Benefiting those with epilepsy
Epilepsy legislation in Connecticut
Below are the legislative actions we’ve accomplished that help support those with epilepsy. Individuals with Epilepsy face unique obstacles to care including difficulty accessing proper medications, inflated cost of treatment, and limited state and federal resources.
Through the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut’s dedicated network of Advocates and events such as our annual Advocacy Day, we’re determined to fight for key policy issues in both the State and Federal capacities.
Become an AdvocateEmergency Medication Law
In 2015, the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut successfully advocated for the passage of Public Act 15-215, “AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES.”
This legislation allowed for critical access to the emergency seizure medication, Diastat, in a school setting. This was a great accomplishment for the Epilepsy community in Connecticut.
Katie Beckett Waiver Program
In 2019, the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut successfully advocated for adding additional state funding for the Katie Beckett Waiver Program. This additional funding, through House Bill 7092, allowed for wait times to be cut by years for those waiting to receive services through this critical waiver program.
The Katie Beckett Waiver Program is a program that allows the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services to provide Medicaid services to individuals 21 years of age and younger who have a physical disability and may or may not have a co-occurring developmental disability, who would normally not qualify financially for Medicaid due to family income.
Halyn’s Law
In 2021 The Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut Passed Halyn’s Law. The law honors Halyn Murtha who passed away from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy two months prior to her 10th birthday in 2019. It will be instrumental in lowering instances of SUDEP in Connecticut by requiring the continuing medical education of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to include in-depth training on SUDEP. The law also allows for more information to be collected by the North American SUDEP Registry so risk factors associated with SUDEP can be identified.