TODAY’S UPDATE (4/22): Big Increase In Confirmed Cases/ Unemployment Update/ New Executive Order/ Legislature Not Returning for Regular Session

Since yesterday’s update, an additional 2,109 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Connecticut, bringing the statewide total to 22,469, including a total of 22 confirmed cases (+1 since yesterday) in East Windsor and 27 confirmed cases (+1 since yesterday) in Ellington. No new COVID-19 associated fatalities were reported in East Windsor (now only 1 resident death) and Ellington (total 4 resident deaths) in today’s data.

To date, more than 69,918 patients have been tested in Connecticut (+5,726 since yesterday). Approximately 1,972 patients are currently hospitalized (net +23 since yesterday). The total statewide number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is now 1,544 (+121 since yesterday). The Governor’s Office notes that the day-to-day changes reflect newly reported cases, deaths, and tests that occurred over the last several days to week.

Please continue to practice social distancing.

UNEMPLOYMENT UPDATE

With the new technology enhancements by the Department of Labor, processing time has been reduced to about three weeks, and the agency is on target to reduce that time further to one week by the close of this week. Benefits will be retroactive to the date a person needed to apply. Anyone who is filing for benefits is strongly encouraged to select direct deposit since this is the quickest method to receive the benefits.

For an update FAQ, please visit: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/DOLCOVIDFAQ.PDF

NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 7DD

Governor Lamont today signed another executive order – the 31st since he enacted the emergency declarations. Executive Order No. 7DD enacts the following provisions:

· Additions to the definition of telehealth provider: Modifies state statutes to add any licensed dentist, behavioral analyst, genetic counselor, music therapist, art therapist, and veterinarian to the definition of telehealth provider.
· Flexibility for Medicaid-enrolled providers and in-network providers for commercial fully insured health insurance to perform telehealth through additional methods: Modifies Section 5 of Executive Order No. 7G regarding the delivery of telehealth with an updated definition and requirements for telehealth.
· Additions to permissible out-of-state healthcare providers: Modifies state statutes to additionally allow the commissioner of the Department of Public Health to issue an order to suspend, for a period not to exceed sixty consecutive days, the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration for occupational therapists; alcohol and drug counselors; radiographers, radiologic technologists, radiologist assistants, and nuclear medicine technologists; dentists; dental hygienists; behavioral analysts; genetic counselors; music therapists; art therapists; dietician-nutritionists; and speech and language pathologists.
· Participation in intern, resident physician, or United States Medical Officer candidate training programs prior to permit issuance: Modifies state statutes to allow a person to participate in an intern or resident physician program or United States Medical officer candidate training program prior to issuance of a permit by the Department of Public Health provided that the hospital administrator documents that the person has satisfied the requirements for such a permit set forth in the statute.
· Participation in resident physician assistant program prior to permit issuance: Modifies state statutes to allow a person to participate in a resident physician assistant program in a short-term hospital that provides a postgraduate medical education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, without a license or temporary permit or a training permit issued by the Department of Public Health, provided that the hospital administrator documents that the person is to be appointed a resident physician assistant in such hospital and has satisfied certain requirements.
· Temporary suspension of physician assistant supervision restrictions: Modifies state statutes to suspend the supervision requirements for physician assistants authorized to practice in the State of Connecticut.
· Temporary suspension of in-person supervision requirement for advanced practice registered nurses: Modifies state statutes to suspend the requirement that a physician, medically directing the prescriptive activity of an advanced practice registered nurse who is prescribing and administering medical therapeutics during surgery, must be physically present in the institution, clinic, or other setting where the surgery is being performed.
· Provision of services by respiratory care therapist and respiratory care technician students: Modifies state statutes to allow a respiratory care therapist student or a respiratory care technician student to provide services except that the services are not required to be a component of such person’s course of study.
· Suspension of continuing education requirement for health care providers: Suspends certain continuing education requirements for one year for occupations and professions with annual education requirements, and for other occupations and professions the continuing education completion period and reporting requirements are suspended for six months.
· Modification of 36-month age limit for Birth-to-Three services: Modifies state statutes to authorize the commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood to temporarily expand the definition of “eligible children” to include children who are receiving Birth-to-Three intervention services but reach the age where they would no longer be eligible.

LEGISLATURE NOT RETURNING FOR REGULAR SESSION

Legislative leaders announced yesterday that the state legislature will not be reconvening before the end of the regular session’s constitutional end date of May 6th and the State Capitol complex will remain closed at least through that date. Because the session was suspended about half way through, the pieces of legislation under debate this session will not be passed. It is anticipated that the legislature will be called back into special session in the coming months to at least deal with anticipated budget issues and legislation regarding the coronavirus response.

For the language of the executive order, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/yaw4nz8u

For more information on the state’s response to the coronavirus, please visit: ct.gov/coronavirus

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or repdavis.com.