This Week
We're almost to the finish line: the 2015 session of the General Assembly will gavel to a close at midnight on Wednesday. That's not much time, but there is still the possibility of a last-minute vote on SB 1028.
We've come this far - we can't stop now. Keep the pressure on and prevent SB 1028 from coming to a vote in the last few hours of the session. Physician contact is critical to block this bill -- click here to contact your Representative and ask for a NO vote on SB 1028.
Questions? Contact CSMS SVP for Government Affairs Ken Ferrucci (kferrucci@csms.org or 203-865-0587 x106).
End of Session Bill Checklist
The CT Mirror has developed this handy Bill Checklist to track the progress of key legislation. It's an interactive guide to view bill status; you can also search by topic.
The House has already passed several bills of interest to CSMS members:
SB 467 / Telemedicine
This bill passed the House (142-3) and the Senate (35-0) and now heads to the Governor.
it grew out of series of public hearings held last fall by the Bipartisan Roundtable on Hospitals and Healthcare. CSMS worked closely with the bill's sponsors, Roundtable Co-Chairs Sen. Len Fasano and Sen. Martin Looney, to ensure that appropriate standards for patient safety and quality of care were included. ( See CSMS testimony) Under the bill, telehealth providers will be:
- Prohibited from prescribing controlled substances or ordering x-rays
- Required to give records of the interaction to the patient’s primary care provider (with patient consent)
- Required to have access to patient medical records
- Required to hold a CT license, but are not required to have a physician office in the state
The bill also requires insurance plans to cover telehealth services.
HB 6856 / Opioid Prescribing
CSMS supported the intent of this bill ( testimony here), but expressed concern over its lack of any increase in resources for those suffering from opioid addiction, or in opportunities to treat the underlying disease. CSMS physician leaders also noted the importance of providing opportunities for patient education and counseling.
An amended version of this bill passed the House 145-0 on May 28, and passed the Senate earlier this afternoon with a vote of 35-0. The House amendments removed and/or clarified sections of physician concern, and we will provide a significant summary in an upcoming enews.
SB 811 / Hospital Sales Oversight
The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) has a summary of the bill, which is one of several introduced by Roundtable Co-Chairs Sen. Looney and Sen. Fasano. The original version of this bill passed the Senate on 5/21 (30-5). Subsequently it was amended in the House and passed on 5/31 (98-43). Today, the Senate accepted those changes today unanimously.
CT DSS is introducing a second Pay for Performance (P4P) Program in obstetrics care, beginning June 1, 2015.
To be eligible for P4P payments, obstetrical services must be performed on dates of service June 1, 2015 through November 30, 2015.
Data will be collected through May 31, 2016 to allow for claims run out. Payments will be distributed in calendar year 2016.
This month, the DCP will launch a $60 million marketing campaign aimed at engaging more physicians in the state's medical marijuana program.
CSMS member Andrew Salner, MD and CSMS Legislative Chair David Emmel, MD were interviewed by the Hartford Business Journal and provided some physician perspectives on the program.
Interested in learning more about the state's medical marijuana program? The CT Pharmacists' Association will host the second annual Medical Cannabis Symposium on 6/17. Click for details and registration information. |
