Connecticut advances disability legislation

Connecticut lawmakers are moving a package of disability-related proposals as a major Medicaid funding change appears to be off the table, at least for now. Advocates say state leadership has pulled back from a budget proposal that would have ended funding for Community First Choice (CFC), a community-based Medicaid program serving more than 7,200 residents. CFC is described as an entitlement that lets enrollees directly hire personal care aides to help meet daily needs while living at home or in the community.

Community First Choice proposal pulled back

The governor’s budget proposal had sought to end CFC funding, pointing to rising costs tied to enrollment growth and administrative and payroll challenges. Under that approach, participants would have moved into capped Medicaid waivers that offer similar services. Advocates argued the waiver system does not have enough slots or funding to absorb CFC participants. They warned the shift could create long waiting lists and increase pressure toward institutional placement. According to the report, the governor backed off the proposed CFC change after an early April meeting. As budgets advanced, the Appropriations Committee rejected the proposal.

HUSKY C asset limit changes move forward

Lawmakers are also advancing a proposal that would adjust eligibility rules for HUSKY C, the Medicaid coverage program for residents who are disabled, blind, and elderly. The report notes that HUSKY C has a low income limit of $1,370 and asset limits of $1,600 for a single person and $2,400 for couples. The proposed legislation would raise the asset limits to $5,000 for an unmarried person and $7,500 for a married couple. It would also require additional reporting to the Human Services committee.

Wheelchair repair and supported decision-making bills advance

A separate legislative track focuses on wheelchair repair oversight. Connecticut passed a 2024 law that included a 10-business-day repair deadline, removed insurance prior authorization for repairs, and created a Complex Rehabilitation Technology and Wheelchair Repair Advisory Council. Users have reported mixed progress under the law.

New proposed legislation would require clearer consumer notifications about repair standards and at-home service options. It would also require monthly reporting by wheelchair dealers. The report includes one advocate’s account of extended repair waits that can contribute to injuries, saying, “We shouldn’t have to be subjected to preventable injuries because of long repair times.”

Another proposal would require entities including businesses, government, medical providers, and educational institutions to recognize supported decision-making agreements. A disability leader framed supported decision-making as common in everyday life but often denied to people with disabilities, saying, “All of us do it every day… and yet we deny that right to so many…”