Senate Substitute Bill No. 274 (File No. 93) is a Connecticut legislative proposal concerning the opioid crisis. The bill involves amendments to the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council, which is part of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. It expands the council's composition to include up to seven additional members with expertise in substance use disorders and mandates the council to update its state-wide plan by January 1, 2017, to include goals for reducing opioid-induced deaths. The bill also introduces a new subsection (e) that establishes a standing subcommittee within the council. This subcommittee is tasked with reviewing services for parents and caregivers affected by substance use disorder and their children, developing recommendations for treatment and prevention services, safety planning for children, and naloxone distribution. Recommendations must be submitted to various committees and the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee by January 1, 2025, and every three years thereafter.

The bill further requires the Commissioner of Social Services and the Insurance Commissioner to create a plan by January 1, 2025, to ensure Medicaid and private insurance coverage for opioid antagonists for patients prescribed opioids upon hospital discharge. This plan must be reported to the General Law, Human Services, Insurance, and Public Health committees. The bill is effective upon passage and amends section 17a-667 of the state law, with no anticipated fiscal impact from its implementation. The Public Health Committee has given a Joint Favorable report, with the majority voting in favor of the bill on March 11, 2024.

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Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable:
File No. 93: