Transcript Highlights:

• And as of August 2025, Senator Perry, 123,308 patients are registered in CURT.
• This industry is extremely patient. They got time on their side.
• A patient can have multiple body systems affected by a THC exposure.
• We have civilly committed patients in our facilities.
• But I don't know, lower-acuity patients mostly? No, not necessarily.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you.
• They clear their calendars and their patient schedules.
• Would be able to appropriately counsel our patients about it. Thank you.
• Literally, patients are truly abandoned.
• My name is Melody Walt, and I'm a 20-plus-year chronic pain patient.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have SB 2285, relating to complex patient treatment.
• </c> relating to complex patient treatment. relating to complex patient treatment.
• Integrated complex patient models reduce crises, improve stability, lower public costs, and position
• Integrated complex patient treatment.
• Integrated complex patient models<00:34:35.760><c> reduce</c><00:34:36.159><c> crises,</c><00:34:36.960

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard several health-related measures. SB 3132 on syndromic surveillance drew support from the Department of Health, healthcare organizations, and others, with DOH explaining the bill would formalize a surveillance program that has helped with real-time flu tracking and response to events like the Maui fires. A member raised privacy concerns from opponents, and DOH responded that the data are deidentified and do not include Social Security numbers or dates of birth. No votes were taken on the bill in the portion provided. SB 3134 on emergency medical systems of care received broad support from SHIPA, DOH, military and EMS representatives, and others, who said it would modernize the EMS system. SB 3136 on lead materials and water infrastructure was also supported by DOH and SHIPA; members asked whether the bill would allow Hawaii to keep stronger standards if federal drinking water rules were weakened, and DOH said the state would not have to follow weaker federal standards as long as Hawaii remained as stringent or more stringent. SB 3138 on independent audits of deposit beverage distribution drew support from DOH and several industry groups, but with amendments to reduce burdens on small businesses, raise the audit threshold, and modernize reporting; opponents also testified. DOH later clarified that the measure would affect a limited number of distributors and said it is working on an electronic submission system, though not yet for audit filings. SB 3139 concerning SHIPA was supported by SHIPA and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, while HMSA suggested one provision should remain under the insurance commissioner’s purview. SHIPA said the bill is about collaboration and a broader health vision, not regulation, and members indicated they were comfortable with removing the disputed portion. SB 3207 on background checks drew support from healthcare providers but opposition from the Attorney General and DOH. Supporters argued the FBI fingerprinting requirement is costly, duplicative, and difficult to schedule, while opponents said the bill would improperly shift fingerprint collection authority to hospitals and other facilities and could conflict with federal law. The committee engaged in extended questioning about costs, federal requirements, and whether the mandate would be passed on to patients; no final action is reflected in the excerpt. The committee then began SB 2271 on hospital licensing, with support from SHIPA, the Developmental Disabilities council, healthcare groups, Kaiser Permanente, and DOH, and commenters said the bill would allow hospitals to demonstrate compliance through CMS-recognized accreditation, with a suggested wording change to “approved” accrediting organization.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since last year's 55% cut to AAP, 77% fewer patients have been able to receive abortion services with
• , and patient navigation.
• In 2025, we served more than 300 different residents and patients.
• Last year we served more than 24,000 patients, more than 10% of Whatcom County's residents.
• Last year we served more than 24,000 patients, more than 10% of Watkin County's residents.

Summary: The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard an overview from OFM Director Katie Chapman See on Governor Ferguson’s 2026 supplemental budget proposal. She said the budget was built in response to higher caseloads and inflation, a roughly $390 million revenue forecast drop, new federal costs tied to H.R. 1, and a relatively small ending fund balance. The proposal would increase near general fund spending by about $1.1 billion and solve an estimated $2.3 billion two-year gap through about $800 million in reductions, revenue shifts and tax preference changes, use of other funds, and about $1 billion from the budget stabilization account. She also noted the budget is balanced over two years but not fully over four years under the state’s outlook rules. Chapman See highlighted reductions in Working Connections Child Care, including a soft cap on enrollment and holding subsidy rates at the 75th percentile, delays to long-term care and developmental disability-related changes, and across-the-board reductions to higher education and administrative spending. She also described investments in wildfire suppression and preparedness, affordability programs like utility rebates and home energy assistance, housing-related planning and permitting support, One Washington IT replacement, behavioral health workforce programs, and continued support for some K-12 initiatives such as ninth grade success and homeless student stability. In response to questions, she said some proposed cuts were based on the governor’s subjective judgment about what was critically necessary, that current child care enrollees would not be cut off immediately, and that the budget would maintain services for about 500 highest-acuity Medicaid clients who lost eligibility under federal changes. Public testimony was largely critical of the proposed cuts in K-12, early learning, and higher education. School officials, educators, nurses, and advocacy groups opposed reductions to Transition to Kindergarten, Local Effort Assistance, Running Start, MSOC, school leadership and support grants, and higher education funding, arguing the cuts would worsen existing funding gaps and harm student outcomes. Several witnesses supported restoring or maintaining funding for ninth grade success, Treehouse’s foster youth graduation program, homeless student stability, and Science on Wheels. In early learning, child care providers and advocates opposed the Working Connections cap and subsidy-rate reduction, warning it would reduce access and destabilize providers. In higher education, campus leaders and labor representatives opposed across-the-board cuts and fund shifts, while some institutions and advocates supported targeted investments such as behavioral health workforce programs and DigiPen aid restoration. In human services, Planned Parenthood advocates praised restored abortion access funding and Medicaid reimbursements. The committee took no votes or final action in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Served patients in your districts.
• I typically work with nonverbal patients who engage in aggressive behaviors.
• We work with nonverbal patients who engage in aggressive behaviors.
• We work with nonverbal patients who engage in aggressive behaviors.
• Medicaid patients can access life-changing ABA therapy.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Providers are just as strapped as the patients who are receiving services.
• You know, from a provider's perspective, you're wanting to get a critical patient.
• And there's really not a good path currently for a medical provider to transport that patient.
• But the second reason for issues with the CSU is they don't take involuntary patients.
• And so when you don't take an involuntary patient, what would happen is...

Committee: All PUBLIC HEALTH- HOUSE HEALTH SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• Or hospital and patient, hospital, outpatient, things like that.
• But the, like, hospital and patient outpatient are bigger buckets. Thank you.
• So they make more money when their patients cost less. And then that's...
• So they make more money if their patients cost less.
• This whole group of complex care patients that have fallen through the cracks.

Summary: The Complex Care Committee meeting focused first on a new Diabetes Caucus launched at the Capitol. Rep. Johnson described the caucus as a forum to educate people about type 1 and type 2 diabetes, genetic risk, early testing, pregnancy-related diabetes, and ways Medicaid policy might improve prevention and lower long-term costs. Members agreed the caucus could intersect with care management, and Carolyn Grandell of CHNCT offered to share information about current diabetes-related care management services at a future meeting. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from Alex Rigger of the Office of Health Strategy, who is moving to the Office of Policy and Management. He reviewed Connecticut health care benchmark data, including total health care expenditures, medical spending, and market-by-market trends. He said 2023 to 2024 per-capita spending grew more than 8.5% statewide and 14% in Medicaid, with long-term care accounting for about 46% of Medicaid spending and retail pharmacy also identified as a major cost driver. Members asked about enrollment changes, dual-eligible populations, Medicare Savings Program members, 340B drug pricing, and value-based payment models. Rigger explained that his office tracks alternate payment models and quality benchmarks, but does not separately capture 340B data. Discussion then shifted to Medicare Advantage, dual eligibles, and hospital discharge planning. Members said they want better data on how many Medicaid members are in Medicare Advantage plans and whether those plans shift costs back to Medicaid or affect access to care, especially for complex-care patients. Staff noted DSS does have some Medicare Advantage indicators and that CMS is developing encounter-data rules for states. Kathy Holt and others raised concerns about denials, nursing home stays, and the need to compare Medicaid spending for dual eligibles in Medicare Advantage versus traditional Medicare. The meeting ended with plans for follow-up data sharing, including Alex Rigger’s slides, the diabetes caucus materials, and a future discussion with DSS and other agencies; no formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 529 is a simple patient-centered reform.
• In other words, ...the patient should not be punished for saving money.
• Today, too many patients face that backwards incentive.
• The states that recognize that when patients save money on covered care, the system should recognize
• It would be a cash price that they would offer any patient that came into their office.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• , and lead the anesthesia care team to ensure optimal patient safety.
• before, during, and after surgery, and lead the anesthesia care team to ensure optimal patient safety
• She is passionate about excellent patient care.
• the high standards we need for our patients.
• Mays and her team settled with SimonMed for delayed patient refunds.

Transcript Highlights:

• medical professionals are educated, but also that we have the necessary workforce to support the patients
• our medical professionals educated, but also that we have the necessary workforce to support the patients
• The advocacy and the needs for patients. Hi, Dr. Mattal. I was kicked out of the meeting.
• The advocacy and the needs for patients. I'm not hearing any feedback whatsoever.
• make a comment on it, that it's to mention the things that weren't funded that could be critical to patient

Summary: The commission reviewed the House and Senate budget outcomes for maternal and perinatal health-related amendments as the budget moved into conference committee. On the House side, amendments for community-based perinatal mental health grants, implementation of maternal health law, the Tuff Center for Maternal Health Advancement, private insurance coverage for midwifery care, a midwifery workforce development fund, and birthing center grants were not adopted. On the Senate side, several items were adopted, including funding for the Mass Now menstrual equity program, a $1 million earmark for the Neighborhood Birth Center, and Senator Rausch’s out-of-state resident reproductive health training pilot, while other proposals such as the midwifery workforce fund, a health education trust fund, and the Tuff Center request were not accepted. Members discussed whether the commission should send a letter to the conference committee. Several speakers supported doing so, but emphasized that the commission’s core mission is perinatal and postpartum mental health and that the budget wins, while important, did not explicitly fund PMAD or perinatal mental health priorities. The commission voted unanimously to send a letter highlighting the broader maternal health wins while also urging continued investment in perinatal and postpartum supports. The meeting also covered commission vacancies, including a vacant House minority seat, several governor-appointed seats, an open Senate co-chair appointment, and other commissioner slots. Members suggested possible future appointees or organizational representatives, including people connected to the Children’s Trust, addiction-affected families, and midwifery. The meeting ended with brief updates on upcoming minutes, future presenters, and the end of the legislative session, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This one relates more than anything else to non-patient-specific orders for emergency situations so that
• An act to amend the Public Health Law in relation to requiring a physician who treats a minor patient
• with a medical condition to provide certain educational information to such patients' parents regarding
• The Public Health Law in relation to requiring a physician who treats a minor patient with a medical
• condition to provide certain educational information to such patients' parents regarding.

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The meeting covered a long list of health and social services bills, many of them recurring proposals that had passed the Senate before or been vetoed in prior years. Topics included primary care investment, penalties for adult care facility safety violations, emergency insulin access, limited nursing services in adult care facilities, a State Medical Indemnity Fund ombudsman, hospital ownership and private equity oversight, controlled substances for people with substance use disorder, rescue inhaler information in the immunization system, nursing home closure procedures, Medicaid coverage for complex care assistance, increased personal needs allowances, parental education for minors with disabling conditions, physician and dentist loan repayment/support, higher public health penalties, direct Medicaid billing for licensed creative arts therapists, adoption registry information release, fetal and infant mortality review boards, reusable food and beverage containers, DNR and hospice decision rules, a special needs assisted living demonstration program, temporary licensure for out-of-state health professionals at a triathlon event, and lead reporting and mitigation in school water. Sponsors described most bills as straightforward efforts to improve access, transparency, or care quality, while several members noted technical fixes or fiscal concerns on a few measures, including outdated program references and the need for funding to support expanded loan repayment eligibility. Some bills were framed as responses to prior vetoes or as renewed attempts to advance previously passed Senate measures. The chair also noted the committee still lacked a budget and expected additional meetings. For each bill, members generally moved and seconded the measures, and the committee voted favorably, usually with some members recorded as without recommendation. Most bills were advanced either to first reading, finance, or higher education, depending on referral. No bill was defeated in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're delivering those medications and working directly with staff to make sure those patients get
• We service about 60% of the long-term care patients in the state of Louisiana.
• We deliver 365 days, seven days a week, to all those patients every day.
• We, unlike the retail pharmacy, deliver to the patient and hope to get paid.
• The patient will not get their drugs until they pay.

Bills: HB184 , HB235 , HB546 , HB557 , HB584 , HB747 , HB902 , HB930

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: charitable pharmacy, healthcare fees, outpatient prescription, exemption, Louisiana Department of Health, sewerage systems, individual systems, community systems, local governance, legislation, installation regulations, protective custody, peace officers, mental health, emergency medical services, involuntary admission, long-term care, healthcare, pharmacy, residents

Transcript Highlights:

• a more narrowly crafted bill, and it's intended to make sure that we're putting the interests of patients
• investors in my pediatric practice, thinking that it would help me grow my practice to reach more patients
• Their actions included limiting access and time for patients needing ongoing care, particularly for mental
• reinforcement the interest to increase profits and lower operating costs will come at the cost of patient
• the author's office has led and remain fully committed to working toward language that protects patients

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• Ward is up next, who's been patiently waiting. You can come on down, Chris.
• Ward is up next, who's been patiently waiting. You can come on down, Chris.
• In light of what's happened in other states, doctors and patients involved in...
• on great risk to ensure patients can access the care that they need.
• Medi-Cal reimbursement for the most vulnerable and complex patients is just $108.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• per day, you have a 15-minute window to see that patient, and they push them to see as many patients
• You have a 40 patients per day.
• </c> as many patients as possible. as many patients as possible.
• </c> patient or inmate. patient or inmate.
• The law does not require patient.

Bills: HF3547 , HF3651 , HF4043 , HF4282 , HF4095

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• First, can a physician refuse to treat a patient or prospective patient?
• </c><00:17:48.760><c> and</c> patient okay or prospective patient and patient okay or prospective patient
• 39:49.079><c> to</c> patients to patients to receive<00:39:51.640><c> U</c><00:39:51.920><c> yeah</c>
• my patients directly.
• my patients directly.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a patient navigator and community health worker. My name is Raquel Campuzano.
• Recently, I actually supported a Yakima patient who was paralyzed with fear about these expenses.
• Abortion access is in danger, especially for patients further into pregnancy.
• Even with patients with insurance or Medicaid, clinics must subsidize care.
• Even with patients with insurance or Medicaid, clinics must subsidize care.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held public hearings on several bills and took executive action on House Bill 2747. HB 2747 would change how Washington estimates future revenue in its four-year balanced budget outlooks by using the official revenue forecast instead of the current 4.5% growth assumption for the next two biennia. Staff described the bill as a technical change with indeterminate fiscal effects, and supporters said it would make budgeting more realistic and sustainable. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 26 ayes, 3 nays, and 2 excused. The committee also heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, which would create an abortion savings program funded by a new annual assessment on health carriers offering exchange plans. Staff said the bill would generate about $10 million in fiscal year 2027 and about $2.1 million annually thereafter, with most funds going to grants for abortion care providers and some administrative costs for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Department of Health. Supporters said it would stabilize access to abortion care and help low-income patients, while opponents argued it would force taxpayers and insurers to subsidize abortion and raised concerns about oversight, morality, and premium impacts. Substitute Senate Bill 6355, which would create a Washington Electric Transmission Authority to support new transmission projects and related tribal clean energy work, drew testimony from utilities, labor, clean energy advocates, counties, and landowners. Supporters said the state needs faster transmission buildout to improve reliability, support clean energy, and reduce congestion costs; opponents and county representatives raised concerns about eminent domain, loss of local tax revenue, board accountability, and the need for stronger landowner and county involvement. Staff estimated the bill would have a several-million-dollar general fund impact and noted possible indeterminate local revenue effects. The committee also received a briefing on engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6260, which would reduce funding or eligibility for several K-12 programs, including bus depreciation, Running Start, and transition to kindergarten; public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with school officials, educators, community college representatives, students, and rural districts warning of reduced opportunities and harm to small and low-income districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Endocrine Society recommends monitoring transgender patients for bone health, cardiovascular risk
• factors, and cancer screening, which is made more difficult when patients are on inadequate hormone
• Other important co-occurring chronic medical conditions may also be neglected when patients don't feel
• A 12-month supply of estrogen or 6-month supply of testosterone will allow patients to feel secure in
• I know this bill will help me reassure my patients that their supply of medication is secure.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• To perform this many procedures on a patient at once, let alone outside of a hospital, is completely
• The reforms that are in place have helped make this sort of patient abuse a thing of the past, and we
• This sort of patient abuse a thing of the past, and we do not want to go back.
• Passing this bill would harm both patients and Florida consumers. Thank you. Thank you. Right.
• And I got these words stuck in my head, the young lady just before me said, harm patients.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered a large agenda of bills, mostly in the criminal justice, courts, civil procedure, and family/consumer protection areas. Early measures included CS/HB 1161 on removing altered sexual depictions posted without consent, HB 403 modernizing LLC law to allow protected series LLCs, CS/HB 97 on service of process in protection proceedings for vulnerable adults, and HB 813 as the state courts package addressing duty judges, arbitrator compensation, and notarization by judges. All of those bills were reported favorably, with HB 403 and HB 813 amended. The committee also heard and advanced CS/HB 947 on evidence of medical damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases, which drew substantial opposition from insurers, business groups, and defense-oriented witnesses, while the sponsor argued it would let juries hear all relevant evidence; it passed 19-3. Members also approved CS/CS/HB 615 allowing electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email, after an amendment requiring opt-in language and written notice to update an email address; tenant advocates still raised concerns about eviction-related notices and receipt verification. HB 663 increased penalties for using tracking devices or apps to commit dangerous crimes and passed unanimously. CS/HB 385 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code and passed unanimously after a conforming amendment. CS/HB 255, known as Dexter’s Law, increased penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and was supported by law enforcement and animal welfare groups; it passed unanimously. Later in the meeting, the committee approved HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders after the sponsor withdrew an amendment that would have changed the deadline from six hours to six business hours, following concerns that the delay could be too long for urgent orders. CS/HB 1099 gave law enforcement discretion in arrests involving individuals with significant medical conditions in facilities and passed unanimously. HB 653 added aggravating factors for capital felonies involving assassinations or attempted assassinations of heads of state; it drew opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and passed 20-2. CS/HB 59 expanded wrongful incarceration compensation by extending the filing deadline, removing the clean-hands bar, and allowing exonerees to choose between civil suit and the state claims process; it passed unanimously. PCS/HB 777 increased penalties for in-person luring or enticing of children and barred certain age-based defenses, passing unanimously. Finally, CS/HB 437 increased penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices; two amendments softened the bill by clarifying juvenile treatment and giving judges limited discretion to avoid automatic revocation of pretrial release, and the bill passed 21-1 before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a big step and will be a big helper for these patients. So this is where we started.
• We'll be able to do it a little more organically as the patients and as capacity starts to fill.
• Remote patient monitoring, electronic caregivers, kiosks, and facilitated video visits.
• This includes adding a second window in the patient room, fitting up the northwest and southwest patient
• This includes adding a second window in the patient room, fitting up the northwest and southwest patient

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation. The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums. The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.