In May 2003, the State of Connecticut's Department of Social Services issued a ruling that recognizes the portability of Medicaid/SSI contracts. This means that any resident of Connecticut who is a Medicaid/SSI recipient may establish an irrevocable funeral contract with a funeral home in New York State, and they are now free to use the New York State-based funeral home of their choice, rather than being limited solely to using a Connecticut funeral home.

This extremely favorable result was the culmination of an intense regulatory and legislative effort waged by NYSFDA for more than five years. It involved numerous conversations with and submissions to officials in both the Connecticut Attorney General's office and the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Connecticut Department of Social Services' ruling was sent to all regional offices to notify them of the new policy and to help with compliance (see DSS Informational Bulletin No. 03-07).