The Connecticut State Legislature is in session. Bills raised in the state Senate or House during this session that may be of interest to members of the CT Academy of Audiology are listed below. The text of these bills and further detail on their progress during the legislative session is available via the provided links.

Raised on March 4th:
H.B. No. 6549 (RAISED) PUBLIC HEALTH. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO SCOPE OF PRACTICE DETERMINATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS',
to establish a formalized process under the auspices of the Department of Public Health for resolving issues relating to a health care profession's scope of practice. The Public Health Committee will be holding a public hearing on Friday March 11th at 10 a.m. in Room 1D of the legislative office building. This bill will be on Friday's public hearing agenda.
REF. PUBLIC HEALTH
Link to Bill

Raised March 3rd:
H.B. No. 6519 (RAISED) APPROPRIATIONS. 'AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID SAVINGS', to identify savings in the state Medicaid program.
REF. APPROPRIATIONS
Link to Bill

Raised January 5th:
S.B. No. 20 (RAISED) AN ACT EXPANDING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS, to require health insurance coverage for a portion of the cost of hearing aids for individuals over fifty-five years of age. This bill has been forwarded to the Appropriations Committee for consideration. REF. JOINT COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE
Link to Bill

S.B. No. 17 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND EXPANSION OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, to expand or require health insurance coverage for ostomy-related supplies, prosthetic devices, hearing aids for children, wigs for patients who suffer hair loss due to certain medical conditions, and bone marrow testing; to prohibit the imposition of a coinsurance, copayment, deductible or other out-of-pocket expense for any additional colonoscopy ordered in a policy year by a physician for an insured; to promote health behavior wellness, maintenance or improvement program participation by requiring insurers to offer such programs, and to require an incentive or reward for such participation. (Please note sections 5 and 6, deal with hearing aides)

The motion to pass this bill out of committee on February 8th Failed. REF. JOINT COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE
Link to Bill