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HB 6834 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES STATUTES.

HB 6834 modifies Connecticut's mental health and addiction services statutes, primarily affecting individuals in court-ordered substance use treatment programs who qualify as indigent (unable to pay fees). The bill clarifies that courts may waive treatment costs for these individuals, but insurance (private, Medicare, or Medicaid) must cover eligible costs first. Uncovered expenses like copays or deductibles - those not paid by insurance - will then be covered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This applies to sections 54-56q and 54-56r of the general statutes, effective July 1, 2025. The bill also reorganizes the department’s structure and designates it as the state’s methadone authority, but the fee waiver mechanism is the most direct policy change for affected individuals.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill waives court treatment costs for indigent individuals in substance use programs, removing financial barriers to rehabilitation - directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures indigent individuals in mental health treatment receive coverage for uncovered insurance costs (copays/deductibles), expanding access and filling gaps in mental health services funding.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PH Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was revised from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' with amendments to clarify insurance payment responsibilities and update the bill's page count. The most significant substantive change adds a new designation for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as the state methadone authority, expanding its federal authorization to treat opiate addiction with opioid medications.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to formally designate the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as the state methadone authority, granting it specific federal authority to treat opiate addiction.
FISCAL

Clarified that insurance companies must pay for covered benefits, while out-of-pocket expenses like copays, coinsurance, and deductibles remain the responsibility of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision designating the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as the state methadone authority, authorizing it to exercise federal responsibility for treating opiate addiction with opioid medications.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill type from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and updated the page count from 12 pages to 11 pages.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.