Bill Text: CT SB00170 | 2013 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

---

Bill Title: An Act Concerning A Pilot Program To Provide Inmates With Health Care Plans Upon Release From Incarceration.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-02 - Vote to Hold Until Next Meeting [SB00170 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2013-SB00170-Comm_Sub.html

---

General Assembly		Committee Bill No. 170
January Session, 2013		LCO No. 5177
		*05177SB00170PH_*
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduced by:
(PH)

AN ACT CONCERNING A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE INMATES WITH HEALTH CARE PLANS UPON RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) The Commissioner of Correction shall, in consultation with community health care providers, establish and implement a pilot program to improve health care access for inmates upon their release from custody. Such program shall be implemented in not less than two correctional facilities and not less than two transitional incarceration facilities and shall have the participation of one or more primary health care providers and not fewer than two behavioral health care providers.

(b) The program shall (1) establish a method by which correctional facilities shall create a transition health plan for each inmate nearing his or her release from custody that includes (A) a summary of all physical and behavioral health issues, including identification of each medication prescribed and a description of any laboratory results, (B) identification of scheduled appointments with primary care or behavioral health care providers for each inmate who is over fifty years of age or has a chronic medical condition, a history of substance abuse dependence or mental health issue, and (C) documentation of enrollment in any social service program for which the inmate is eligible; (2) provide each inmate with prescription medication for not less than sixty days, or fifteen days after the inmate's first scheduled appointment with a health care provider who may prescribe additional medication, whichever is greater; (3) create a means for communication between community health care providers and the Department of Correction; and (4) establish a system for health care providers to assess inmates prior to their release from custody.

(c) Not later than February 1, 2014, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Correction shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division within the Office of Policy and Management, and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and appropriations, concerning the program, utilizing results-based accountability measures to assess the program's achievements. Such report may include, but need not be limited to, an analysis of the rate of recidivism, a consideration of the frequency of emergency room visits by former inmates and changes in health care costs for correctional facilities.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2013	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To establish a pilot program to provide inmates being released transitional health care plans.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]

Co-Sponsors:

SEN. HARP, 10th Dist.; SEN. LOONEY, 11th Dist. REP. DILLON, 92nd Dist.; REP. WALKER, 93rd Dist. REP. HOLDER-WINFIELD, 94th Dist.; REP. CANDELARIA, 95th Dist. REP. LEMAR, 96th Dist.; REP. MEGNA, 97th Dist.

S.B. 170