AGP Executive Report

CT AI at Work: Connecticut’s Online Safety Act adds new employer rules for AI used in hiring and other employment decisions, with disclosure requirements starting in 2027. Medical Debt Relief: About 97,000 CT residents are set to get letters this month confirming their medical debt has been erased through a state partnership with Undue Medical Debt. Food Safety: Federal health officials reopened a salmonella investigation tied to imported moringa leaf powder supplements after additional illnesses were reported; more brands were added to the recall list. Senior Food Access: Connecticut’s Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program is now open, offering eligible seniors $40 to buy fresh produce at participating markets statewide. Mental Health Treatment Research: The VA is launching an MDMA-assisted therapy clinical trial for veterans with PTSD and alcohol addiction. Lead Pipes Funding: CT will receive $27.4M from the EPA to find and replace lead service lines carrying drinking water. Special Olympics: Special Olympics Connecticut’s Summer Games kick off this weekend in the New Haven area, with free health screenings through Healthy Athletes.

Medical Debt in CT: A KFF Health News/CT Mirror investigation finds many Connecticut medical debt lawsuits target patients over bills they say they couldn’t predict, including cases tied to weight-loss surgery and insurer disputes. Heat & Diabetes: Health experts warn extreme summer heat can destabilize blood sugar and raise ER risk for people with diabetes—especially when cooling and medication storage aren’t affordable. Dementia Care Tech: Memory care operators are leaning into tech-enabled monitoring and more non-drug approaches as resident needs grow more complex. Menopause & Memory Decline: New research links estrogen loss after menopause to changes in brain extracellular matrix systems that may help explain higher Alzheimer’s risk for women. Infectious Disease Alert: Officials warn Vibrio vulnificus (“flesh-eating” bacteria) is showing up earlier this year, with cases reported in Florida and Connecticut. Lyme Risk: A new tick forecast flags higher tick activity in June across multiple states, including Connecticut, urging repellent use and quick tick removal. CT Policy & AI Safety: Gov. Lamont is set to sign a law requiring AI chatbots to disclose they’re AI, adding protections for minors online and notice rules for workplace AI and mass layoffs. Food Safety Lawsuit: A new federal case alleges toxic heavy metals in baby food harmed children’s development, naming Walmart and other manufacturers. Local Health & Community: CYduct Diagnostics sponsored CaringKind’s Hope Blooms event in Westport, raising nearly $200,000 for dementia care and caregiver support.

Behavioral Health Leadership: Hartford HealthCare’s John Santopietro, M.D. joins a new “Leadership Dialogue” on how New England health systems are expanding behavioral health capacity as demand rises and caregiver burnout grows. CT AI Employment Rules: Gov. Ned Lamont signed Public Act 26-15, restricting employer use of AI in hiring and other employment decisions and requiring notice for AI-caused reductions in force. Medical Debt Pressure in Connecticut: A CT Mirror/WSHU report spotlights how residents are being sued over unpaid medical bills, describing the process as baffling and frightening. Tick Season Warning: CDC data show ER visits for tick bites are at their highest for this time of year since 2017, with warmer weather driving more tick activity in the Northeast and Midwest. Community Support & Food Access: Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation awarded $562,000 in Connecticut and Rhode Island grants, including emergency meal support for homebound seniors after the 2026 winter storm. Local Human Services Staffing: Bristol named Jeffrey Arduini as community services coordinator to connect residents with basic needs and coordinate programs, including its caring closet and relocation support.

Mental Health Access: A New York City psychotherapy practice is expanding evidence-based CBT and couples/family therapy options, including online care, across the region including Connecticut. Federal Policy & Retirement: Connecticut’s AG Jay Jones joined a multistate push against a Trump administration proposal that could steer 401(k) retirement money into riskier alternative investments. Cancer Research: ASCO 2026 updates highlight promising cancer vaccine data, including melanoma and head-and-neck studies, as the field weighs safety concerns amid political pressure around mRNA research. Veterans Mental Health: The VA launched an MDMA-assisted therapy trial for severe conditions like PTSD and alcohol use disorder, comparing MDMA-assisted therapy with identical psychotherapy plus an active placebo. Substance Use & Metabolism: New research links metabolic changes in alcohol use disorder—especially with obesity—to stronger alcohol cravings, pointing to possible future metabolic-targeted treatments. Care Costs in CT: Connecticut patients describe being sued over confusing medical bills after weight-loss surgery, underscoring the stress of medical debt and billing disputes. Weight-Loss Drug Coverage: A new look at employer health plan budgets finds GLP-1 costs are forcing companies to rethink coverage tradeoffs. Food Safety: Connecticut officials remind cottage food businesses and shoppers about licensing, labeling, and food safety as farmers markets ramp up. Local Health System Oversight: Connecticut is setting a new process for hospitals seeking to pause or terminate service lines.

Medicaid Fraud Oversight: A Connecticut AG veteran argues HUSKY Health needs stronger ways to catch “ghost claims,” saying patients are often left out even though they’re the best truth-check. Public Safety: Connecticut officials urge secure gun storage during Gun Storage Check Week, highlighting how locked firearms can prevent suicide attempts. Food Safety: As farmers markets return, the state Department of Consumer Protection reminds cottage food businesses and shoppers about licensing, labeling, and basic safety rules. Health Care Costs & Access: A CT Mirror/KFF Health News report spotlights patients being sued over surprise medical bills after weight-loss surgery, raising alarms about billing disputes and affordability. Local Crime: Enfield police arrested a man accused of stealing from a Connecticut Children’s Hospital donation bin. Traffic Update: A Bridgeport driver is in critical condition after a rollover crash; the cause is under investigation.

Medicaid Work Requirements Backlash: States say Medicaid work rules are colliding with budget crunches, forcing cuts to other “essential services” even as data show most working-age enrollees already work, study, or have health barriers. Cancer Care Update: Johnson & Johnson reported pivotal results for subcutaneous amivantamab (RYBREVANT FASPRO™) in advanced head and neck cancer, with a 42% confirmed response rate and durable results in a Phase 1b/2 study. Teen Sleep & Phones: New reporting highlights how phone use after midnight is stealing sleep from teens, adding to growing concerns about youth mental and physical health. Connecticut Food Safety: CT officials are urging cottage food makers and shoppers to follow licensing, labeling, and food safety rules as farmers markets ramp up. Medical Debt Lawsuits in CT: A Connecticut Mirror/KFF Health News investigation describes patients surprised by escalating bills and facing hospital lawsuits over unpaid charges. Public Health & Environment: A study links even relatively low air pollution exposure to poorer brain function, reinforcing the case for cleaner air. Local Safety: Bridgeport saw a rollover with one driver critically injured; Meriden reported a 4-year-old recovering after being hit in a CVS parking lot.

Connecticut Health Policy: Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill overhauling the state’s Certificate of Need rules, removing the old approval requirement for hospitals to terminate services and replacing it with a new notice-based process starting July 1, 2027. AI & Consumer Safety: Connecticut’s Online Safety Act creates a broad AI and online-platform framework, with major parts taking effect Oct. 1, 2026, aimed largely at reducing risks for kids. Public Health & Environment: A new study links even relatively low air pollution exposure to poorer brain function, raising concerns about long-term cognitive decline. Heat Preparedness: UNF opened the Perry Weather Heat Lab to study extreme heat and prevent heat-related deaths, building on research that shaped heat-safety protocols. Cancer Care: A melanoma case in Connecticut highlights how immunotherapy can cut recurrence risk for advanced disease. Community & Wellness: Connecticut Pride organizers gathered in New Haven to share safety and allyship strategies as Pride planning ramps up for June.

School Mental Health: Connecticut reports an average of 322 students per counselor, still above the American School Counselor Association’s 250-student recommendation, even as the state improves access to counseling programs. Public Health & Safety: A CDC-led investigation found serologic evidence of H5N1 avian influenza transmission from a domestic cat to a human, with officials stressing the overall public risk remains low. AI Regulation: Gov. Lamont signed Connecticut’s Online Safety Act, setting a broad AI and online platform framework with key provisions starting Oct. 1, 2026. Housing & Local Planning: Old Lyme is moving to amend zoning to comply with a new state “middle housing” mandate that limits local review and requires small multifamily/mixed-use options. Health Coverage Costs: New data shows Americans are dropping out of Obamacare at higher rates, driven largely by affordability pressures. Food Safety Lawsuit: Walmart and baby food makers face a Connecticut federal lawsuit alleging toxic heavy metals in products caused serious health harms. Period Poverty: World Menstrual Hygiene Day spotlighted ongoing struggles to afford menstrual products, including missed school or work.

Suicide Prevention in CT: A new report links Connecticut’s 988 launch to an 18% drop in suicide rates among young people, with 95% of callers saying their crisis eased during the call. Mental Health Access: Cromwell is installing 988 signs as Mental Health Awareness Month ends, highlighting fast response rates for calls, chats, and texts. Depression Treatment Research: UConn researchers reviewed 26 trials and found a single IV ketamine infusion can reduce severe depression symptoms within hours and lower suicidal thoughts within a day for some patients. Medicaid & Dental Costs: Old Saybrook Medicaid dental services billed $89,722 in 2024, up 3.2% from 2023, underscoring how local billing shifts public health spending. Health Care Coverage Changes: UnitedHealthcare will expand Synapse Health management of durable medical equipment orders in Connecticut and other states starting Sept. 1, 2026. Food Insecurity Support: Wheeler Health won a $100,000 grant to expand its Farm to Family produce access at multiple Connecticut health centers. Public Health Watch: Norovirus is rising in the Northeast, with wastewater surveillance showing levels in the “high” category.

Medicaid Cyberattack: Connecticut’s Husky Medicaid portal hack targeted Hartford HealthCare accounts, affecting about 22,500 people, after attackers used compromised employee credentials to access provider claims systems. Kids’ Mental Health: Connecticut Children’s reported nearly 1 in 5 children screened in its emergency department show suicide risk, including kids as young as 7, pushing more prevention-focused screening and support. Food Safety Recalls: SkinnyDipped dark chocolate almond bites were recalled nationwide due to undeclared peanut ingredients, and a separate beverage recall expanded to multiple states over salmonella concerns. Trauma First Aid: A Connecticut-focused “Stop the Bleed” reminder urges residents to act fast on serious bleeding with direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquets while waiting for 911. Access to Healthy Food: Wheeler Health won a $100,000 Farm to Family grant to expand locally grown produce distribution at its federally qualified health centers. Privacy & Surveillance: An I-Team investigation found at least 34 CT police departments use license plate cameras and explored how search data is handled under the state’s newer rules. Behavioral Health Innovation: The VA is launching an MDMA-assisted therapy trial for veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, enrolling patients from Rhode Island and Connecticut. Health Care Policy Watch: Connecticut’s CON process is set for major changes under a new law, with new oversight and timelines starting in 2026–2027.

CPR Access in CT: Central Connecticut State University installed a hands-only CPR training kiosk in its Student Center lobby, with a quick tutorial and practice mannequin—plus a reunion tied to a 2024 campus save. Public Health & Safety: FDA-linked recall pulls D’Dioses Fruit Pops in CT and nearby states due to undeclared allergens that could trigger serious reactions. Caregiving & Wellness: Confidia Health Institute in Bristol is leaning into recovery and resilience-focused integrative care conversations, including EBOO therapy as part of broader lifestyle support. Health Costs & Coverage: New data shows more people are dropping or losing Obamacare coverage for non-payment as subsidies fade and premiums rise. Long-Term Health: A new study suggests maintaining weight loss is easier when daily steps build toward about 8,500, even if you don’t hit 10,000. Local Milestone: Yale New Haven Hospital marked 200 years of care and innovation, highlighting major advances from intensive care to transplants. Long-Term Care Costs: A map shows nursing home costs are highest in Alaska and steep across states including Connecticut, driven by staffing shortages and aging demand.

Caregiving Support: Gov. Lamont signed a caregiver tax credit into Connecticut’s budget adjustments, offering capped reimbursements (up to $2,000/year) for qualifying home supports and care costs starting in tax year 2027. Food Costs & Consumer Protections: North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson joined a multistate push urging the FTC to crack down on hidden “drip pricing” fees in food delivery checkout flows. Mental Health in Schools: Connecticut is funding defibrillators in schools, backing efforts to improve emergency response for students. Veterans Mental Health Research: The VA launched an MDMA-assisted therapy trial for veterans in West Haven and Providence to study PTSD and other severe mental health conditions. Public Health & Safety: Tick-borne illness fears are rising as cases hit the highest emergency-room levels since 2017, with Connecticut among the states seeing Lyme risk. Local Health Impact: A Norwalk family’s annual memorial golf tournament raises money for the Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital, supporting burn care and survivors. Hospital Milestone: Yale New Haven Hospital marked 200 years of care and innovation, highlighting its role as Connecticut’s largest hospital system. Online Child Safety: CT AGs and other attorneys general are pushing back on federal efforts they say would weaken state authority to protect kids online.

Mental Health Awareness: A new Connecticut-linked “Shoulder Check” movement urges young people, athletes, parents, and coaches to reach out and check in—sparked by the Thorsen family after their 15-year-old son died by suicide. Food Security: New Haven’s budget includes $350,000 for community-based food assistance, and SUN Bucks Summer EBT is set to start paying in June for eligible families (including Connecticut). Veterans Mental Health: The VA launched an MDMA-assisted therapy trial for veterans with severe conditions like PTSD and alcohol use disorder, with study sites in Providence and West Haven. Public Health & Safety: A U.S. military tick surveillance program detected rare tick-borne viruses, including Powassan virus in Connecticut. Health Care Workforce: Griffin Hospital’s Practical Nursing program holds a June 18 open house in Naugatuck. State Budget Watch: Gov. Lamont signed the FY 2027 budget adjustment, boosting school and municipal funding while aiming to stabilize property taxes. Housing & Development Financing: CT’s bond commission will consider about $2.4B in financing, with major allocations for housing and redevelopment.

School Health Funding: Connecticut’s FY 2027 budget signed by Gov. Ned Lamont includes up to $3.5 million in bonds to help schools and town buildings buy, install, and maintain AEDs—a long-awaited step after families said lifesaving devices were required but unfunded. Mental Health & Care Access: The VA has launched a new MDMA-assisted therapy trial for veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, with results expected in 2030. Online Child Safety: AG William Tong opened an investigation into Roblox after reports of child exploitation and harm, joining a broader push to strengthen protections for kids online. Public Safety & Health Risks: A Windsor woman was stabbed in her driveway early Tuesday, and Connecticut lawmakers are also debating how new policies—like expanded cannabis access—could affect road safety. Sports Health Watch: WNBA star Kelsey Plum suffered an ankle sprain and will be reevaluated in a week.

Child Safety Online: Connecticut AG William Tong announced an investigation into Roblox after reports of child exploitation, aiming to find what the company knew and how it protected kids. Public Health & Safety: Rabid-bat warnings are spreading in New York, with officials urging residents to watch for bites/scratches that can go unnoticed. Water Quality: Save the Sound reports two Norwalk beaches fell to C grades (Shady Beach and Calf Pasture Beach), while none of Norwalk’s beaches scored below C in the latest review. Health Policy & Access: A new lawsuit challenges whether the cannabis industry oversold medical benefits while downplaying risks. Data Breach Watch: Beacon Mutual says it has started notifying about 162,000 people after a ransomware attack. Local Tragedy: A 26-year-old motorcyclist died in a Windsor crash on I-91; investigators are seeking witnesses.

Gene Therapy Breakthrough: A small New England Journal of Medicine study reports a single gene-editing infusion that cut LDL (“bad” cholesterol) by up to 62%, with plans for a larger trial—promising, but researchers warn safety follow-up must be longer. Ethics in Focus: A Connecticut startup, Bexorg, is keeping disembodied human brains functioning for drug testing, raising fresh questions about whether “not alive, but not dead” could ever mean conscious. School Safety & Support: Bristol Public Schools will get $3,000 a year for three years to expand training on abusive relationships and dating abuse prevention through the Prudence Crandall Center. Mental Health in the Everyday: Zen monks and psychologists point to spring cleaning—mopping, sweeping, decluttering—as a calming, structured way to steady the nervous system. Connecticut Health Gap: Coverage remains thin on new local policy, but one recurring theme is adult dental access—Connecticut’s lack of it continues to push people toward emergency care.