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HB 5169

AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ALERT IN THE STATE-WIDE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE REGARDING PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE OR COMBATIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Saud Anwar and 6 co-sponsors

Connecticut would flag patients with violence/combative behavior history in state health records to alert providers, raising privacy and bias concerns.

FILE NO. 38
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Bill Summary · HB 5169

Legislative bill overview

HB 5169 would require Connecticut's state-wide health information exchange system to include alerts flagging patients with documented histories of violence or combative behavior toward healthcare providers. These alerts would be visible to healthcare workers across participating facilities, allowing providers to prepare for potentially challenging patient interactions.

Why is this important

Healthcare worker safety is a documented concern, with studies showing rising rates of workplace violence in medical settings. Such alerts could help providers take preventive measures and adjust care protocols. However, this touches on sensitive issues around patient privacy, bias in medical care, and how behavioral information is recorded and used.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy and discrimination concerns: Flags could follow patients indefinitely, potentially affecting care quality if providers treat flagged patients with suspicion or reduced empathy; concerns about algorithmic bias if behavioral assessments are subjective
  • Definition and documentation standards: The bill doesn't specify what constitutes "combative behavior" or "violence," raising questions about who decides what gets flagged, whether mental health crises count, and consistency across providers
  • Accuracy and appeals: No clear mechanism mentioned for patients to challenge or remove flags, even if incidents were resolved, self-defense, or occurred under coercion; potential for stale or erroneous information to persist

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

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