<br \/>\nreceive a referral from a hospital or entity &#8220;owned by&#8221;<br \/>\nor affiliated with&#8221; hospitals from: (a) reporting an<br \/>\nindividual patient to a credit rating agency for a period of 1 year<br \/>\nbeginning on the date that such patient first receives a bill for<br \/>\nhealth care provided; (b) initiating an action to foreclose a lien<br \/>\non a patient&#8217;s primary residence if the lien was filed to<br \/>\nsecure payment for health care provided; or (c) applying to a court<br \/>\nfor an execution against a patient&#8217;s wages or otherwise seeking<br \/>\nto garnish such patient&#8217;s wages, to collect payment for health<br \/>\ncare provided, if such patient is eligible for the hospital bed<br \/>\nfund.<\/li>\n<li>A new law also makes several changes to<br \/>\nConnecticut&#8217;s laws regarding facility fees, including, but not<br \/>\nlimited to, the following: (1) requiring that, not later than<br \/>\nOctober 15, 2022, and annually thereafter, hospitals, health<br \/>\nsystems, and hospital-based facilities submit to the Health<br \/>\nPlanning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy (&#8220;OHS&#8221;) a<br \/>\nsample of their billing statements that illustrate compliance with<br \/>\nlegal requirements concerning facility fee billing; (2) adding a<br \/>\nrequirement to the existing hospital-based facility fee notice<br \/>\nrequirement that the written notice include tag lines in at least<br \/>\nthe top 15 languages spoken in the state indicating that the notice<br \/>\nis available in each of those languages and that, not later than<br \/>\nOctober 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, each hospital-based<br \/>\nfacility submit a copy of the notice to the OHS Health Planning<br \/>\nUnit; and (3) requiring that each hospital-based facility that was<br \/>\nthe subject of a transaction during the preceding calendar year<br \/>\nreport to the OHS Health Planning Unit the number of patients<br \/>\nserved by such hospital-based facility in the preceding 3 years.<br \/>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/2021\/act\/Pa\/pdf\/2021PA-00129-R00SB-00683-PA.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-129<\/a>, effective October 1, 2022)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Insurance:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Health Insurance\/Participating Provider<br \/>\nContracts<\/strong>&#8211;A new law makes changes to contracts between<br \/>\nhealth carriers and participating providers, including requiring<br \/>\ncarriers to provide 90 days&#8217; notice before making changes to<br \/>\ncertain provisions or documents incorporated by reference into the<br \/>\ncontract, including provider manuals and policies, that result in a<br \/>\nmaterial change to the contract or procedures that a participating<br \/>\nprovider must follow pursuant to the contract. The new law also<br \/>\ngrants providers the right to appeal those changes. Applies to<br \/>\ncontracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after July 1,<br \/>\n2022. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 83, effective October 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third Party Liability for Medical Assistance<br \/>\nPayments<\/strong>&#8211;A new law establishes deadlines for insurers to<br \/>\nact on claims DSS submits to it for covered health care items and<br \/>\nservices by paying the claim, requesting information necessary to<br \/>\ndetermine its legal obligation to pay, or denying the claim. If the<br \/>\ninsurer does not act within 180 days of receipt of the claim, then<br \/>\nit creates an uncontestable obligation to pay the claim. The new<br \/>\nlaw also requires insurers to request refunds from DSS when they<br \/>\ndetermine they are not liable for a claim for which they reimbursed<br \/>\nDSS within 12 months from the date of its reimbursement to DSS. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 334, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Medicaid:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Medicaid Expanded Coverage<\/strong>&#8211;New laws expanded<br \/>\neligibility for Medicaid and other forms of medical assistance,<br \/>\nincluding (1) starting April 1, 2022, extending coverage under<br \/>\nMedicaid and CHIP for women for 12 months after giving birth (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 335 &amp; 336, effective<br \/>\nJune 32, 2001); (2) starting April 1, 2023, providing state-funded<br \/>\nmedical assistance for postpartum care for women who do not qualify<br \/>\nfor Medicaid due to immigration status (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=176\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-176<\/a>, \u00a7 2, effective October 1,<br \/>\n2021); (3) staring in 2023, providing state-funded medical<br \/>\nassistance for children under 9, regardless of immigration status,<br \/>\nwho live in households with certain income requirements (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=176\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-176<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 1 &amp; 3, effective<br \/>\nOctober 1, 2021); and (4) starting April 1, 2022, providing CHIP<br \/>\ncoverage for pregnant women under an option that allows the state<br \/>\nto consider the unborn child a low-income child eligible for CHIP<br \/>\ncoverage (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=176\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-176<\/a>, \u00a7 4, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 344, effective October 1,<br \/>\n2021).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provider Rate Increases<\/strong>&#8211;Several provider rate<br \/>\nincreases were included in the budget implementer act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>), including:<\/li>\n<li>\n<ul>\n<li>allocating $4.625 million appropriated to DSS from the General<br \/>\nFund in FYs 22 and 23 to fund an increase in the Medicaid<br \/>\nreimbursement rate for certain Medicaid-funded home and<br \/>\ncommunity-based waiver programs services and home health care<br \/>\n(\u00a7 338, effective July 1, 2021);<\/li>\n<li>allocating $375,000 appropriated to DSS from the General Fund<br \/>\nin FYs 22 and 23 to increase the reimbursement rate for the<br \/>\nstate-funded portion of the Connecticut Home Care Program for the<br \/>\nElderly (\u00a7 338, effective July 1, 2021);<\/li>\n<li>requiring DSS to increase the per diem rate for chronic disease<br \/>\nhospitals by 4% (\u00a7 342, effective July 1, 2021);<\/li>\n<li>increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10% for emergency<br \/>\nand nonemergency ambulance services and by $3 for transports<br \/>\nbeginning in FY 22 (\u00a7 340, effective July 1, 2021);<\/li>\n<li>requiring OPM to allocate available funds for FY 22 and 23 to<br \/>\nincrease rates to state-contracted providers for wage enhancements<br \/>\nand related payroll taxes, workers&#8217; comp, and unemployment<br \/>\ninsurance expenses for employees who provide services to<br \/>\nindividuals with intellectual disability who receive supports and<br \/>\nservices through DDS (\u00a7 341, effective July 1, 2021); and<\/li>\n<li>requiring DSS to provide an inpatient Medicaid rate of $975 per<br \/>\nday to Natchaug Hospital for FY 22 (\u00a7 343, effective June 23,<br \/>\n2021).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Various Provider Rates\/Policies<\/strong>&#8211;Several other<br \/>\nchanges to laws concerning Medicaid providers include:<\/li>\n<li>\n<ul>\n<li>Allowing APRNs and PAs to order home health care services<br \/>\ncovered by DSS (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=133\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-133<\/a>, \u00a7 1, effective July 7,<br \/>\n2021);<\/li>\n<li>Allowing DSS commissioner to waive or suspend prior<br \/>\nauthorization or other utilization review criteria for Medicaid and<br \/>\nCHIP (<a href=\"https:\/\/cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=133\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-133<\/a>, \u00a7 5, effective July 7,<br \/>\n2021);<\/li>\n<li>Requiring DSS to cover services provided by acupuncturists and<br \/>\nchiropractors under Medicaid (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 331, effective June 23,<br \/>\n2021);<\/li>\n<li>Eliminating a provision under prior law that required Medicaid<br \/>\npayments for methadone maintenance to be contingent on providers<br \/>\nmeeting certain performance measures (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 332, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2021);<\/li>\n<li>Requiring DSS to reimburse licensed nurse-midwives at the same<br \/>\nrates as OB\/GYNs for performing the same services or procedures (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 333, effective June 23, 2021);<br \/>\nand<\/li>\n<li>Requiring DSS to reimburse licensed podiatrists at the same<br \/>\nrates as licensed physicians for performing the same services or<br \/>\nprocedures (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=1202&amp;which_year=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-2<\/a>, \u00a7 333, effective June 23,<br \/>\n2021).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Provider Scope of Practice:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Physician Assistants<\/strong>&#8211;A new law allows PAs to<br \/>\ncertify, sign, or otherwise document medical information in several<br \/>\nsituations that previously required a physician&#8217;s or APRN&#8217;s<br \/>\nsignature, certification, or documentation. Some examples include<br \/>\n(1) certifying a disability or illness for continuing education<br \/>\nwaivers or extensions for various health professions and (2)<br \/>\ndocumenting that a patient&#8217;s nursing home room transfer would<br \/>\nbe medically contraindicated. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=196\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-196<\/a>, effective October 1, 2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Home Health Orders<\/strong>&#8211;A new law allows PAs and<br \/>\nAPRNs licensed in Connecticut to order home health care agency<br \/>\nservices, hospice agency services, and home health aide agency<br \/>\nservices, <strong>and<\/strong> allows PAs and APRNs in bordering<br \/>\nstates to order home health care agency services. Only physicians<br \/>\ncould issue these orders under prior law. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-121<\/a>, \u00a7 52, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Out-of-State Practitioners During Public Health<br \/>\nEmergencies<\/strong>&#8211;A new law expands the type of<br \/>\nout-of-state-practitioners for which DPH may temporarily suspend<br \/>\nlicensing, certification, and registration requirements during a<br \/>\ndeclared public health emergency, to include alcohol and drug<br \/>\ncounselors; art and music therapists; behavior analysts;<br \/>\ndietician-nutritionists; dentists and dental hygienists; genetic<br \/>\ncounselors; OTs; radiographers, radiologic technologists;<br \/>\nradiologist assistants, and nuclear medicine technologists; and<br \/>\nSLPs. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-121<\/a>, \u00a7 43, effective July 6,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Doula Scope of Practice<\/strong>&#8211;A new law requires<br \/>\nthe DPH commissioner to conduct a scope of practice review,<br \/>\naccording to existing scope of practice review processes, to<br \/>\ndetermine whether DPH should establish a state certification<br \/>\nprocess for doulas. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-35<\/a>, \u00a7 15, effective June 14,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Assisted Living:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Assisted Living Services Agencies&#8217;<br \/>\nLicensure<\/strong>&#8211;A new law requires a managed residential<br \/>\ncommunity (MRC) that wishes to provide assisted living services to<br \/>\nobtain a DPH license as an assisted living services agency (ALSA)<br \/>\nor arrange for such services with a licensed ALSA, for which the<br \/>\nMRC must apply to DPH to arrange for those services. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-121<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 45, 56, effective July<br \/>\n1, 2021; and \u00a7\u00a7 91 &amp; 92, effective July 6, 2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>ALSAs Operating as Dementia Special Care<br \/>\nUnits<\/strong>&#8211;A new law prohibits ALSAs from providing services<br \/>\nas dementia special care units or programs unless they obtain DPH<br \/>\napproval. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-121<\/a>, \u00a7 56, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Pharmacists\/Prescription Drug Management:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Collaborative Drug Therapy Management<br \/>\nAgreements<\/strong>&#8211;A new law specifies that when certain<br \/>\npharmacists have entered into written, protocol-based collaborative<br \/>\ndrug therapy agreements with physicians or APRNs to manage a<br \/>\npatient&#8217;s drug therapy, then (1) a pharmacist is also<br \/>\nauthorized to continue or de-prescribe a drug therapy, and (2) such<br \/>\nagreements may include guideline-directed management, rather than<br \/>\nbe patient-specific. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=192\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-192<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 1 &amp; 4, effective<br \/>\nJuly 13, 2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pharmacist-Prescribed Epinephrine Auto<br \/>\nInjectors<\/strong>&#8211;A new law permits a pharmacist, once a year per<br \/>\npatient and in his or her professional discretion, to issue and<br \/>\nfill a prescription for up to 2 epinephrine auto injectors, under<br \/>\ncertain conditions. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-37<\/a>, \u00a7 45, effective June 4,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reporting Opioid Agonists<\/strong>&#8211;A new law requires,<br \/>\nunder certain conditions, that opioid agonists for treatment of a<br \/>\nsubstance use disorder (e.g. methadone) be uploaded into the<br \/>\nelectronic Prescription Drug Monitoring Program&#8217;s database by<br \/>\npreviously exempt substance abuse treatment-related opioid<br \/>\nantagonist dispensers and administrators. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=192\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-192<\/a>, \u00a7 5, effective July 1,<br \/>\n2022)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>DPH\/State Action:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Commission on Racial Equity in Public<br \/>\nHealth<\/strong>&#8211;A new law declares that racism is a public health<br \/>\ncrisis in Connecticut and will continue to be a crisis until the<br \/>\nstate meets the goal of reducing, by at least 70%, racial<br \/>\ndisparities in specified indicators in education, health care<br \/>\nutilization and outcomes, criminal justice, and economic matters.<br \/>\nThe act also establishes a Commission on Racial Equity in Public<br \/>\nHealth. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-35<\/a>, \u00a7\u00a7 1-4, effective June 14,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Demographic Data Collection<\/strong>&#8211;Starting January<br \/>\n1, 2022, new law establishes requirements for state agencies or<br \/>\nstate entities that collet demographic data related to health care<br \/>\nor public health, including by (1) expanding race and ethnicity<br \/>\ncategories to include subgroup identifies as specified by OHS&#8217;<br \/>\nCommunity and Clinical Integration Program, and (2) allowing people<br \/>\nto select one or more ethnic or racial designations or refuse to<br \/>\nidentify such designations. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-35<\/a>, \u00a7 11, effective June 14,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Physician Practices and Merger Oversight<br \/>\nStudy<\/strong>&#8211;A new law requires OHS to (1) study certain matters<br \/>\nregarding physician practices and oversight of practice mergers and<br \/>\nacquisitions, and (2) develop legislative recommendations to<br \/>\nimprove reporting and oversight of these transactions. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=129\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-129<\/a>, \u00a7 5, effective July 7,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provider Payment Parity Study<\/strong>&#8211;A new law<br \/>\nrequires the DSS commissioner in collaboration with the DMHAS and<br \/>\nHousing commissioners to study whether state-contracted human<br \/>\nservices providers, including physical and behavioral health<br \/>\nservices providers, receive disparate payment rates under programs<br \/>\nthey administer in different regions of the state. DSS Commissioner<br \/>\nmust report on the study and any rate adjustment recommendations to<br \/>\nthe Appropriations, Housing, Human Services, and Public Health<br \/>\nCommittees. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cga.ct.gov\/asp\/cgabillstatus\/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Public+Act&amp;which_year=2021&amp;bill_num=148\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PA 21-148<\/a>, \u00a7 11, effective July 7,<br \/>\n2021)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>The content of this article is intended to provide a general<br \/>\nguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought<br \/>\nabout your specific circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"populararticles\">\n<p>POPULAR ARTICLES ON: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences from United States<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>United States: Connecticut Provider Legislative Update 13 September 2021 Shipman &amp; Goodwin LLP To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com. Shipman is pleased to share with our Connecticut friends and clients the following summary of relevant legislative developments. Should you need any clarification, we are ready to help. General: Telehealth Expansion&#8211;New laws extend last year&#8217;s telehealth provisions (which we wrote about here) until June 30, 2023. The laws also (1) expand the types of health professionals authorized to provide telehealth services, (2) expand allowable service delivery of audio-only services, (3) establish requirements&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/connecticut-provider-legislative-update-food-drugs-healthcare-life-sciences-united-states-mondaq-news-alerts.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1084"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1084\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}