Senator Hochadel Leads Final Passage of Legislation Requiring Insurance Coverage of Biomarker Testing

Senator Jan Hochadel, co-chair of the legislature’s Aging Committee, led the state Senate Wednesday in securing unanimous final passage of a bill that will require health insurance policies to cover biomarker testing to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions like cancer.

The bill, H.B. 6771, passed the Senate, following a similar unanimous vote in the House earlier this month. The proposal will now head to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk for his signature.

H.B. 6771 makes several changes to Connecticut’s health care and insurance laws including a new requirement that certain health insurance policies cover biomarker testing, a procedure that helps doctors to identify the most effective treatments to fight conditions like cancer.

“As a cancer survivor, I was proud to lead the Senate in unanimously adopting a policy that will help future cancer patients receive personalized care to match their genetic make up with the most effective course of treatment,” Senator Hochadel, D-Meriden, said. “With this new coverage requirement, more Connecticut patients will have a better shot at beating cancer and I’m thrilled that my colleagues joined me in supporting this legislation.”

The bill includes a number of other changes like establishing a 15-member Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Task Force to examine the needs of Connecticut residents living with dementia and the services currently available to them.

The group will also be expected to develop a State Alzheimer’s Plan to examine the service needs of people with Alzheimer’s, assess the existing resources available to them, and develop strategies to increase public awareness and improve related health care services.

Other sections of the bill will impact Connecticut’s long-term care facilities and their residents. For instance, H.B. 6771 requires all prospective employees to undergo a criminal history and patient abuse background check.

The bill includes provisions designed to protect long-term care facility residents in the event of facility closures.

One such section requires a closing facility to consider a resident’s closeness to family and support networks as they work to identify an appropriate placement. Another provision establishing a working group to examine state policies impacting residential care home evacuation procedures.