Transcript Highlights:

• It's permissible, so they don't have to, but it provides them that option.
• by certain ambulance transport providers.
• Senate Bill 6103 provides the essential bridge we need.
• It's very important for our providers.
• I am providing testimony on behalf of Dr.

Bills: SB5845, SB5916, SB6102, SB6071, SB6103, SB6159, SB5877, SB5967, SB5904, SB5915, SB6025

Keywords: health insurance, health carrier, insurance carrier, prompt pay, timely payment, claims processing, clean claim, remittance advice, provider reimbursement, hospital billing, medical billing, prior authorization, claims denial, interest on late claims, administrative penalty, Washington insurance commissioner, RCW 48, public employees benefits board, school employees benefits board, Medicaid managed care

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several health care bills. SB 6159 would create a public hospital infrastructure account funded by a new coverage assessment on insurers and other premium-tax payers, to help public hospital districts and other public health entities finance major construction and modernization projects and allow more cooperative agreements among public hospitals. The sponsor and supporters said it would help public hospitals remain competitive and better serve rural and underserved patients, while opponents argued the assessment would raise health care costs, could sweep in property and casualty insurers and mutual companies, and might create legal and affordability problems. Testimony also raised concerns that the bill’s cooperation language could unintentionally narrow existing affiliations with nonpublic entities. The hearing closed with 5 signed in pro, 74 con, and 2 other. The committee then heard SB 5845, which would replace the current 95% timely-payment standard with a requirement that all clean claims be paid or denied within 30 days, with notice requirements for incomplete claims and interest or penalties for late payment. Hospitals, physicians, and health systems strongly supported the bill, saying delayed and unpredictable payments create major cash-flow and administrative burdens and that some large claims can remain unpaid for months or longer even when care was approved. Health plans opposed the bill, saying they already meet current standards, that the bill could limit their ability to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse or review high-dollar claims, and that it should include more balanced timelines and exceptions. The hearing closed with 69 signed in pro, 4 con, and 2 other. The committee also heard SB 5916, which would prohibit health plans, Medicaid managed care organizations, and public employee plans from disadvantaging non-opioid pain treatments relative to opioids through formulary placement or utilization management, and would require a Department of Health educational pamphlet on non-opioid options. Patients, recovery advocates, and rare disease advocates supported the bill as a way to improve access to safer pain care and reduce barriers like prior authorization and step therapy. The Health Care Authority and an insurers’ representative said they support access to non-opioids but were concerned the bill could require preferred status for all non-opioids whenever any opioid is preferred, increasing costs and limiting formulary management. The hearing closed with 8 signed in pro, 1 con, and 2 other. Later, the committee heard SB 6102, a technical bill to align the ambulance transport quality assurance fee with federal rules after changes in federal law limited new provider taxes. The ambulance association supported the bill, saying the existing fee has significantly improved wages and benefits for EMS workers and that the change is needed to preserve the program. The hearing closed with 50 signed in pro, 1 con, and 0 other. The committee also heard SB 6103, which would make Medicaid payments for rural emergency hospitals subject to appropriation and create a state framework for a rural hospital conversion model. Supporters from East Adams Rural Health Care and the Washington State Hospital Association said the bill would help keep rural emergency services viable, especially for communities along the I-90 corridor. The hearing closed with 58 signed in pro, 1 con, and 0 other. Finally, the committee heard SB 6071, which would shorten the time limit for insurers to seek overpayment recoveries from providers from two years to six months, or nine months for coordination-of-benefits cases, extending a standard already enacted for mental health and substance use disorder services. Providers from acupuncture, massage, podiatry, and other small practices supported the bill, saying long clawback periods create financial instability and administrative burden, while the remaining testimony was still being taken when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• A complex care aide in home health is a trained caregiver who provides specialized in-home support to
• So we wanted to make sure that it was very specific, um, care that they're providing to these kids.
• Our members strive to provide their residents with community, support their independence, and respect
• Training and support provided to daycares to help them succeed.
• It is the ethical and moral responsibility to provide that care.

Bills: HB 660, HB 4845, HB 3902, HB 5396, HB 4615, HB 1825, HB 1403, HB 4336, HB 4585, HB 4371, HB 863, SB 1589, HB 5223, HB 3195, HB 2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• A complex care aide in home health is a trained caregiver who provides specialized care.
• So we wanted to make sure that the care they’re providing to these children is very specific. Kids.
• We can't say that we will not provide you a hospital bed because it's too expensive.
• It is their ethical and moral responsibility to provide that care.
• Carmen Tilton from the Texas Assisted Living Association will provide testimony against the...

Bills: HB660, HB4845, HB3902, HB5396, HB4615, HB1825, HB1403, HB4336, HB4585, HB4371, HB863, SB1589, HB5223, HB3195, HB2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• Providers are still required to pay, so if revalidation processes have not finished, hospice providers
• The provider revalidation process requires that providers who are enrolled in Medicaid go through a revalidation
• So the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership provides a variety of support to help providers with
• During that time, provider revalidation was paused, and all the providers who were due during that time
• During that time, providers are not paid for providing care, but they're not being paid, and there are

Bills: HB660, HB4845, HB3902, HB5396, HB4615, HB1825, HB1403, HB4336, HB4585, HB4371, HB863, SB1589, HB5223, HB3195, HB2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• Providing providing tools that support both families and providers is essential.
• The process for loved ones to provide helpful information giving providers that valuable context while
• So you fast forward to today, those same providers. including the behavioral health providers that were
• No, this bill does provide oversight, it provides more oversight. oversight than we have right now.
• So say these eight providers here that I listed in my typical day, they're not the only providers and

Bills: HB5141, HB4638, HB2264, HB2035, HB4813, HB4408, HB2684, HB1621, HB2300, HB216, HB3829, HB4466, HB1747, HB2284, HB3614, HB2587, HB3219, HB3318, HB5147, HB4014, HB216

Keywords: lease, state property, public purpose, Travis County, Health and Human Services, pharmaceutical initiative, drug distribution, healthcare services, generic drugs, advanced pharmaceuticals, cost savings, mental health, patient discharge, medical records, health care professionals, substance use, family involvement, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions

Transcript Highlights:

• So, sponsors that would participate in this would have to have a production process.
• And if we can get ibogaine, that could provide relief and save one child.
• We should be trying to provide the best solution in the most cost-effective, quickest way.
• And so what we would be providing... providing is an opportunity for them to take some time, pay some
• They are not accounted for in any of our models. that we look at for health care providers.

Bills: HB 44, HB 2200, HB 1612, HB 2747, HB 2038, HB 3717, HB 1431, HB 3800, HB 3801, HB 3560, HB 3246

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Summary: The meeting of the public health committee focused on the pressing issue of opioid addiction in Texas, with a particular emphasis on House Bill 3717. Chairman Harris detailed the bill's intent to fund a grant program for Ibogaine clinical trials, framing it as a critical response to the ongoing opioid crisis. He shared poignant testimonies highlighting the struggles of families and veterans battling addiction and mental health issues. The conversation underscored the necessity of innovative treatments, like Ibogaine, which showed promising results in studies for reducing symptoms of withdrawal and PTSD.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would require participating members to share claims and payment data through the state HiE So that
• House Bill 3887 removes the requirements for physicians to provide a referral for every 30 days for patients
• At what point would they have referred her back to a provider for evaluation?
• So my concern is if we keep giving these indefinite thirty-day Delays in getting back to a provider,
• if you work for a federal entity such as an FQHC or other federal entity, you are not required to provide

Bills: HB4423, HB3342, HB3645, HB3647, HB3887, HB4430, HB4431, HB2964, HB3834

Keywords: Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Medicaid, immigration verification, healthcare access, federal reporting, health care providers, auditing, patient rights, claims, protection from fraud, audit process, error correction, hospice care, physician determination, healthcare standards, symptom management, health information exchange, all-payer claims database, health care transparency, health care costs

Transcript Highlights:

• This would require participating members to share claims and payment data through the state HIE so that
• House Bill 3887 removes the requirements for physicians to provide a referral.
• Had she been doing physical therapy, at what point would they have referred her back to a provider for
• structured and under what the physical therapist rules are, he would have referred them back to a provider
• So my concern is, if we keep giving these indefinite 30-day delays in getting back to a provider...

Bills: HB4423, HB3342, HB3645, HB3647, HB3887, HB4430, HB4431, HB2964, HB3834

Keywords: Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Medicaid, immigration verification, healthcare access, federal reporting, health care providers, auditing, patient rights, claims, protection from fraud, audit process, error correction, hospice care, physician determination, healthcare standards, symptom management, health information exchange, all-payer claims database, health care transparency, health care costs

Summary: The committee first announced several bills would be laid over because sponsors were absent, then took up House Bill 4423, which would require Medicaid applicants to be legal U.S. citizens. After adopting a PCS, members asked whether Medicaid already had citizenship limits, and the bill passed 4-1. House Bill 3342 followed, revising the Health Care Authority audit process; the sponsor said it was based on an Arkansas model, had no fiscal impact, and was intended to be fairer after prior problems. It passed 5-0. House Bill 3645, allowing physicians or other independent doctors to authorize hospice referral when a patient lacks next of kin or is not coherent, also passed 5-0. House Bill 3647, creating an all-payer claims database through the state HIE for greater transparency in medical costs, passed 5-0 after a question about which entities would be included or excluded. House Bill 3887, which removes the requirement for a physician referral every 30 days for continued physical therapy, drew the most discussion. The sponsor said therapists would refer patients back to a physician if treatment was not helping or was outside their scope, while a member raised concerns about delayed diagnosis and suggested adding a timeline; the sponsor said he would be open to further discussion. The bill passed 4-1. House Bill 4430 extended tort claims protection to certain state-employed providers who work for entities such as FQHCs, and House Bill 4431 did the same for nurse practitioners working for state agencies; both passed 5-0. Later, House Bill 2964 changed medical-record copying language from “shall be charged” to “may be charged,” giving facilities discretion on whether to charge patients for copies of their records; it passed 5-0. Finally, House Bill 3834 was heard for research funding on ibogaine therapy for PTSD and related conditions among veterans, firefighters, and police officers. The sponsor said the goal was to allow Oklahoma research, not to remove the substance from controlled status, and a witness described the treatment as a monitored oral session used in Mexico and supported by some studies. The bill passed 5-0, and the chair adjourned the meeting, noting the laid-over bills would likely be heard the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• School Health and Related Services, better known as SHARRS, is a federally funded program that provides
• Medicaid reimbursement to participating school districts and public charter schools.

Bills: SB 596, SB 961, SB 1398, SB 1183, SB 1952

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• But they also provide support to the SSCCs after the transition.
• Geographic variations in the availability of providers will impact that.
• Of course, this includes provider incentives and other necessary components.
• It requires healthcare providers to submit reimbursement claims that reflect the provider who truly rendered
• I think this bill is an important step toward ensuring that local providers who are responsible for providing

Bills: SB596, SB961, SB1398, SB1183, SB1952

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• School Health and Related Services, better known as SHARS, is a federally funded... program that provides
• Medicaid reimbursement to participating school districts and public charter schools for delivering direct

Bills: SB596, SB961, SB1398, SB1183, SB1952

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ensure the safety of all participants. ensure the safety of all participants.
• </c> Medicaid provider for fraud. Medicaid provider for fraud.
• Providers can't identify program participants with any quality control data that they collect.
• it says services provided by a provider it says services provided by a provider under<01:17:02.040><c
• </c> providing with taxpayer money, right? providing with taxpayer money, right?

Bills: HF2354, HF3621, HF3429, HF3483

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud, payment withholding, withheld payments, program integrity, public funds, state agency, program participant, credible allegation of fraud, administrative reconsideration, contested case, chapter 14, data practices, confidential data, protected nonpublic data, anti-fraud

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative Provided in the statute.
• Providers navigate fragmented funding streams.
• Senate Memorial 22 asks LFC to convene a working group bringing LFC, DFA, and providers together to map
• Senate Memorial 22 asks LFC to convene a working group bringing LFC, DFA, and providers together to map
• in New Mexico to promote the expansion of the Radiation Exposure Act, the federal law, to finally provide

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Summary: The Senate began by outlining the day’s agenda, then received several House messages, including the House’s request for concurrence on Senate Bill 151 and notice that the House had concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 2, 3, and 70. The Senate also received enrolled bills SB 64 and SB 101, and later adopted committee reports on House Bill 120 and SB 64. The chamber then took up concurrence on SB 151, a tax package that the House amended to remove the gross receipts tax provision for medical supplies, add a 1% salary increase for state employees, higher education, and public schools, extend a high-wage job tax credit, and add sunsets. Senator Hamblen supported concurrence as a friendly amendment, while Senator Cervantes argued the House changes transformed the bill into an unconstitutional appropriations measure and urged a conference committee. The Senate nevertheless concurred, 22-14. On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 61, which increases the penalty for aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony to align with other sentencing provisions. Supporters, including Senator Cervantes, cited consistency in the criminal code and noted the Sentencing Commission’s endorsement; the bill passed 37-0. The Senate also passed House Joint Memorial 3, directing the Environment Department to convene stakeholders and report on implementation of the PFAS Protection Act, despite a brief exchange over whether the memorial could be read as expanding authority under the existing PFAS law; it passed 22-13. The chamber then passed several memorials: Senate Memorial 20, amended to include youth and family voices and legislative appointees in a statewide youth violence summit, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 21, calling for a study of a statewide overdose prevention program, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 22, which asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group on domestic violence funding and CYFD-related funding flows, passed; and Senate Memorial 27, urging expansion of the Radiation Exposure Act to compensate New Mexicans affected by atomic testing and uranium mining, passed 34-0. At the end of the session, the Senate received a governor’s message authorizing consideration of SB 74 on cockfighting penalties, followed by a playful Senate response message. The body also agreed to move House Joint Memorial 2 from Rules to the President’s table and then recessed until 8:30 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill will provide a lot of choice and support our seniors in New Mexico.
• through the provider assessment that hospitals pay.
• How many providers will you be able to accommodate?
• So you have fewer providers.
• You'll be able to provide for— You'll be able to provide for, I don't know if you have midwives or OBGYN

Bills: SB21, SB42, SB81, SB101, SB139

Keywords: SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation, senior health coverage, elderly, retiree, Medicare beneficiaries, preexisting conditions, underwriting restrictions, premium discrimination, New Mexico insurance law, superintendent of insurance, health care coverage, policy portability, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Current statute provides that only the following information contained in voter registration records
• All expenses and staff support for the committee are provided by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor
• I think that it's an important topic that this committee provides us is the idea that there's a virtuous
• To improve our civic health, three things must be present among the participants.
• The 2024 legislation provides that no Lakeland Village records may be destroyed until the preservation

Bills: SCR8406, SB5892, SB5863

Keywords: civic health, community engagement, committee reestablishment, public participation, governance, voter registration database, election security, public records exemption, Secretary of State, county elections office, election infrastructure, cybersecurity, ballot signatures, ballot return envelopes, signature correction forms, voter privacy, personal identifying information, Social Security number, driver's license number, state ID number

Transcript Highlights:

• any interested parties that have information relevant to it, that they're also able to comment and provide
• It was a means to ensure that they would, um, get to court on time and to provide sufficient security
• It was a means to ensure that they would, um, get to court on time and to provide sufficient security
• sufficient shity to and to pro provide sufficient shity to like<00:10:43.839><c> um</c><00:10:44.079
• Uh, the department stands on its written testimony, provides comments on this measure.

Bills: SB2040, SB2248, SB2530, SB2732, SB2871, SB2919, SB3076, SB3300, SB3301

Keywords: freedom of speech, elections, campaign finance, non-natural persons, regulated participation, constitutional amendment, financial disclosures, government transparency, public confidence, Senate confirmation, conflicts of interest, state ethics commission, campaign contributions, state contracts, transparency, conflict of interest, government ethics, pretrial release, bail reform, financial ability

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2248 would expand financial disclosure requirements to certain gubernatorial nominees subject to Senate confirmation. The State Ethics Commission supported the measure, saying disclosures should be filed before confirmation so the public and interested parties can review them in advance. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with 22 supporters, no opposition, and one comment. SB 2530 would broaden Hawaii’s campaign contribution ban for state and county contractors to include officers and immediate family members, and would extend the ban to certain grantees and their officers and family members, with specified contract thresholds. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is its own proposal and would align the thresholds with procurement guidelines. Testimony was entirely favorable, with 30 in support, no opposition, and two comments. Members asked about conforming amendments and how the existing prohibition on soliciting contributions applies; CSC said the calendar-day language clarifies current practice and that the solicitation ban already applies to contractors, with the bill extending the same standard to officers and immediate family members. SB 2732 would require courts to consider a defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail, including excluding public benefits from income calculations and clarifying the 40-hour affordability benchmark for those above 150% of the federal poverty level. The Office of the Public Defender, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, arguing that unaffordable bail creates wealth-based disparities, contributes to jail overcrowding, and can cause severe collateral consequences for people not yet convicted. There was one opposition testimony and 18 supporters. Committee discussion focused on when the 40-hour period should begin, how income would be verified, and whether misrepresentation could affect bail; the Public Defender said the measure should be read to start from initial appearance and that judges could address false statements through existing remedies. SB 2871 would prohibit discrimination based on perceived characteristics, association with someone who has or is perceived to have protected characteristics, and intersectional combinations of characteristics. The Department of Education supported the intent but asked for clear definitions, while the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission said the bill does not add new protected classes and simply codifies the Lamb v. University of Hawaii decision on intersectional discrimination. LGBTQ+, civil rights, ACLU, and other advocacy groups testified in support, with one opposition testimony and a total of 27 in support, two opposed, and one comment. The committee then heard SB 2919, which appropriates funds for one full-time public deputy public defender position. The Public Defender’s Office said the position would provide statewide legal support and a centralized resource on constitutional, appellate, and immigration-related issues; several advocacy groups supported the measure, and committee questions focused on how the new position would complement existing training and keep staff updated on changing law.

Transcript Highlights:

• which we'll call FOFA for the rest of the hearing, is a rare bipartisan opportunity for Congress to provide
• The Fixer Forest Act provides agencies with critical, needed, and appropriately calibrated increases
• In his current capacities, he's working to develop an expanded timberland base that will provide for
• This legislation would provide land managers with tools desperately needed to strengthen the role of
• If the Forest Service continues to be hollowed out and can no longer provide essential services, there

Bills: HB471

Keywords: forest management, wildfire prevention, public lands, Tribal jurisdiction, Fix Our Forests Act, wildfire, forest health, hazardous fuels reduction, fuels treatment, prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, mastication, fuel breaks, fire breaks, wildland-urban interface, WUI, fireshed, fireshed management area, fireshed registry, Fireshed Center

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to address the ongoing crisis of wildfires exacerbated by climate change and the need for updated forest management practices. Various committee members voiced concerns about past federal management failures and emphasized the necessity for collaborative approaches involving local communities and stakeholders in forest management. As discussions unfolded, there were varying perspectives on the implications of certain provisions in the bill, particularly around regulatory changes and their likely impacts on public participation and environmental reviews.