CT House Passes Absentee Ballot Voting, Insulin Cap, Telehealth

CONNECTICUT — The state House of Representatives voted 144-2 to allow absentee ballot voting due to the coronavirus pandemic. The vote came during a special session that was called by Gov. Ned Lamont.

The matter will move onto the state Senate next week.

Gov. Ned Lamont had previously signed an executive order to allow the same absentee ballot reason for the August primary. He called the legislature back into session to deal with the general election ballot issue along with police accountability and a couple of other matters.

The bill if passed by the Senate and signed into law by the governor would only apply to the 2020 election.

Voters will be able to apply for an absentee ballot and then mail it in or drop it in a secure drop boxes near town halls.

Some Republican legislators expressed concern about the ballot boxes and whether they were fully secure, but ultimately they voted in favor of the bill.

There are only a handful of reasons why people can normally obtain an absentee ballot in Connecticut. Illness is one of the valid reasons and legislators expanded this reasoning to apply to concern of contracting COVID-19.

Insulin price cap

The House passed this measure by a margin of 142 to four with five absent or not voting.

The bill would limit out-of-pocket expenses for a 30 day supply of insulin to $25. It would also set a $100 limit for a 30 day supply of medically necessary diabetes devices. The limits apply to high deductible health plans to the maximum extent permitted by federal law.

It also covers emergency diabetes-related drugs and devices prescribed by a pharmacist.

The mandates wouldn’t apply to self-insured benefit plans due to federal law.

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Telehealth

The House also passed a bill that would extend telehealth insurance coverage until March 15, 2021. The bill also allows telehealth providers to provide services via audio-only on a telephone.

Telehealth became popular during the coronavirus pandemic.

The measure passed unanimously among legislators present.