Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-239f: AHEAD global budget payment methodology for licensed acute care hospitals. Report. Medicaid waiver.

(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available appropriations, develop a methodology and implementation plan for one or more financing structures or alternative payment methodologies for hospital services in the state, including, but not limited to, a global budget payment methodology for licensed acute care hospitals, including, but not limited to, children's hospitals, under the AHEAD federal innovation model administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. The commissioner shall, not later than January 31, 2026, report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, public health and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies regarding such methodology and implementation plan.

(b) Not earlier than thirty days after submitting such report, the commissioner may apply for a Medicaid research and demonstration waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act to implement a financing structure or alternative payment methodology developed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. If implemented, such financing structure or alternative payment methodology (1) shall apply to each licensed acute care hospital, including, but not limited to, children's hospitals, that voluntarily chooses to participate in such financing structure or alternative payment methodology for all service categories included in such structure or methodology, and (2) may, within available resources dedicated to the implementation of such financing structure or alternative payment methodology, include incentive or other enhanced payments for any such licensed acute care hospital. No state agency shall (A) require any licensed acute care hospital to participate in any financing structure or alternative payment methodology implemented pursuant to the provisions of this section, (B) require any licensed acute care hospital to participate in any such financing structure or alternative payment methodology as a condition of Medicaid reimbursement or approval of a certificate of need application, or (C) impose any penalty or reduction on any licensed acute care hospital as a result of its decision not to participate in any such financing structure or alternative payment methodology.