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Human Services Committee Holds Public Hearing on Medicaid, Husky assistance for Treatment of Obesity

Today, the Human Services Committee heard legislation concerning adding medical assistance with treatment of severe obesity to Medicaid and HUSKY B beneficiaries, aiming to improve the health outcomes of individuals experiencing these conditions and limiting the effects of treatment on the medical industry. State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) strongly supports the legislation, which he helped introduce in this legislative session.

“The health outcomes of a patient experiencing extreme obesity can be very negative, causing potential lifelong conditions and even reducing their quality of life or lifespan,” said Sen. Anwar. “With many societal problems that can contribute to weight gain and development of obesity, including food deserts in major cities and lack of nutritional education, as well as medical diagnoses that can lead to similar circumstances, we should treat obesity as a societal concern. Providing means for patients on Medicaid and HUSKY B to access surgical and prescription medical aid for these conditions can have a positive effect not only on their own health, but reduce the strain on health systems caused by treating serious complications of obesity that can develop over time. When we have the opportunities and the resources to prevent these outcomes, we should put standards in place to do so.”

Senate Bill 282, “An Act Concerning Medical Assistance For Bariatric Surgery and Prescription Drug Treatment of Obesity,” would see the Commissioner of Social Services provide medical assistance for bariatric surgery for Medicaid and HUSKY B beneficiaries with severe obesity and prescription drug treatment of individuals considered obese with body mass indexes greater than 35, assuming those beneficiaries meet other conditions set for those treatments. Under the legislation, severe obesity is considered a body mass index greater than forty (a six-foot tall man weighing more than 300 pounds or a woman standing at 5 feet 3 inches with a weight over 225 pounds, for instance). It also considers a body mass index greater than 35 if an individual has been diagnosed with a related comorbidity such as diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.

In testimony submitted to the Committee, medical professionals largely approved of the legislation. Jonathan Aranow, MD, former president of the Connecticut Chapters of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, testified that, over a period of time, the bill would generate more cost savings than expenditures within five years of passage, potentially saving the state $12 million annually in health care spending. Melissa Mitri, president of the Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, noted that the legislation focuses on patients with significantly increased risk of chronic diseases related to obesity and that the legislation would increase access to treatment for the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Pavlos Papasavas, MD, immediate past president of the CCASMBS, said that obesity disproportionately affects minorities, and that 13.4% of children in Connecticut are obese. He noted that 50.8% of patients who received a COVID-19 diagnosis in early waves of the pandemic who visited emergency departments or were admitted to departments were obese, another negative health consequence of the condition, which is considered a comorbidity increasing the risk of severe COVID-19 complications. What’s more, he added, Connecticut is the only state in New England with Affordable Care Act plans not covering bariatric surgery; such an action would benefit the state through cost savings and humanitarian support.

Sen. Anwar-Sponsored Legislation Reducing Lead Poisoning Receives Public Hearing

Today, legislation proposed by Governor Ned Lamont and co-sponsored by State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Vice Chair of the Public Health Committee, that would work to reduce lead poisoning and lead content in Connecticut was heard at public hearing by that committee. The legislation seeks to reduce lead positioning by, primarily, introducing lead testing annually for any child between the ages of 3 and 6 who are at elevated risk of lead exposure due to medical assistance or factors in their homes. It further reduces acceptable levels of lead found in blood tests by nearly two-thirds, and is intended to lead to on-site inspections where children may have elevated lead levels in blood.

“We sometimes think of lead poisoning as a thing of the past, but it still impacts far too many children today, and lead exposure can cause brain damage, slowed growth and behavior problems, among others,” said Sen. Anwar. “I’m extremely encouraged that this legislation targets lead poisoning by testing at-risk children, reduces the threshold for lead poisoning in that testing and will lead to inspections, and potentially removal of dangerous, outdated infrastructure, over time. This legislation provides an important focus on the health of our children.”

Governor’s Bill 5045, “An Act Reducing Lead Poisoning,” reduces the threshold constituting lead poisoning from 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood to 3.5 micrograms; requires on-site inspection in cases where blood lead levels were above 10 micrograms in tests before 2023; in 2024, requires on-site inspections where blood lead level was above at least 5 micrograms; and requires testing for any child aged 3-6 at elevated risk of lead exposure based on medical assistance programs or residence in a municipality with factors including housing built before 1960 and prevalence of children’s blood lead levels.

In testimony, many parties supported Governor’s Bill 5045. Connecticut Voices For Children said up to 0.5% of children under the age of 6 in Connecticut had blood lead levels indicating lead poisoning, and that children with elevated blood levels are 30% more likely to fail third-grade reading and math tests, as well as that Black and Hispanic children are more likely to be lead poisoned than white children. The Connecticut Hospital Association said the legislation would substantially improve the state’s ability to diminish risk of lead poisoning, and that at least 2,000 children were poisoned every year from 2012 to 2016.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, said that this bill will align state statutes with approved standards set by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allow for earlier indication and potential intervention, and promote healthier communities in Connecticut as a whole.

Sen. Anwar-Sponsored Legislation Ensuring Training and Best Practices for Application of Sodium Chloride Heard in Environment Committee

This week, legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) in response to a growing issue he has heard about from concerned constituents received a public hearing in the Environment Committee. The legislation, which seeks to provide training and certification for roadside applicators of sodium chloride – prominently used during winter as a preventive measure against snow and ice – is intended to help reduce negative consequences of over-application, including environmental concerns and corruption of home well water systems, seen in several Connecticut homes already.

“Having training standards in place for use of sodium chloride will be an important step to reduce the environmental harms that overuse of the substance can cause,” said Sen. Anwar. “I first raised concerns about sodium chloride pollution years ago after hearing from my constituents about issues with home well water systems, including some requiring expensive replacements. I’m confident that this legislation will ensure the issue is taken more seriously.”

“Minimizing the potentially damaging impacts of sodium chloride to homeowners and ensuring that our residents have clean, potable water is the goal of this legislation,” said State Senator Christine Cohen, Senate Chair of the Environment Committee. “By providing this comprehensive training program to applicators statewide, we can further the good results we have seen in municipalities who have undergone certification. I am grateful to Senator Anwar for raising awareness on this important issue and am hopeful we can continue to make progress for our environment, as well as private well owners.”

Senate Bill 240, “An Act Concerning The Use of Sodium Chloride To Mitigate Snow And Ice Conditions,” would lead to the formation of a training program for roadside applicators to better inform them of best practices for applying the substance to roads. In return for applicators receiving training and certification, they would receive protection from liability as long as they use best practices to reduce sodium chloride’s environmental impact. It received a public hearing Monday, March 7.

In testimony, Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, said the overuse of salt in mitigating ice and snow is impacting Connecticut drinking water resources, leading to increased corrosivity that can introduce traces of harmful metals in water, cause damage to plumbing and appliances running on water and spur increased presence of contaminates like manganese, iron and hardness.

Groups testifying to support this legislation include the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, the Connecticut Council of Small Towns and The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut.