Last week, the Connecticut House and Senate voted to extend until June 30, 2023 the expanded use of telehealth that has become so important in providing care during the pandemic. Under the legislation,
HB 5596, patients will continue to have the option to obtain a broad range of healthcare services, virtually, at a time and place that is convenient for them, eliminating common barriers to in-person care. The legislation was signed by the governor.
Click here for an analysis of the proposal that received a unanimous approval in both the House and the Senate.
In addition, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the future of telehealth. Healthcare stakeholders are urging Congress to continue granting telehealth flexibilities to healthcare providers to best care for patients and increase access to care beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Governor Signs Legislation Removing the Religious Exemption for Vaccines
After a contentious debate in both the House and Senate chambers, Governor Lamont signed the controversial vaccine bill which eliminates the religious, or non-medical, exemption for student vaccines. This bill saw long debates in both chambers where it ultimately passed on largely party lines. The law will take effect in September 2022. Children already in grades K-12 will be grandfathered in, meaning they can still claim the religious exemption. However, new children starting school after that date will not be able to claim a religious exemption. Opponents of this bill pledged to take the state to court arguing it is an unconstitutional infringement on religious rights.
Administration of Vaccines by Medical Assistant
The proposal, SB 285, to allow medical assistants to administer vaccine under the on-site supervision of a physician, is expected to be called soon for a vote in the Senate. Now is the time for physicians to contact their Senators and ask for their support of this bill.
Connecticut is one of the two states in the nation where medical assistants cannot give vaccines. Recently, the governor approved the administration of vaccine by dental hygienist and pharmacy technicians who receive far less training in the administration of vaccine than medical assistants.
The county medical association has written the governor, submitted public testimony and held a forum
for legislators discussing be benefits of the proposal.
FCMA also circulated a video on the myths and facts of vaccine administration.
Tax Relief and Expanded Access to Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Senate Bill 1107 provides relief by expanding the exemption to $1.5m, continues the Medicaid and Medicare exemptions, limits the tax to ASC services (exempting implants, tissue and other biologics) changes the gross receipt tax to a sales tax, creates a new 50% credit for Medicaid revenue and a 25% credit for state employee revenue, as well as a COVID expense exemption for the current tax year.
The bill essentially received unanimous approval (two abstentions) in the Finance Committee and the proposal has been referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis. A vote in the Senate is expected soon.
Governors Emergency Orders Likely to Continue
Gov. Ned Lamont declined to speculate when his pandemic-related emergency authorizations should be allowed to expire, saying the COVID-19 virus may continue to present challenges for the “foreseeable future.” Lamont and his chief of staff, Paul Mounds, stressed that the duration of the emergency declarations was in large part at the discretion of the legislature, which is in session for another month. The current authorization, which serves as the basis for dozens of ongoing executive orders, is set to expire on May 20. Lamont expects many of the orders to continue beyond May 19, including a requirement that residents wear masks while indoors in public places. He declined to guess how much longer the orders would be necessary but suggested it might be a while. As was the case the last time when the Executive Orders were extended from April 20 through May 19, the legislature would likely have to provide approval for certain orders to continue, or the legislature may allow for a blanket extension. These issues are still being negotiated as the state continues its Covid-19 response.
Connecticut Now Follows CDC Guidelines for Wearing Masks
Governor Ned Lamont announced the state will now follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on the wearing of masks outdoors, which says that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear face coverings unless they are in a crowd of strangers. The CDC is still recommending face masks be worn indoors regardless of whether individuals are fully vaccinated or not. The CDC also recommends vaccinated individuals still wear masks outdoors when in large crowds, such as at sporting events or concerts.
Additionally, beginning on May 19, hundreds of Connecticut restaurants will offer a free drink to customers who order food and can prove they have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The somewhat controversial “Connecticut Drinks On Us" Program is aimed at encouraging both vaccine uptake and patronage of the state’s restaurants. With much of the state vaccinated, vaccination appointments are no longer required at many locations.
