General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7135 seeks to enhance reproductive and gender-affirming health care services in Connecticut by introducing new definitions and protections for both patients and health care providers. The bill defines "assisted reproduction" and "gender-affirming health care services," explicitly excluding "conversion therapy." It modifies liability judgments, allowing individuals with judgments from other states to recover damages if the services were legal in Connecticut. Additionally, the bill strengthens patient confidentiality by prohibiting the disclosure of patient information without explicit consent, with exceptions for legal proceedings, and mandates reporting of unauthorized information requests to the Attorney General.

The legislation also aims to protect health care providers from disciplinary actions based on complaints or actions from other jurisdictions, provided the services are legal in Connecticut and meet state standards of care. It prohibits insurers from penalizing providers for offering legally permitted services and restricts interstate investigations that could impose liability for providing these health care services. The bill repeals and replaces certain sections of existing law to clarify definitions and ensure that adverse actions cannot be taken against providers based on their involvement in reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Overall, the bill seeks to safeguard access to essential health care while reinforcing the rights and protections of both patients and providers.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 52-571m, 52-146w, 20-579a, 52-155a, 54-155a