House, Senate advance bills on obesity treatments, sports safety study, preserving stone walls

HARTFORD — Treatments for obesity among low-income residents, preserving historic stone walls, studying sports safety, and expanding state forms and document to include nonbinary identification all advanced in the legislature this week and await further action.

The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation allowing Connecticut residents on Medicaid and Husky B health insurance plans to receive coverage for prescription weightloss drugs and nutrition counseling, in addition to surgery to fight obesity.

Supporters of the bill said it was an important step toward destigmatizing obesity, a condition affecting an estimated 120,000 adults and children in Connecticut.

“This is not only a medical condition, but this is a social, economical disease as well, and it is very real,” said state Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, who co-chairs the Public Health Committee.

The bill would allow residents on Medicaid and Husky B who have a body mass index over 35 to receive coverage for prescription drugs and counseling from a registered dietitian-nutritionist. Those with “severe” obesity and a

BMI over 40, or some other related medical condition, could receive coverage for bariatric, or weight-loss surgery.

Under current law, the Department of Social Services may cover weightloss surgeries in certain severe cases of obesity that are linked to other health problems.

The Senate’s bill would expand that coverage to more patients, though legislative analysts did not say how many people would be impacted. Some lawmakers said that the bill could save the state money in the long run, as some patients could opt to receive cheaper treatments through prescription weight-loss drugs, which are not currently covered by Medicaid or Husky B.

Still, some Republicans raised concerns about the lack of an estimated cost for the legislation, which passed by a 30-5 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.

Currently, 10 states including New Jersey, Georgia and South Carolina allow Medicaid to cover weight-loss drugs.

Protecting stone walls

In a 144-5 vote on Wednesday, the House approved legislation that creates a new criminal penalty for stealing stones from a stone wall or intentionally dismantling a stone wall without permission from the owner. It would create a Class D misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $250 or 30 days in jail. Judges would be permitted to order restitution for reasonable costs to restore walls to original condition. The bill heads next to the Senate.

Sports Task Force

Legislation that originated after the death last year of Teddy Balkind, a young hockey player, passed the House of Representatives in a unanimous vote on Wednesday. If approved in the Senate, where the legislation failed to meet the adjournment deadline last year, and signed into law, a task force on youth sports would be created to examine myriad sports safety issues.

This bill would create a 14-member task force to look into current procedures for protecting young athletes in youth sports leagues and intramural and interscholastic athletics. The bill would require the task force to submit annual findings to the state legislature starting Jan. 1, 2025. However recommendations on the use of protective neck guards would be due by Jan. 1, 2024.

Nonbinary options on state documents

Twenty-six Republicans joined majority Democrats in the House on

Wednesday in support of a bill that would give state agencies a Jan. 1, 2025, deadline to provide a report on what might be needed to change all printed and electronic forms to include the gender option of nonbinary for people filling them out. State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, co-chairman of the Government Administration & Elections Committee, said the legislation is needed to help validate residents who are LGBTQ.

“This bill is important for reflecting the diversity of our state, allowing individuals to accurately reflect their gender identity,” he said, adding that it would not apply to health care facilities.

Opposition was led by Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, of Wolcott, a top Republican on the GAE Committee, who asked Blumenthal

to define nonbinary. “We’re referring to anybody who does not identify as male or female,” Blumenthal replied.

“So, this is where I have a difference of opinion,” Mastrofrancesco said. “In my world there’s only two sexes. There is a male or a female. There is no nonbinary. People can certainly identify however they choose to, and I have no problem with that.”