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HB 5370

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL RESPITE PILOT PROGRAM.

2026 Regular Session

Connecticut bill creates pilot medical respite program providing short-term recovery care for homeless/unstably housed patients discharged from hospitals needing non-acute support before permanent placement.

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Bill Summary · HB 5370

Legislative bill overview

HB 5370 establishes a pilot program in Connecticut to provide short-term medical respite care for homeless individuals or those experiencing housing instability who are recovering from illness, injury, or medical procedures but are not sick enough to remain hospitalized. The program would offer a transitional care setting with medical supervision, meals, and basic services to help patients stabilize before transitioning to permanent housing or other appropriate placements.

Why is this important

Medical respite programs address a critical gap in the healthcare continuum: discharged patients without stable housing face significantly higher readmission rates, complications, and mortality. This pilot could reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and hospital readmissions while improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations and potentially lowering overall healthcare costs. Connecticut would gain data on program effectiveness to inform future statewide policy.

Potential points of contention

  • Program cost and funding source: No clear indication of budget allocation or whether funding comes from healthcare, housing, or social services budgets; fiscal impact on municipalities versus state
  • Site location and community opposition: Determining where respite facilities would be located and addressing potential "not in my backyard" resistance from neighborhoods
  • Eligibility criteria and capacity limits: Questions about who qualifies, how many beds the pilot includes, and whether demand will exceed available services, potentially creating waitlists
  • Coordination with existing services: Unclear how this integrates with current homeless services, healthcare systems, and housing programs, and which agency leads implementation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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