SB 1474, An Act Concerning The Department Of Social Services
TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning SB 1474, An Act Concerning The Department Of Social Services. CHA supports Section 1 of the bill and opposes Section 3 of the bill.
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.
CHA supports Section 1 of the bill. The prevalence of obesity in Connecticut continues to rise with a significant increase observed over a decade. In 2011, adult obesity prevalence in Connecticut was 24.5%. In 2022, prevalence rose to 30.6%. Efforts to reduce obesity have primarily focused on promoting access to affordable healthy food, promoting physical activity, and improving community spaces to support healthy lifestyle choices. Obesity has associated health risks such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, joint and bone problems, and mental health issues that can be prevented with effective weight loss.
Section 1 of the bill would expand Medicaid coverage for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) prescription drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss or commonly used for weight loss medications. GLP-1 medications are a proven means to reduce weight and the associated risks of other chronic diseases due to obesity. Some of the associated benefits besides effective weight loss are improved blood sugar control and reduced risk for heart disease. With the recent approval of generic alternatives by the FDA, we have an opportunity to ensure all patients with Medicaid coverage can access this important and effective treatment.
Connecticut hospitals and health systems work in partnership with their community partners to promote access to nutritious foods and opportunities to be physically active. A healthy diet and increased activity, when combined with GLP-1 medications, can lead to sustained weight loss and improved overall health. CHA supports this bill for its potential to improve the health of patients with obesity and reduce avoidable healthcare utilization and associated costs.
CHA opposes Section 3 of the bill. This section would require the Department of Social Services (DSS) to require non-opioid pain management training for prescribers of opioids who receive Medicaid reimbursement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal agency responsible for enforcing laws related to controlled substances. The Drug Control Division of the Department of Consumer Protection oversees Connecticut licensing for pharmacies; pharmacists; controlled substance providers and laboratories; pharmacy technicians; manufacturers and wholesalers of drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices; and medical marijuana. Any new requirements for non-opioid pain management training for prescribers of opioids should emanate from either of these agencies.
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (CAA 2023), which included the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, established a new requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners to complete eight hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. We believe that this new federal training requirement for all prescribers addresses non-opioid pain management as an element of its general training program on approaches to pain management.
Another fundamental flaw in Section 3 is its limited application to only prescribers of opioids who received Medicaid reimbursement. We believe that any training requirement should apply to the pertinent categories of practitioners and should not be limited only to those who prescribe to a particular cohort of patients based upon the patient’s means of reimbursement.
We urge the committee to delete Section 3 from this bill.
Thank you for your consideration of our position. For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.