2024 Legislative Session

🏥 Hospital Financial Assistance 2024 Legislative Session🏥

• H.B. 5320: An Act Concerning Hospital Financial Assistance:  The bill passed out of the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. However, it was not called in the Senate and did not pass this legislative session. Thank you all for your support and advocacy, your hard work does not go unnoticed. HES will continue to work with partners to push for eliminating medical debt and support the implementation of a statewide hospital financial assistance portal. 

✅ New Laws That Promote Health Equity ✅

• S.B. 395: An Act Concerning Medicaid Budgeting Methods and the Reporting of Medical Debt: Passed out of the Senate and the House and has since been signed into law by the Governor. It is now P.A: 24-6. This act prohibits the reporting of medical debt to credit reporting agencies. Medical debt will not impact Connecticut resident’s credit scores.
• H.B 5005: An Act Expanding Paid Sick Days In the State: Passed out of the House and the Senate chambers and was signed by the Governor. It is now Public Act No. 24-8. Congratulations to the Paid Sick Days Coalition for this victorious win!
• H.B. No. 5293: An Act Concerning the Department of Developmental Services’ Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to Developmental Services Statutes: Included provisions to support caregivers/families of people with disabilities by providing critical resources such as training, self-advocates, and information to help attain essential care and treatment. It passed out of both the House and Senate Chambers. It is before the Governor and waiting to be signed into law.

❌  Health Equity Legislation That Did Not Pass ❌

• S.B 36: An Act Establishing a Refundable Child Tax Credit: Had a public hearing but was not voted on by the Finance Committee and did not pass.
• S.B. 313: An Act Concerning Continuous Medicaid Eligibility for Children Under the Age of Six: Passed favorably out of the Human Services Committee, but unfortunately the bill died.
• S.B. 314: An Act Concerning Emergency Medicaid Coverage for Treatment of Emergency Medical Conditions: Had a public hearing and passed favorably out of the Human Services Committee, but unfortunately the bill died.

Other Legislation that Impact Health Equity:

• H.B. 5048: An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2025: HES submitted testimony and advocated in opposition to the reductions to HUSKY A and HUSKY C eligibility. Unfortunately, HUSKY reductions were passed in H.B 5523, now Public Act 24 -81, which reduced HUSKY A’s income eligibility to 138% of FPL (reduced from 160%). HES also testified in favor of increasing the age limit from 15 to 18 years old for income-eligible children regardless of immigration status. Unfortunately, there was no age increase this year. 
• H.B. 5247: An Act Concerning Employee Health Benefit Consortiums: Included language for establishing Association Health Plans (AHP), which are risky “junk plans” that would leave people underinsured, defrauded, and at higher risk of medical debt. Thanks to the advocacy of HES and our partners, the passage of H.B. 5247 was halted.