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The COS advocates for meaningful legislative change to benefit patients and the practice of orthopaedic surgery.
The 2023 session of the CT Legislature began January 4, 2023, and your Society is committed to advocating in support of bills that help orthopaedic surgeons, the practice of medicine and patients.
The proactive, patient centered lobbying we are working toward this legislative session includes reforms to the High Deductible Health Plans and Prior Authorization practices of insurers, prohibiting drug formulary changes and seeking increased Medicaid reimbursement as well as reimbursement for devices and implants used in the care and treatment of Medicaid patients in Ambulatory Surgery Centers. We will continue to protect patient safety by responding to any scope of practice issues that go beyond a profession’s training and education.
The Senate Democratic Priorities Caucus just released their initiatives and the bill has several key components to protect patients and includes the following prior authorization reforms which should be beneficial to the orthopaedic community.
SB 6- An Act Concerning Prescription Drug Affordability and Protections For Connecticut's Health Care Consumers.
Prior Authorization Reforms Proposed:
a. Require staffing on weekends by insurers of prior authorization staff.
b. Require 24/7 staffing to respond to prior authorization.
c. Require insurance to accept prior authorization requests electronically.
d. Create a “gold card” for prior authorization so insurers cannot require prioritized authorization for frequently approved drugs or services.
We have a long way to go until June 7th (adjournment of legislature) and we need Connecticut's orthopaedic community to help deliver our positions to the Legislature. Throughout the session, we will be reaching out to the membership with grassroots alerts.
Please answer the call to action by signing up to receive timely texts from the COS. Scroll below and scan to join the Society’s texting network.
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