WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and a group of 19 senators in reintroducing legislation to protect people’s personal data online. The Data Care Act would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users’ data.
“We constantly hear reports of online companies misusing or exploiting data they collect from their users, and most people don’t realize just how much personal information these websites and apps can access. This legislation would ensure these companies are held to a higher standard that prioritizes protecting consumer data and give users some peace of mind,” said Murphy.
“Websites and apps that collect data from their users need to be protecting this data, not using it to harm them,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “Doctors and lawyers are required to protect people’s data, and our bill will help make sure online companies aren’t exploiting it, either.”
Doctors, lawyers, and bankers are legally required to exercise special care to protect their clients and not misuse their information. While online companies also hold personal and sensitive information about the people they serve, they are not required to protect consumers’ data. This leaves users in a vulnerable position; they are expected to understand the information they give to providers and how it is being used – an unreasonable expectation for even the most tech-savvy consumer. By establishing an explicit duty for online providers, Americans can trust that their online data is protected and used in a responsible way.
The Data Care Act establishes reasonable duties that will require providers to protect user data and will prohibit providers from using user data to their detriment:
1. Duty of Care – Must reasonably secure individual identifying data and promptly inform users of data breaches that involve sensitive information;
2. Duty of Loyalty – May not use individual identifying data in ways that harm users;
3. Duty of Confidentiality – Must ensure that the duties of care and loyalty extend to third parties when disclosing, selling, or sharing individual identifying data;
4. Federal and State Enforcement – A violation of the duties will be treated as a violation of an FTC rule with fine authority. States may also bring civil enforcement actions, but the FTC can intervene. States and the FTC may go after both first- and third-party data collectors; and
5. Rulemaking Authority – FTC is granted rulemaking authority to implement the Act.
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has directed the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) to extend the coverage period for households receiving deliverable fuel assistance under the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) during the 2022-2023 winter season to March 31, 2023. The original deadline to receive fuel deliveries this winter season was March 15, 2023.
Governor Lamont explained that thanks to the work of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation in securing the unprecedented fiscal year 2023 federal funding for the program, the state has resources available to provide for a slight extension to the deadline, giving residents a few extra days to receive assistance for fuel deliveries. Households that heat their homes with deliverable fuels such as home heating oil, propane, or kerosene will now have until March 31, 2023, to submit requests to their fuel providers for deliveries and receive assistance under CEAP for those deliveries. Approved CEAP households should contact their fuel providers before the end of March to request delivery.
“While it has been a relatively mild winter so far, we still have several weeks to go before warmer weather takes hold,” Governor Lamont said. “We have the ability to provide households with a slight extension to the period required to get deliverable fuel into their tanks for this winter season. Those households that are receiving assistance under this program should contact their deliverable fuel provider before the March 31 deadline.”
CEAP helps Connecticut households afford the cost of energy year-round, with a particular focus on ensuring that households get support heating their homes each winter. Program benefits and deadlines are set each year to ensure that the funding allocated to the program is sufficient to meet demand and provide as much support to households as possible. The program is administered by DSS.
“The Department of Social Services understands firsthand that residents are facing high costs for energy,” DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said. “By extending the CEAP deliverable fuel deadline, we are giving households more time to get help paying for the energy they need to stay warm during the last weeks of winter and the first weeks of spring. The governor is committed to supporting our state’s most vulnerable families and we are proud to be a partner in providing that support.”
This winter season, thanks to additional federal funding, the state has offered all deliverable fuel households an extra $430 benefit, which means families heating with deliverable fuels like heating oil and propane can now access up to $2,320 per household to help pay their heating bills. Total benefits for deliverable fuel households now range from $1,110 to $2,320, up from $680 to $1,890 under the original allocation plan for this year, or by as much as 63% for certain households.
For more information on CEAP, including instructions on how to apply, visit ct.gov/heatinghelp or call 2-1-1.
This press release is made possible by our sponsor who accepts fuel assistance (not all do):
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today sued four out-of-state firearm dealers selling and advertising illegal, untraceable “ghost gun” parts in Connecticut.
On October 1, 2019, Connecticut banned the sale and receipt of unfinished frame and lower receiver gun components lacking serial numbers or unique identification, which are used to build ghost guns. Despite that, defendants Indie Guns of Florida, Steel Fox Firearms of Florida, Hell Fire Armory of North Carolina, and AR Industries of Utah each sold and shipped illegal ghost guns to an undercover investigator from the Office of the Attorney General.
The four firearm dealers each advertise and sell a variety of firearms and components, including ghost gun components that allow consumers to easily assemble handguns, fully functional AR-15 style automatic rifles, and other untraceable illegal guns. These components are shipped without serial numbers direct to consumers, bypassing federal licensed firearms dealers and background checks. The defendants ship illegal ghost gun parts directly to consumers without confirming whether the consumers are licensed to possess a firearm.
While websites for AR Industries and Steel Fox stated that they would not ship “AR-15 80% Lower Receiver” ghost gun kits to Connecticut, both companies shipped illegal ghost guns to a Connecticut address anyway. Indie Guns and Hell Fire had no warning, notice, or disclaimer.
By selling products that are expressly prohibited under Connecticut law, the lawsuit accuses each company of unfair and deceptive advertising, marketing and sales in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.
“Ghost guns are an untraceable menace that exists for one reason—to evade law enforcement and registration. They are a threat to public safety and they are illegal in Connecticut. If you ship ghost guns into Connecticut, we will find you, stop you, and hold you accountable,” said Attorney General Tong. “Indie Guns, Steel Fox Firearms, Hell Fire Armory and AR Industries all knew their ghost guns were illegal in Connecticut and they shipped these weapons to Connecticut anyway. We won’t let them get away with it.”
“The Department of Consumer Protection’s mission is to protect public health and safety. It is hard to imagine a more direct threat to public safety then shipping illegal ghost guns into the State. We look forward to supporting the attorney general in his efforts to take decisive action against this activity,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull.
Connecticut – On Thursday, March 2nd, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Human Services Committee voted to pass House Bill 6616, to expand HUSKY to those otherwise eligible, regardless of immigration status, up to age 18. The committee vote comes just over two weeks after the bill received overwhelming support during a 12-hour public hearing in which over 700 people testified in support of expanding HUSKY to undocumented immigrants. While this is great news for undocumented youth who are now one step closer to receiving the healthcare coverage they need, the amended bill falls short of the original proposal to expand HUSKY to age 26.
“We are thankful to the co-chairs and members of the Human Services Committee who were instrumental in ensuring HUSKY expansion up to age 18 moved out of committee,” said Luis Luna, HUSKY for Immigrants Coalition Manager. “This vote is a confirmation of what we know and echoes what the co-chairs stated during the debate – that this program is working and improving the daily lives of those who are able to access it. Currently, income-eligible undocumented children 12 and under and postpartum individuals are able to access HUSKY and the program has been a success with service providers. This vote shows that our legislators are listening to overwhelming support behind this issue as 84 percent of Democrats, 83 percent of Black voters, and 76 percent of Latinx voters support expanding HUSKY to all immigrants regardless of age. But the fact is healthcare needs don’t end after age 18. The bill’s passage out of the Human Services committee is another important step in our march towards health equity in our state. We look forward to continuing to work with legislators to ensure our immigrant communities, no matter their age can access healthcare.”
“I’m an undocumented mother with 3 kids, two are 14 years old and one is 20 years old. As an undocumented family, it is very difficult for us to survive in this country because we do not qualify for health insurance due to our status. I’m happy that the Human Services Committee voted HB 6616 out of the committee to expand HUSKY access to those under 18. I know the importance of kids and teenagers having access to health care. One of my 14-year-olds has thyroid problems which become inflamed and painful, preventing him from eating or talking. I’ve had to take him to the emergency room for the pain because we cannot afford to see the specialist we were referred to. With the passage of HB 6616, my 14-year-old would be able to access the care he needs. But I also have a 20-year-old daughter who, unlike my 14-year-olds, cannot access healthcare in the school-based health center. She needs access to health care too as she suffers from anemia and irregular menstrual bleeding to the point of going to the hospital twice because we cannot afford to see the specialists. That’s why I need Connecticut legislators to support HB 6616 so that kids up to 18 can have access to care, but also keep fighting to expand the age so that my 20 years, myself, and my husband can also access healthcare.” said Olga Gutierrez a Bridgeport resident and member of Make The Road CT’s fightback committee.
“My interfaith colleagues and I have heard from thousands of our members that access to healthcare is a crucial concern for their families and neighborhoods, especially when it comes to mental health,” said Rev. Matthew Hogue-Smith, Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance, who represent 49 congregations in Greater Hartford. “Connecticut must take the necessary steps to ensure everyone, regardless of age or immigrant status, has access to quality, affordable mental healthcare. This committee vote means that thousands of undocumented adolescents are one step closer to having the health coverage they need and will help address the mental health crisis among our youth. But what happens when they turn 18 and that coverage is no longer available? Age 18 to 26 is a critical time for the first breaks in diagnosis for Bipolar and Schizophrenia and the length of time from the first break to wrap-around care helps determine the prognosis by the age of 26. The absence of insurance makes affording mental health care nearly impossible. Expanding HUSKY for all, regardless of immigration status, is not just morally right but also in the best interest of everyone living in our state. We can’t have healthy communities unless everyone has access to quality, affordable care.”
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is ordering all executive branch state office buildings closed to the public on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, due to the winter storm that is anticipated to impact Connecticut.
The governor is directing that:
All level 2 state employees who are able to telework shall telework for the duration of the storm related closures; and
All level 2 state employees whose job duties cannot be performed via telework should not report to work in-person.
Level 2 state employees include all of those who were previously designated as “nonessential” based on their respective job duties. Level 1 state employees are those who were previously designated as “essential” and shall report as scheduled or directed. The terminology used for these classifications was modified through an executive order issued in 2018.
“We’ve lucked out so far this winter season with very little snow up until now, however that is looking like it will change Monday night as a significant snowstorm will come through Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “While it’s looking like most of the snow will fall during the overnight hours, it will continue into the morning commute, making travel difficult, and some lingering snow is expected to continue throughout the day. Out of an abundance of caution, we will close state office buildings for the day on Tuesday. All level 2 state employees should stay home on Tuesday, and those whose job responsibilities can be completed remotely should do so. I strongly encourage everyone in Connecticut to stay off the roads on Tuesday morning unless absolutely necessary, particularly during the height of the storm so that plow crews can clear the roads and keep everyone safe.”
Senator Herron Gaston (D-Bridgeport), Chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee, is leading a public hearing on Senate Bill 1022, ‘An Act Requiring Police Officers To Provide A Driver With The Reason For A Traffic Stop And Concerning Certain Police Officer Training,’ a bill Senator Gaston introduced this legislative session.
Senate Bill 1022 will require police officers to inform drivers of the reason for a traffic stop and encourage additional police officer trainings on de-escalation, use of force, customer service, diversity, and bias.
“I know there are times when a person has broken a law and they deserve to be pulled over, rightfully so, but they also deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Sen. Gaston. “There needs to be a trust that is created between motorists and law enforcement. It is critically important for our law enforcement to exemplify basic courtesy during any traffic stop. I want to continue to fight for drivers behind the wheel.”
Currently in Connecticut, an officer does not have to tell you why you are being pulled over, they can ask you for your ID during a traffic stop. Research shows police officers stop Black drivers more often than White drivers and according to the Open Policing Project, on a typical day in the U.S., police officers conduct more than 50,000 traffic stops, with officers generally stopping Black drivers at a higher rate than white drivers. Sometimes officers take advantage and will not disclose a reason a person is being pulled over. A study done in 2020 shows Black drivers were 20 percent more likely to be stopped than white drivers, and Black drivers were searched about 1.5 to 2 times as often as white drivers.
Connecticut will receive an additional $19.6 million in federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as part of the 2023 omnibus appropriations bill. Since November, Connecticut has received more than $105 million in LIHEAP funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“LIHEAP helps thousands of Connecticut families and seniors keep their lights on and their homes warm each year. This winter’s high energy costs have put a major strain on the program, and that’s why our delegation has consistently pushed the administration to get as much federal funding out the door as possible. I’m glad to see our state receive an additional $19.6 million to help more people afford their energy bills and stay warm,” said Murphy.
“Everywhere I travel across our state, I hear again and again from people fearful and angry about the crushing cost of home heating bills. This $19.6 million for LIHEAP will deliver real relief to Connecticut families when they need it most. No one should ever have to choose between putting food on their table, keeping the lights on, or heating their home, and thanks to this funding, fewer people will face those tough choices this winter,” said Blumenthal.
“I have long believed that no one should have to choose between buying groceries or keeping their homes warm. This additional $19.6 million in LIHEAP funding that I secured while Chair of the Appropriations Committee for Connecticut’s families is a matter of values, and the government has a moral responsibility to ensure hard working families can make ends meet,” said DeLauro. “That is why I continue to strongly support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which has provided energy assistance for more than 40 years to our most vulnerable families and children amid steeply rising energy prices. Not only will this help working families save money, it will help reduce mortality rates here in Connecticut and across the country. I am proud to fight for robust investments in programs like LIHEAP that help working families and seniors by reducing energy insecurity, lowering their cost of living, and improving health outcomes.”
“At a time when families are struggling with the impact of volatile energy prices, LIHEAP is a lifeline,” said Hayes. Connecticut will receive $19.6 million through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ease the burden of utility costs and prevent shut-offs across the state. This support is particularly important as over 40% of Connecticut households rely on home heating oil or petroleum products to meet their primary heating needs. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for additional funding for this vital resource and efforts that promote energy independence.”
“Rising home heating costs have placed a strain on household budgets across the state and country,” said Larson. “The Connecticut delegation has worked together throughout the fall and winter to ensure this crucial program is fully funded. Today’s announcement will ensure families struggling to afford to heat their homes have the support they need.”
“Spring is just around the corner, but we’ve still got cold weather ahead of us in eastern Connecticut—that’s why it was so important that we worked together to re-fuel the federal LIHEAP program, and now this new funding is going to be there for our people in our region when they need it,” said Courtney. “This federal support is going to provide real, tangible financial relief to thousands of households in our region, it’s going to help people stay warm in their homes, and there are more households that qualify for this support now than ever before thanks to new program rules. My office is ready to help anyone in eastern Connecticut who is interested in this support.”
“LIHEAP is a lifeline for thousands of Fourth District families who struggle to afford high energy bills,” said Himes. This funding means that recipients throughout Connecticut will receive the support they need to pay their bills and keep their families safe and warm through the colder months.”
This press release is made possible by our sponsor who accepts energy assistance:
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and a bipartisan coalition of legislators announced new proposed legislation to strengthen Connecticut’s ability to fight obnoxious and intrusive robocalls. The legislation would modernize the state’s anti-robocall statutes to match new tactics and technology used to inundate Connecticut households with relentless, unwanted calls.
Connecticut’s robocall statutes have not been updated since 2015. Some portions have not been updated since they were first enacted in 1996. Our laws have failed to keep up with current tactics used by scammers. Specifically, the proposal expands the statutes to cover text messages, bans “gateway” voice over internet protocol (VoIP) providers from facilitating overseas scammers’ access to the U.S. telecom networks, allows for enforcement action against calls received by Connecticut area codes regardless of where the calls originate, bars telemarketers from contacting Connecticut residents before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m., strengthens disclosures that telemarketers must make, and clarifies protections provided by the Do Not Call List.
“Americans lose billions of dollars each year to robocall scams. Our laws have failed to keep pace with the tactics and technology these scammers use. Our bipartisan proposal brings Connecticut’s robocall laws into the modern era. It’s not just phone calls anymore– we need to crack down on fraudulent text messages too. And we need to take on the gateway providers that get rich off patching overseas scammers into our American networks. With strong, modern laws we can shut down this telecom fraud highway and bring scammers to justice,” said Attorney General Tong.
“In addition to being just downright annoying, robocalls and telemarketing – especially those originating overseas – are a hotbed of consumer fraud.” Rep. Mike D’Agostino said. “Our continued collaborative work with Attorney General Tong, and his office, will strengthen our enforcement and consumer protection safeguards, so we can do more to prevent these activities.”
“Eliminating robocalls is one of the many important measures we can take to ensure protection for Connecticut’s consumers. Fraudulent companies are popping up every day and consistently targeting those who they know will likely fall victims to their schemes. More than just intrusive and annoying, for our most vulnerable residents robocalls have caused significant financial losses. I thank Attorney General Tong for not only working to stop these predatory companies and assist their victims, but for looking for a long-term solution to protect our residents,” said Rep. Jeff Currey.
“I have worked diligently to protect Connecticut online data privacy and now I am committed to overseeing legislation that works to protect you when answering a phone call. Thank you to Attorney General William Tong for his efforts in providing preventative measures when it comes to consistent robocalls,” said Sen. James Maroney. “I, like many Connecticut residents, frequently receive calls from ‘Spam Risk’. I will join AG Tong in the fight to protect the privacy and solitude for all Connecticut residents.”
State Rep. David Rutigliano said, “I am pleased to join the Attorney General as his office focuses on this most important topic to my constituents, these calls and deceptive tactics are not just a nuisance, they are potential fraud.”
“As the ranking member of the General Law Committee, my top priority is to deliver effective solutions for my constituents, particularly senior citizens, who are increasingly plagued by intrusive and predatory robo-calls. These calls are often used by dishonest actors to deceive even the most discerning individuals,” said State Sen. Paul Cicarella. “Not only are these calls unwanted, but they are also misleading—they often appear to originate from local sources when they are actually coming from thousands of miles away. We must take a stand against these malicious practices and work to prevent people from being exploited through their phones, which are our primary connection to the world around us.”
“In 2020, 9 in 10 American adults encountered a fraud attempt and according to the Federal Trade Commission, the phone remains the most successful way to target a scam. Scammers have latched on to robocall technology to bilk consumers. Our consumer protections need to line up with ever changing technology and cover all forms of person to person communications,” said Nora Duncan, State Director for AARP Connecticut.
In 2022 alone, Connecticut consumers received approximately 471 million robocalls. Of those, 26 percent were scams. These calls predominantly originate overseas using automated dialing systems, chat bots, and prerecorded calls. VoIP gateway providers play a big role in facilitating these scams by enabling these foreign calls into the U.S. telephone network. Without these willing gateway providers, these scam calls could not get through. This legislation seeks to hold those gateway providers accountable by extending liability to those who provide substantial support or assistance to those engaging in the fraud.
Connecticut is among 16 states leading the nationwide Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force. In its first action last summer, the task force issued 20 civil investigative demands seeking information from 20 gateway providers and other entities allegedly responsible for a majority of foreign robocall traffic into our country. That investigation is active and ongoing. Those civil investigative demands were filed in an Indiana state court under state laws there. The proposed legislation would bring Connecticut’s statutes in line with other states and strengthen Connecticut’s ability to pursue independent actions against bad actors facilitating intrusive scam calls in our state.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that FORGE – a nonprofit organization that connects startups creating physical products with the product development, manufacturing, and supply chain resources they need to grow and succeed – is establishing operations in Connecticut and will begin providing its services – free of charge – to local startups.
The staff at FORGE are experts in helping innovators navigate the journey from physical prototype to commercialization. They do this by connecting startups with experienced product experts, manufacturers, engineers, and the local supply chains to drive business relationships. Since its founding in 2015, the organization has operated in Massachusetts, where it has supported hundreds of creators of physical products, leading to the creation of more than 5,000 jobs and adding $34 million to the local economy.
In Connecticut, FORGE intends to replicate that success by identifying innovators and connecting them with manufacturers that have required resources and skillsets. FORGE will also leverage its expertise to help innovators ensure they are suitable for manufacturer consideration, ultimately accelerating the process of bringing product ideas to life.
“We know the critical role manufacturing plays in our economy, and connecting these resources to the startups that are driving innovation will help keep Connecticut a leader through these sectors,” Governor Lamont said. “FORGE’s presence in Connecticut will set the stage for long-term manufacturing and business innovation.”
“Connecticut’s ecosystem provides a rich assortment of suppliers and advanced manufacturing offerings,” Laura Teicher, executive director of FORGE, said. “This complete, end-to-end ecosystem helps ensure a successful economic future for Connecticut.”
“If we invent it in Connecticut, we want to manufacture it in Connecticut,” Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, said. “This program actively fulfills Governor Lamont’s mission to enhance and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Connecticut’s manufacturing sector. We will support our entrepreneurial innovators with services to take them from prototype to commercialization. We are a national leader in innovation and are creating an ecosystem to continue to support innovation.”
“Connecticut already possesses a robust manufacturing ecosystem composed of both innovative entrepreneurs and world-class manufacturers,” Onyeka Obiocha, executive director of CTNext, said. “Too often, our entrepreneurs and startups are unaware of the capabilities residing within the state and look elsewhere to advance their product and business ambitions. By establishing a presence in Connecticut, FORGE will facilitate new connections between entrepreneurs and manufacturers, ultimately deepening the depth and breadth of our manufacturing sector and generating new employment opportunities.”
FORGE will establish its Connecticut presence in Hartford. In the months to come, the organization will embark on a statewide roadshow and participate in multiple industry events to raise awareness of its services for innovators and manufacturers.
For more information on FORGE, visit www.forgeimpact.org. Inquiries about the services FORGE offers can be directed to Adam Rodrigues at adam@forgeimpact.org.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today held a news conference in New Britain to announced that he has submitted multi-pronged legislative proposals to the General Assembly that focus on reducing health care costs for Connecticut residents, with a particular emphasis on enhancing competition, eliminating unnecessary charges, reducing rising prices, and increasing affordability for residents and employers.
The legislation is House Bill 6669, An Act Protecting Patients and Prohibiting Unnecessary Health Care Costs, and Senate Bill 983, An Act Limiting Anticompetitive Health Care Practices.
“Gallup recently reported that record-high numbers of Americans are putting off care due to costs,” Governor Lamont said. “Approximately 38% of Americans put off care in 2022, the highest percentage Gallup has ever seen in its 22 years of polling. Two-thirds of personal bankruptcies are related to medical debt, the most common cause of bankruptcy, and healthcare is consuming a larger and larger percentage of GDP, now more than 18%. We simply can no longer afford not to take action. These bills I’m proposing tackle this complex problem from multiple angles, and I am calling on all parties – insurers, hospitals, doctors, employers, and consumers – to join with me in working on solutions for the people of Connecticut.”
“Access to affordable and quality health care is one of most important issues facing Connecticut families and businesses at a time when costs are rising and insurance covers less than it used to,” Comptroller Sean Scanlon said. “The fight for better health care for the people of this state is one of my biggest priorities as comptroller, and I’m proud to be working with Governor Lamont to pass a ‘patients first’ health care reform agenda that will lower costs and ensure everyone has access to the care they deserve.”
“While our state’s health care system is high in quality and ranks among the best nationwide, the rising costs remain a barrier for far too many people and results in many people putting off care because they can’t afford it,” Dr. Deidre Gifford, executive director of the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy, said. “It is clear that hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and retail pharmacy costs are the largest contributors to the health care affordability problem. Health system consolidation and lack of competition is also contributing. These multi-pronged proposals address major cost drivers in these areas and expand on our continuing efforts to contain medical costs.”
“The cost of health care is a challenge for nearly everyone in the state, but it is particularly acute for people of color,” Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation and member of the Office of Health Strategy’s Healthcare Benchmark Initiative Steering Committee, said. “Data from the Connecticut Healthcare Affordability Index show that people of color are especially likely to have health care costs that are unaffordable – that is, their health care costs are too high to meet other basic needs without going into debt. The consequences of unaffordable health care are clear and troubling: people skipping medication, avoiding care, and household budgets stretched to the breaking point to pay off medical debt. We cannot achieve health equity unless health care is affordable. The causes of high health care costs are complex, but the need is simple – we must all work together to assure that everyone can afford to get the care they need when they need it.”
The legislation:
Eliminates hospital facility fees charged at free-standing offices and clinics.
Implements stronger regulatory enforcement tools at the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy to assure compliance with certificate of need requirements and related conditions of approval, such as cost controls, patient access, and detailed reporting. This will curb health care costs by preventing duplicative services in specific areas, while ensuring availability and access to critical services in all parts of the state.
Commits Connecticut to joining a multistate bulk purchasing consortium to negotiate prescription drug discounts that all of the state’s residents will be able to access through a discount card at their pharmacy.
Requires the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy to annually publish a list of prescription drugs that are experiencing major price spikes to inform consumers and prescribers about which drug prices are going up and by how much.
Reins in aggressive marketing practices by pharmaceutical representatives to ensure prescribers get clear and accurate information about the drugs they prescribe and generic alternatives. Pharmaceutical representatives will be required to complete a training, register with the state, and disclose relevant information about drug costs and efficacy across different races and ethnicity, if known.
Strengthens protections to ensure that discounted prescription drugs purchased through the federal 340B program benefit the low-income consumers and communities the program was designed to help.
Prevents price gouging when patients get care from a provider who is not in their network. Specifically, the governor is proposing to limit out-of-network costs for inpatient and outpatient hospital services to 100% of the Medicare rate for the same service in the same geographic area.
Outlaws the use of anti-competitive contracting practices that have been used by health systems to impede competition and increase prices. This will provide health insurers with additional bargaining power to make it easier to negotiate affordable prices for consumers. These include:
Anti-tiering clauses: Requiring a health plan to extend a preferred value tier status to all facilities or provider in a health system, even if certain providers do not meet cost or quality standards for that tier.
Anti-steering clauses: Prohibiting insurers from using incentives to steer patients to higher value providers.
All-or-nothing clauses: Requiring health plans to accept all providers in a healthcare system or none of them.
Gag clauses: Preventing parties from disclosing relevant information, including price or terms of an agreement to a third party.
House Bill 6669 has been referred to the Public Health Committee, and Senate Bill 983 has been referred to the Insurance and Real Estate Committee.
