HB 7213, An Act Concerning Access To Reproductive Health Care

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE

Monday, March 17, 2025

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning HB 7213, An Act Concerning Access To Reproductive Health Care. CHA has concerns about the bill as written and requests a revision as outlined below.

Connecticut hospitals and health systems care for patients, strengthen the state’s economy, and support vulnerable communities across the state. Every day, they work to improve healthcare access, affordability, and health equity. Even as they face ongoing challenges, hospitals provide world-class care to everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospitals also support an exemplary workforce as the largest collective employer in the state, contribute significantly to the state’s economy, and invest in their communities addressing social drivers of health.

CHA worked with various stakeholders to ensure that the language of HB 7213 would not have unintended consequences. Unfortunately, a key point of those discussions is not accurately reflected in the bill language, making all of Section 1 objectionable as written.

Specifically, subsection (c) of Section 1 of the bill is highly problematic because it puts too broad a prohibition on healthcare providers with respect to patient health information. The prohibition in the bill is inconsistent with HIPAA privacy rules for treatment, payment, and business operations (aka “TPO” privacy rules). As drafted, Section 1 of HB 7213 would create a dangerously incomplete longitudinal medical record and is not designed for the current electronic health record environment.

The prohibition in subsection (c) must be made specific to the provider not sharing the information with the patient’s parents or guardians (unless the patient consents). To accomplish this, subsection (c) should be revised to read as follows:

(c) No physician or other health care provider shall divulge to the minor child’s parents or guardian any information concerning the provision to a minor child of such services, examination or treatment, or any consultation for such services, examination or treatment, including, but not limited to, by sending a bill for such services, examination or treatment to the minor child’s parents or guardian without the minor child’s express consent.

This language is critical to ensuring the bill does not have any unintended consequences and to garnering CHA’s support of HB 7213.

Thank you for your consideration of our position. For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.