In a recent post, we reported that a hearing was scheduled for the Connecticut legislature to consider the MOLST pilot program. The hearing has since taken place and Paul Drager – a leader of the effort to establish MOLST in Connecticut – has provided the following summary of the proceedings:
The Connecticut General Assembly Public Health Committee held a public hearing on March 15th regarding Raised Bill No. 6521, An Act Concerning Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. Strong support was voiced during the hearing, including testimony by the Commissioner of Public Health, Attorney General of Connecticut, CT Hospital Association, CT State Medical Society, CT APRN Society, CT Association for Healthcare at Home, Qualidigm, CT College of Emergency Physicians, CT EMS Advisory Board, CT EMS Medical Advisory Committee, several palliative care physicians & APRN’s, CT MOLST Coalition, and patient families. Efforts are continuing to ensure that the bill is reported out of committee to the entire legislature. Last year at this time the POLST Paradigm was not on the radar screen in Connecticut. The forward momentum in Connecticut is continuing. We are now on the cusp of having a MOLST Pilot Project by October 2013. Continued advocacy with state legislators is still required. Please contact Paul Drager, JD at paul_drager@yahoo.com for additional information.