Transcript Highlights:

• SO THERE IS THE CONNECTION TO THE INSURANCE PREMIUM THAT HAPPENS WITH THIS INSPECTION.
• AND SO EVEN REMAINING, KEEPING A PREMIUM STABLE I WOULD SAY IS A SUCCESS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GO UP.
• HERE YOU CAN SEE BROKEN DOWN BY CALENDAR YEAR THE AVERAGE PREMIUM REDUCTIONS.
• AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY TELLING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PREMIUMS ON THIS ONE.
• SO I THINK THAT WILL ALSO BE TELLING TO SEE WHAT THE PREMIUM IMPACT THERE IS.

Transcript Highlights:

• The revenue growth results from rising premiums driven by the natural trend; year-over-year premiums
• 10% increase in premiums themselves."
• So you'll have continual increases in the premiums.
• I mean, should they expect this 8% to 10% increase in their premium?
• We don't want to see premiums rising by 8% to 10%." "Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health heard updates on five health-related budget items. First, members reviewed state support for distressed hospitals and health facilities. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority and HCAI described the Distressed Hospital Loan Program as a lifeline for 16 hospitals, many of which remain financially strained and are expected to seek loan forgiveness rather than repayment. Speakers cited reduced contract labor, new service lines, strategic partnerships, and the reopening of Madera Hospital as signs of progress, but also warned that federal policy changes under H.R. 1 will likely increase uncompensated care and pressure emergency departments. Public commenters from hospital, dental, and consumer groups supported additional funding, including a request to refresh the program with another $300 million. The committee then heard HCAI’s update on the California Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded at $233.6 million for California. HCAI said the program will focus on rural care models, workforce development, and health technology, with grants to be rolled out on a fast timeline and all funds obligated by October 30, 2026. Members raised concerns about rural provider capacity to apply for grants, and HCAI said it will use a third-party administrator, a technical assistance center, webinars, and other supports to help applicants. HCAI also presented its budget request for the health care payments database, seeking ongoing non-General Fund support to continue operations and expand data, including pharmacy benefit manager data. The Emergency Medical Services Authority presented three budget change proposals: funding to replace disaster medical services fleet vehicles, funding for IT security work, and additional positions for HR, enforcement, and legal workload. A member also raised concern that EMSA has not yet completed the annual ambulance rate reporting required by AB 716, and EMSA said it remains committed to the requirement but lost prior funding through later budget reductions. Covered California reported that it is still finalizing its own budget, but expects a lower operating budget due to efforts to reduce baseline costs and align spending with actual expenditures; it also projected enrollment declines tied to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, H.R. 1, and federal rule changes, while noting that revenues may still rise because premiums are expected to increase. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined budget proposals tied to menopause coverage and education, PBM licensure and enforcement under AB 116 and SB 41, credentialing reforms under AB 1041, and prior authorization reporting under SB 306. Public testimony generally supported the menopause and PBM proposals, while also urging clearer language and attention to Medi-Cal parity. The hearing concluded after public comment, including additional advocacy for sickle cell services and rural health workforce funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because in Arkansas insurance, ...an Arkansas insurance premium paid for by an employer and an employee
• every time your premium is increased because the hospital cost is pretty much the same, even though
• every time your premium is increased because the hospital cost is pretty much the time your premium
• And if commercial payers are taking in about the same number of premiums in our state as they are in
• And if commercial payers are taking in about the same number of premiums in our state as they are in

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Department of Human Services hospital payments in Arkansas Medicaid, with DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks presenting first, followed by Arkansas Hospital Association Executive Vice President Jody Ann Tritt and a brief comment from Arkansas Children’s. DHS outlined the main hospital payment streams: fee-for-service per diem payments, upper payment limit (UPL) supplemental payments, cost settlements, and smaller payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked for plain-language explanations of cost settlements, why per diem rates vary by hospital type, and why UPL applies to private hospitals. DHS said cost settlements and UPL are mechanisms to help offset Medicaid underpayment, with SFY 2025 hospital payments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars and no general revenue used for supplemental payments beyond the state share funded through hospital assessments and related financing structures. Committee members focused heavily on whether Arkansas hospitals are adequately reimbursed and why rural hospitals struggle. Tritt explained that critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals operate under different federal and state rules, and said lower per diem rates for some facilities help with cash flow and later cost settlement adjustments. She said Arkansas hospitals are under financial strain, citing a negative patient services margin statewide and noting that Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers all contribute to the problem. She also said the association had just authorized a statewide survey of hospital finances and costs, which she expected would take about a year to complete. A major theme was commercial insurance reimbursement. Tritt argued Arkansas hospitals are paid far less than hospitals in neighboring states even though premiums are similar, and said administrative burdens, prior authorizations, and denials add to the problem. She said hospitals receive about 52 to 53 cents on the dollar for Medicaid costs without UPL and about 78 cents with UPL, still below cost. Members also discussed Medicare wage index issues, Medicare Advantage, and whether hospitals could use technology or alternative arrangements to improve finances. No votes were taken on the hospital presentation. At the end of the meeting, DHS provided a brief update on Living Choices and assisted living reimbursement. Officials said one assisted living facility, Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, with nine waiver clients being transitioned to other settings. DHS said the current cost reporting period was underway and that a new rate study could be ready for review before the end of the fiscal year if reports were submitted on time. Members also asked about the broader waiver plan, and DHS said the next waiver iteration would likely be brought back to the committee in the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• IT WOULD INCREASE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PREMIUMS AND FORCE DOCTORS TO LEAVE THE STATE.
• THEIR PREMIUMS HAVE ALSO GONE UP ABOUT 60% DURING THAT SAME TIME.
• IN FACT, SINCE 2013 OUR FACILITIES PREMIUM WAS $2.6 MILLION.
• RECENTLY IN TALLAHASSEE A LOCAL FAMILY PREMIUMS AND IN PRACTICE THEY GO BARE.
• SPECIFICALLY, ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH CARE COSTS AND PREMIUMS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've thought about bringing it forward myself, but there were some concerns raised about the premium
• And I did just want to comment quickly on you saying the premiums.
• Generally speaking, on insurance products, a concern that we do have is on what the entry premium rate
• “On insurance products, a concern that we do have is on what the entry premium rate is.
• That shot homeowners' premiums up by 15%.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> years, we've had our insurance premiums years, we've had our insurance premiums rise<00:34:41.679
• This last year, our premiums were 15%.
• </c> the premium is 30% of our take-home pay. the premium is 30% of our take-home pay.
• We receive excellent health care, but the premiums are very, very expensive.
• Care, but the premiums are very, very expensive.

Bills: HF238, HF3381, HF3754, HF1049

Keywords: microenterprise home kitchen operation, cottage food, home-based food business, home kitchen license, homemade food, prepared food, food entrepreneur, small food business, cottage food law, food safety training, ServSafe, food handler license, agriculture department, Minnesota food law, residential kitchen, local zoning, consumer labeling, allergen labeling, unpasteurized juice, time/temperature control for safety food

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the elimination of the enhanced premium the elimination of the enhanced premium tax<00:04:05.920
• </c> of the enhanced uh premium tax credit. of the enhanced uh premium tax credit.
• </c> uh what those people paid in premiums. uh what those people paid in premiums.
• </c> some examples about uh the premium some examples about uh the premium increases.<00:10:39.760><c
• They're doing it because they can't afford um their premium, Madam Chair, their premium would be lower

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> between</c> Generally, premiums are shared between Generally, premiums are shared between employers
• </c> Small employers pay a reduced premium Small employers pay a reduced premium under<00:08:11.520><
• The reduced employer premium 888%.
• </c><00:09:59.440><c> and</c> responsible for the usual premiums and responsible for the usual premiums
• Uh we a premium collection begins.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This last year, the ACA premiums, the base premium plans, went up 35%.
• $4,000 on the employer's share of a premium.
• I haven't paid the premium charge to not get ads.
• So how do your premiums look? What does a premium cost to be in your cash?
• Our premiums are generally about 20% below.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rising insurance premiums are not Arizona-specific, but are due to inflation and increased incidence
• Insurance premium tax revenues have seen substantial growth in recent years; from FY24 to FY25, they
• It takes money from the insurance premium tax collection.
• So on each insurance premium written in the state, there is a small percentage that goes to a tax.
• So on each insurance premium written in the state, there is a small percentage that goes to a tax.

Bills: HB2013, HB2292, HB2334, HB2349, HB2350, HB2845, HCM2011

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, forest fire, brush removal, defensible space, community hardening, vegetation management, fire-resistant construction, wildland urban interface, WUI, insurance premium tax, property insurance, homeowners insurance, commercial property insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that the Assembly suspend the rules to permit debate on amendments to reduce health care premiums
• Assembly Member Tangipa: If you pay for private health insurance, your premiums are going up.
• We can take $2.5 billion in our budget and create a state premium subsidy.
• They're seeing a tax applied to premiums, all the more reason for us to provide a premium subsidy. $2.5
• There are working families that are going to get sucker-punched by these premiums.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if they work the program, they actually see their premiums go down.
• I had an insurance agent whose life insurance premium went down.
• Currently, policyholders are paying for these borrowing costs via premiums.
• It's endured through your premiums; you just don't see it.
• Much more of that premium will go into the CRTF.

Bills: HB106, HB144, HB145, HB252, HB1732, HB2221, HB2467, HB2468, HB2517, HB2518, HB2963, HB3016, HB3689, HB3960, HB4386, HB4490, HB4751, HB5247, HJR175, HB2213, HB106, HB144, HB145, HB252

Keywords: HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund, production safety, leasehold operations, electric utility, distribution poles, inspection

Transcript Highlights:

• Insurance premiums.
• How does private reinsurance affect the premiums insurance consumers pay?
• But what hasn't always gone down for consumers is their premium.
• But what hasn't always gone down for consumers is their premium.
• But the thing is, your consumers are paying more in premium. They are.

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> products on one end which is 90% premium products on one end which is 90% premium 10%<01:04:48.480
• </c> they rather have lower premium costs? they rather have lower premium costs?
• premiums.
• Most rebated drugs already premiums.
• The bill premiums for most enrolles.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We respectfully urge careful consideration of the price and any impact on health care premiums.
• What is the per member per month impact to premiums that is outlined in ChBRP on this bill?
• year, which they equate to roughly a 0.08% premium impact, less than $1 per member per month.
• , which they equate to roughly 0.08% premium impact, less than $1 per member per month, 0.08% premium
• Hospital prices directly translate to higher premiums and cost sharing for consumers.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, with most items presented for later vote once quorum was reached. Early in the hearing, the committee adopted a consent calendar of multiple bills with motions for due pass to Appropriations, and it noted that AB 2029 had been pulled from the agenda. The committee also took up AB 1973, a bill by Aguiar-Curry to expand who may provide procedural abortion care. Supporters, including physicians and certified nurse midwives, argued the bill would align law with current training and improve access, while opponents said later-term abortion procedures require physician-level surgical training and raised safety concerns. The author emphasized hands-on training, consultation, and transfer protocols, and the bill was held pending quorum with a motion and second recorded. The committee then heard AB 1558 by Arambula, which would adopt the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act to speed the use of out-of-state licensed volunteers during declared disasters. Supporters from the Uniform Law Commission and the Red Cross said the bill would reduce delays and clarify legal authority for volunteer health workers; there was no opposition testimony. AB 2282 by Alanis, a temporary rural emergency stabilization center for Patterson while a permanent hospital is built, drew support from local emergency responders and a late opposition from the California chapter of ACEP. The chair praised the bill as a creative local solution and agreed to coauthor it; a motion and second were recorded, with the vote to occur later. Several public health access bills followed. AB 1843 by El-Hawari would limit prior authorization and align hepatitis C treatment coverage with medical guidelines; supporters said it would remove barriers to a curable disease, while health plans opposed it as a mandate, citing premium impacts and the recent SB 306 prior-authorization process. AB 2247 by El-Hawari would create the THRIVE program for mental health services for youth affected by gun violence; Youth Alive and other supporters described trauma-informed, community-based care, and the chair and another member asked to be added as coauthors. AB 2138 by Krell would expand access to certified peer support specialists in enhanced care management and remove automatic disqualifications based solely on criminal history; supporters said peers are essential to engagement and recovery, and the bill was held with a motion and second. Later, AB 1682 by Hart would require coverage of scalp cooling for chemotherapy patients, with emotional testimony from cancer survivors and clinicians; insurers opposed it as another mandate, but the author stressed the modest per-member cost and the bill was moved with a motion and second. AB 1879 by Dixon would standardize data reporting for alcohol and drug treatment facilities, including private providers, to improve statewide information on outcomes and access; the bill drew broad support from recovery organizations and the prior opposition was withdrawn after amendments. AB 1906 by Aguiar-Curry would require coverage of at-home cervical cancer screening kits without cost sharing; supporters cited improved access for rural and working Californians, insurers opposed it on affordability grounds, and the bill passed on a recorded roll call after quorum was established. Finally, AB 1556 by Haney would clarify and support drug-free recovery housing and return-to-use policies; supporters said it would expand sober housing options, while opponents warned it could allow evictions after relapse and conflict with Housing First principles. The hearing ended with the bill still under discussion and opposition-unless-amended concerns noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's the cap for advanced premium tax credits.
• These premium tax credits are what are going to help our residents have access to health insurance.
• And this allows that fund to provide those premium assistance to all New Mexicans purchasing coverage
• A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $82,000 will see a premium increase of $19,000.
• President, this is the amount that would come in with the enhanced premium.

Transcript Highlights:

• So figure 2 is a breakdown of $100 in qualified monthly premiums.
• About $3 is due to the premium tax, and $3.75 is the premium surtax.
• The report shows how the New Mexico premium assistance program works.
• HCAF revenue from the premium surtax has far exceeded the insurance subsidy needs.
• And for those that remain, they'll see a premium increase of about $1900 per person.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2013, a premium was 3.6 million and it has increased yearly.
• Laura Yeoman: This will naturally result in us having higher premiums.
• Neither of those have lowered premiums and they have been in law for decades.
• Laura Yeoman: Premiums are even less significant to physician assistants.
• Premiums are going up 73 David Marco Junior: percent at South Florida's hospital.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we get to premium changes, and these represent, you know, recent premium changes on both in terms
• </c><00:09:23.839><c> increase</c> which there wasn't a premium increase which there wasn't a premium
• Um as as you all may employee premiums.
• Um and and so that that has premiums.
• The plan, um, all of whom are submitting total premiums into the plan trust.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 State Health Insurance Plans 00:00:03 Executive Branch Salary Schedule Adjustments 00:29:15 Nutrition Program for the Elderly 00:34:52 Update on DORIS 01:05:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on November 5, 2025, and first approved the minutes after a moment of silence for the UPS airport tragedy. The main presentation was from the Personnel Cabinet on the state health insurance plans and executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Officials said the health plan covers roughly 265,000 active members and up to about 300,000 across all benefit offerings, including school board employees, retirees, and other eligible groups. They described rising claims and expenditures, especially from high-cost claimants and pharmacy spending, and said recent premium and benefit changes were intended to balance costs while preserving recruitment and retention efforts. They also explained that employee premiums had not increased for several years, while employer contributions rose sharply in recent years, and projected a 10% employer increase and 3% employee increase going forward based on actuarial analysis. Committee members asked about deductibles, GLP-1 drug costs, claims validation, and the causes of cost growth; officials said the plan uses multiple payment-integrity vendors and that the increases reflect utilization, drug trends, and high-cost cases rather than a change in coverage. The committee also discussed executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Personnel and budget officials explained that when the legislature approves annual pay increases, the salary schedule is adjusted by the same percentage through executive order so the minimum and midpoint stay aligned with approved compensation levels. They said the 2025 adjustment was a 3% match effective September 16 and that the change was costless because salaries had already been increased. Members raised concerns about salary compression, noting that new hires can sometimes be paid near the level of long-serving employees. Officials said the adjustment helps prevent compression from worsening but does not solve it, and they acknowledged prior RFP efforts to address the issue were unsuccessful because no qualified bidder met the requirements. After the health plan and salary discussions, the committee began a presentation from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on Kentucky’s senior meal program. Secretary Stack explained that the program is a federal-state-local partnership under the Older Americans Act, with area development districts helping deliver services. He outlined eligibility rules, noting that congregate meals at senior centers are available to people age 60 and older, with a spouse of any age allowed to join, and that home-delivered meals have additional homebound and assistance requirements. Members asked whether there was any means test for congregate meals, and the secretary said there is not; the only threshold is age for the center-based meals, while the home-delivered program has additional criteria.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> premium increases. premium increases.
• </c> 3,200 teachers faced a 22% premium 3,200 teachers faced a 22% premium increase<00:50:22.720><c>
• </c> increase in 1 year with family premiums increase in 1 year with family premiums of<00:50:25.320>
• </c><00:53:24.840><c> on</c> burden of health insurance premiums on burden of health insurance premiums
• , they're probably not paying as premiums, they're probably not paying as high<00:59:19.200><c> premiums

Bills: HF3794, HF4472, HF4410, HF4347, HF4412, HF4398, HF4397, HF4201, HF4199, HF4203, HF3706, HF4071, HF4120, HF4175, HF4188

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement