CHDI says Connecticut's 2026 session included legislation on children's behavioral health and Medicaid reimbursement rates, following testimony from its staff.
Connecticut’s 2026 legislative session
The Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut (CHDI) reports that the Connecticut General Assembly concluded its 2026 regular session on May 6, 2026. CHDI describes the session as short but says lawmakers considered and passed several significant pieces of legislation, including measures intended to strengthen Connecticut’s children’s behavioral health system.
According to CHDI, its staff provided expert testimony during the session to support bills it viewed as benefiting children, youth, and families. The source names two Medicaid-related bills that CHDI supported, but its extract does not state the final status of either bill individually.
Medicaid reimbursement measures
CHDI says several bills considered during the session addressed Connecticut Medicaid reimbursement rates. It cites a 2024 study published by the Connecticut Department of Social Services that found Connecticut’s reimbursement rates for behavioral health services were significantly lower than those in five peer states.
CHDI reports that its president and CEO, Jeffrey Vanderploeg, PhD, testified before the CGA Human Services Committee in March. According to CHDI, he supported S.B. 499, An Act Concerning Medicaid Rate Increases, and H.B. 5561, An Act Concerning a Five-Year Medicaid Rate Review.
CHDI says Vanderploeg recommended that H.B. 5561 be amended to include rate provisions. The source does not provide details about possible rate levels or describe the legislation’s individual outcomes.
Workforce and school-based testimony
CHDI says the top recommendation in its 2023 report, Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce for Children, Youth, and Families, was to raise salaries through sufficient increases to public and private reimbursement rates. According to CHDI, the recommendation was intended to help attract and sustain a healthy workforce.
The organization also reports that Jeana Bracey, PhD, CHDI’s associate vice president of School and Community Initiatives, testified before the CGA Appropriations Committee on February 17, 2026. CHDI says her testimony addressed the impact of the School Based Diversion Initiative.
What this means for Connecticut patients
CHDI’s review highlights policy discussion around behavioral health reimbursement and workforce support. People looking for treatment locally can use the directory, which lists 75 published clinics in Connecticut.
General information only, not medical advice.
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