Connecticut’s Public Health Committee voted last week to advance Senate Bill 7, legislation that aims to “Trump-proof” Connecticut health care by preserving access to care. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for further deliberation and potential passage into law.
Senate Bill 7 is designed to secure important components of state public health amid uncertainty, with a variety of provisions to support and preserve the rights of state residents to pursue and receive the care they need. It’s meant to proactively respond to potential changes to federal health policies that could see rapid changes under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Members of the president’s cabinet, like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have made public comments discouraging use of fluoride to preserve dental health and vaccinations to prevent serious diseases, spurring legislators and leaders to act.
Most prominently, Kennedy’s anti-vaccine advocacy has been directly tied to a measles outbreak in American Samoa that killed 83 children, according to various news reports.
Additionally, legislators took notice of changing policies in some states regarding abortion access and rights in emergency situations. While the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals receiving Medicare to provide emergency treatment to all patients, policy changes in some states are raising questions as to whether states with abortion bans will withhold treatment.
“Preserving access to health care means protecting reproductive rights and gender-affirming care for those who need it,” said Sen. Saud Anwar, Senate Public Health chair. “It means preserving our current water standards that cut down on cavities and tooth decay. It means making sure our DPH is ready to meet future emergencies without having to wait on the federal government – or without getting directives from the federal government at all.”
The legislation responds to those concerns in a number of ways. It preserves a 0.7 milligram per liter standard for fluoride in state water supplies, matching state water standards in case federal recommendations change.
Fluoride is tied to $6.5 billion in dental cost savings each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill further creates an advisory committee to allow for peer review for future recommendations by the CDC and Food and Drug Administration, as well as new funds to cover public health emergency communications and provide gap funding if further funding cuts impact state processes.
Senate Bill 7 will also establish a state equivalent of EMTALA to ensure stabilizing care remains accessible to any and all Connecticut residents experiencing medical emergencies. In addition to securing continued safety and continuity of those procedures if necessary, the bill prevents discrimination against individuals in receiving care.
Other changes included in the bill include ensuring Connecticut physicians can continue to provide care to patients, including reproductive health care and gender-affirming care, as well as preserving the safety and legality of individuals providing such services in good faith.
The bill also creates a “safe harbor” account that would collect private contributions and donations for support of that care. The account would support health care providers and nonprofits aiding reproductive and gender-affirming care. That comes as a growing number of states restrict gender-affirming care and more women are traveling out of state to access reproductive care, trends expected to grow in coming years.
The bill also will create a pilot program supporting mental and behavioral health wellness, providing access to an online tool connecting them with mental health care, awareness and social connection opportunities with fellow students to build friendships.
