AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATES ADVANCING ALL-PAYER HEALTH EQUITY APPROACHES AND DEVELOPMENT FEDERAL INNOVATION MODEL HOSPITAL GLOBAL PAYMENT METHODOLOGY.

HB 6836 authorizes Connecticut's Department of Social Services to implement a global budget payment system for participating hospitals under the federal AHEAD (States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development) program, effective January 1, 2027. This replaces the existing Medicaid fee-for-service payment method for licensed acute care hospitals (including children's hospitals) that voluntarily join the AHEAD model, applying to all covered service categories. The global budget sets a fixed annual payment based on historical Medicare/Medicaid spending, adjusted for inflation and population changes, rather than paying per service. Non-participating hospitals continue using the traditional fee-for-service system.