2011 Connecticut Code
Title 19a Public Health and Well-Being
Chapter 368g Lung Disease, Tuberculosis, Chronic Illness and Breast and Cervical Cancer
Sec. 19a-255. (Formerly Sec. 19-121). Treatment of persons with tuberculosis. Payment sources for treatment. Exchange of patient information permitted to facilitate Medicaid eligibility determinations.

      Sec. 19a-255. (Formerly Sec. 19-121). Treatment of persons with tuberculosis. Payment sources for treatment. Exchange of patient information permitted to facilitate Medicaid eligibility determinations. (a) Any resident of the state afflicted with tuberculosis in any form, who requires medical care for tuberculosis and who applies for care, shall be received: (1) In a state chronic disease hospital; (2) in a private hospital or clinic; or (3) by a physician or other health care provider without regard to the financial condition of the patient. The cost of care and treatment of such patients shall be computed in accordance with the provisions of sections 17b-122, 17b-124 to 17b-132, inclusive, 17b-136 to 17b-138, inclusive, 17b-194 to 17b-197, inclusive, 17b-222 to 17b-250, inclusive, 17b-263, 17b-340 to 17b-350, inclusive, 17b-689b and 17b-743 to 17b-747, inclusive, and section 4-67c.

      (b) The Commissioner of Public Health may consider the availability of third-party sources for the payment of any treatment rendered in accordance with subsection (a) of this section when determining whether to pay for such services. If such patient is (1) a veteran and the tuberculosis or suspected tuberculosis for which the veteran has been hospitalized or treated is a service-connected disability entitling the veteran to medical benefits, or (2) eligible for medical benefits under any workers' compensation law or under any other private or public medical insurance or payment plan, such patient or the patient's obligor shall be liable for the costs of such care to the extent of such available benefits. Such costs shall be determined in the manner prescribed in subsection (a) of section 17b-223.

      (c) The Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health may exchange patient information in the possession of said departments for the purpose of determining eligibility for benefits under Title XIX of the Social Security Act for any patient in need of treatment or who has received treatment.

      (1949 Rev., S. 4122; 1953, S. 2119d; 1957, P.A. 586, S. 11; P.A. 76-139, S. 6; P.A. 82-46; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 97; P.A. 04-76, S. 55; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 51.)

      History: P.A. 76-139 made provisions applicable to tuberculosis cases in which medical care is required, allowed admission to private hospitals or clinics having contract with the state and deleted reference to the "stage of the disease"; P.A. 82-46 authorized physicians and health care providers other than hospitals to care for tuberculosis patients and authorized the state to pay only for that treatment which the commissioner of health services deemed appropriate; Sec. 19-121 transferred to Sec. 19a-255 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1999 the references to "17b-115 to 17b-138" and "17b-689 to 17b-693, inclusive," were changed editorially by the Revisors to "17b-116 to 17b-138" and "17b-689, 17b-689b" to reflect the repeal of certain sections by section 164 of June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2); June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, in repealing Secs. 17b-19, 17b-62, to 17b-65, inclusive, 17b-116, 17b-116a, 17b-116b, 17b-117, 17b-120, 17b-121, 17b-123, 17b-134, 17b-135, 17b-220, 17b-259 and 17b-287, authorized deletion of internal references to said sections in this section, effective March 1, 2004; P.A. 04-76 deleted references to Secs. 17b-118b and 17b-221 that were repealed by the same act; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), amended same to delete reference to Sec. 17b-256 and delete provision re cost of care and treatment to be paid by the state if cost is deemed appropriate by Commissioner of Public Health, added Subsec. (b) re Commissioner of Public Health considering availability of third-party sources for payment of treatment and added Subsec. (c) re ability of Departments of Public Health and Social Services to exchange patient information for purpose of determining patient eligibility for Medicaid benefits, effective October 6, 2009.

      Annotations to former section 19-121:

      An action under this provision should not be entered on the jury docket. 15 CS 369. In action against executrix for recovery of full cost of care, a mere billing and receipt of four dollars per week did not constitute a contract. 16 CS 118.