§ 3 — MEDICAL RESIDENTS' PERMITS
Medical residents and interns must get a DPH permit to participate in their programs. Under the act, the person's ability to practice medicine under the permit automatically ends when the internship or residency ends or he or she leaves the program. Anyone who continues to perform medicine is subject to DPH sanctions.
§16 — PHYSICIAN CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
The act adds cultural competency to the list of continuing medical education topics physicians must take every two years. The requirement begins with license registration periods starting on and after October 1, 2010. The list currently covers infectious diseases, risk management, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Physicians must take at least 50 minutes (one contact hour) of education in each of these topics every two years.
§ 68 — NEW RADIOLOGIST ASSISTANT CATEGORY
The act enables a licensed radiologic technologist (someone who operates x-ray equipment, also known as a radiographer) to perform more advanced radiologic procedures as a radiologist assistant.

PA 09-41—SB 458 AN ACT REQUIRING COMMUNICATION OF MAMMOGRAPHIC BREAST DENSITY INFORMATION TO PATIENTS
This act requires all mammography reports (i. e. , written results of a mammogram) given to a patient on and after October 1, 2009 to include information about breast density based on the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS). When applicable, the report must include the following notice:
“If your mammogram demonstrates that you have dense breast tissue, which could hide small abnormalities, you might benefit from supplementary screening tests, which can include a breast ultrasound screening or a breast MRI examination, or both, depending on your individual risk factors. A report of your mammography results, which contains information about your breast density, has been sent to your physician's office and you should contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns about this report. ”

PA 09-46—SB 46 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONSUMER REPORT CARD
This act requires the (1) insurance commissioner to include in the annual health insurance consumer report card the medical loss ratio of each insurer and HMO included in the report and (2) Insurance Department to prominently display a link to the report card on its website.
The act names the report card the “Consumer Report Card on Health Insurance Carriers in Connecticut” and changes, from March 15 to October 15, the date by which the insurance commissioner, after consultation with the public health commissioner, must annually develop and distribute it.

PA 09-49 – SB 959 AN ACT CONCERNING EXTERNAL APPEALS OF ADVERSE DETERMINATIONS BY A MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION, HEALTH INSURER OR UTILIZATION REVIEW COMPANY.
This bill establishes an “expedited external appeal process” for a health plan enrollee, of his or her health care provider, to use after his or her health insurer or similar entity denies coverage for a procedure or treatment that has not yet been received and the time frame for completing the entity's expedited internal appeal could cause or worsen a life-threatening or emergency situation.

PA 09-58 – SB 781 AN ACT CONCERNING THERAPEUTIC CONTACT LENSES
To allow a licensed optometrist to acquire, prescribe, dispense and charge for contact lenses that provide vision correction and contain a therapeutic drug agent approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. A prescribing physician or surgeon may dispense and sell contact lenses that contain a drug, as defined in section 20-571. As used in this subsection, "physician" means a person holding a license issued pursuant to this chapter, except a homeopathic physician.

PA 09-59—SB 1089 AN ACT CONCERNING AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS
This act provides immunity in a lawsuit for damages for acts arising out of a person's or entity's negligence in providing or maintaining an automatic external defibrillator (AED). Existing law already provides immunity for those rendering assistance. The act specifies that immunity does not apply to gross, willful, or wanton negligence.

PA 09-16-HB 6599 AN ACT CONCERNING PATIENT SAFETY
This act permits only licensed or certified ambulance and rescue services to transport patients on stretchers in motor vehicles. The Public Health Department licenses commercial ambulance and rescue services and issues certificates to volunteer and municipal ambulance services. By law, anyone who willfully violates an emergency medical services law can be fined up to $250, imprisoned for up to three months, or both. The act permits a licensed registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or respiratory care practitioner to supplement the ambulance transport if he or she has current training and certification (1) in pediatric or adult advance life support or (2) from the American Academy of Pediatrics' neonatal resuscitation program, as appropriate and based on the patient's condition.

PA 09-95 SB 1079 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK
To allow state agencies participating in the Connecticut Health Information Network to disclose certain personally identifiable information to said network provided such disclosure is in accordance with governing federal law.

PA 09-20 HB AN ACT REQUIRING THE ADMINISTRATION OF A SCREENING TEST FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS TO NEWBORN INFANTS
This act requires all health care institutions caring for newborn infants to test them for cystic fibrosis, unless, as allowed by law, their parents object on religious grounds. It requires the testing to be done as soon as is medically appropriate. Under the act, the cystic fibrosis test is in addition to, but separate from, the Public Health Department's newborn screening program for genetic diseases and metabolic disorders.

PA 09-76 SB1010 AN ACT CONCERNING EXPOSURE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
This act requires a hospital to timely notify an emergency service organization (ESO) when a patient the ESO attended, treated, assisted, handled, or transported to the hospital is diagnosed with infectious pulmonary tuberculosis. The act prohibits the hospital from revealing the patient's identity. The act requires each ESO to designate an employee or volunteer to (1) receive the notice; (2) initiate notification requests in cases where an ESO member or volunteer reports possible exposure to an infectious disease, including TB; and (3) perform related functions with regard to infectious diseases. The act allows the designee, if unavailable, to name another employee or volunteer to perform these functions.

 

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