Jan 08, 2024
There are quite a few ‘State Laws’ that are effective January 1, 2024 or later in the year that may impact your clients benefits or business practices. Below is summary of some of the laws that were passed during 2023. Each law listed includes a Summary, the Effective date, and a link to the actual Act, Bill, or information on the state’s website.
Arizona
House Bill 2043 - Physician Assistants Status to Practice -Effective January 1, 2024
- House Bill 2043 allows a physician assistant (PA) who has at least 8,000 hours of clinical practice certified by the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (AZPA) to practice without a supervision agreement in collaboration with appropriate health care professionals.
California – all three (3) bills - Effective January 1, 2024
Employment
- Senate Bill 616 - Sick days: paid sick days accrual and use Increases an employee’s entitled paid sick leave from three days or 24 hours to five days or 40 hours.
- Senate Bill 848 - Leave for reproductive loss Allows eligible employees to take up to five days of unpaid leave after experiencing a ‘reproductive loss event’, which includes failed adoption, failed surrogacy, miscarriage, and stillbirth.
Health
- Senate Bill 345 - Health care services – legally protected health care activities Expands legal protections for California-based health care workers who provide abortion pills or gender-affirming treatment to patients in other states.
Connecticut
Public Act 23-171 - Different Health Care Issue Laws (signed into law and proposed)
- Expands Prohibitions on Facility Fees Effective July 1, 2024 Prohibits facility fees on certain routine services provided at a hospital. Prohibits any hospital or health system from collecting a ‘facility fee’ on certain outpatients health care services (evaluation and management and assessment and management CPT codes) that are provided on the hospital campus.
- Connecticut Drug Card Program (proposed) Drug Discount Card Program would allow Connecticut residents to receive an Rx discount card with savings of up to 80% on generics and 20% on brand name drugs. Connecticut residents can receive a digital card that is accepted by most pharmacies. The Rx discount card will be available for free to all Connecticut residents, including those who have insurance and Medicare.
Florida
Senate Bill 144 - Lactation Spaces - Effective January 1, 2024
This new law expands state rules (effective July 1, 2023) permitting breastfeeding in any location public or private, where mothers are authorized to be.
Georgia
Senate Bill 20 - Law protecting consumers seeking in-network medical care - Effective January 1, 2024
While most laws in Senate Bill 20, passed in 2023, took effect July 1, 2023, a new law protecting consumers when seeking in-network medical care is effective January 1, 2024. The new law sets standards for network plans offered by insurers and makes sure everyone with insurance has access to primary and specialty care, mental healthcare, substance abuse treatment, pharmacies, and laboratories, regardless of where they live.
Maryland
- Maryland’s Time to Care Act (TTCA) established a paid family and medical leave insurance program (PFML) Set to begin October 1, 2024
- TTCA leave is in addition to the state’s existing sick and safe leave under the Healthy Working Families Act, effective since 2018. Maryland’s Healthy Working Families Act
Senate Bill 555 - Minimum Wage increased to $15.00 per hour - Effective January 1, 2024
- This bill, part of the Fair Wage Act of 2023, accelerates the pace at which Maryland will reach a $15.00 minimum wage. Effective January 1, 2024, all employers, regardless of size, must pay employees at least $15.00 per hour.
House Bill 283 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Gender Affirming Treatment (Trans Health Equity Act) - Effective January 1, 2024
- This bill requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provider gender-affirming treatment in a nondiscriminatory manner.
New York
New York State Minimum Wage - Increase in Minimum Wage - Effective January 1, 2024
- The minimum wage in New York City, Westchester and Long Island will rise to $16 per hour, while the rest of New York State will be $15 per hour.
Rhode Island
RI General Law 28-12-3 - Minimum Wage Increase - Effective January 1, 2024
- The RI General Law states that the minimum wage will increase to $14.00 per hour on January 1, 2024, and will increase to $15.00 per hour in 2025.
Virginia
Virginia Section 38.2-3407.10 - Health Care Provider Panels - Effective January 1, 2024
- Health insurance carriers will be required to notify enrollees if a healthcare provider is removed from the carrier’s provider panel.
Virginia Senate Bill 1003 (2023 session) - Health Insurance Mandates for Minors with Hearing Aids - Effective January 1, 2024
- The bill requires health insurance companies to provide mandated hearing aid coverage for anyone 18 years old or younger. The new law includes coverage for one hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear up to a cost of $1,500 every two years.
Washington DC
Bill 25-0034 - Expanding Access to Fertility Treatment Amendment Act of 2023 For Medicaid and D.C. Healthcare Alliance – Effective January 1, 2024 - Effective 2025 for Private Insurers
- An individual health plan, group plan or health insurer offering health insurance coverage through Medicaid and/or the D.C. Healthcare Alliance must provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. This new law will not be in effect for private insurers until 2025.
While every effort has been taken in compiling this information to ensure that its contents are totally accurate, neither the publisher nor the author can accept liability for any inaccuracies or changed circumstances of any information herein or for the consequences of any reliance placed upon it. This publication is distributed on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or services. Readers should always seek professional advice before entering into any commitments.
