Video & Transcript Research : 'backflow preventer'

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Apr 17th, 2025

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • It also requires reimbursement for diabetes prevention programs.
  • families to basically prevent them from going into the juvenile justice system.
  • The market conditions there have prevented grocery stores of any type from establishing.
  • The benefits, I'm sure we all know, include nutrition, preventing disease, and preventing obesity.
  • There's nothing changing in the diagnosis; there's nothing changing in the preventive...
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 087 Apr 11th, 2026

Colorado House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Black women are three times preventable.
  • > prevention<01:37:18.639> in<01:37:18.880> 113,115,178 I 10 community prevention
  • ><03:54:32.560> program homeless prevention activities program homeless prevention activities
  • ,<05:01:18.000> monitoring investigation, prevention, monitoring investigation, prevention
  • <05:45:42.000> early shall be from the prevention early shall be from the prevention early
Keywords: 981, all
Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior journal, and heard several brief recognitions before moving to business. Members welcomed foster care advocates for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Girl Scouts visiting the Capitol, and participants in Black Maternal Health Week, with remarks emphasizing foster youth voice, leadership development, and the need for culturally competent maternal health care and doula/midwife support. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1026, honoring former Governor Roy Romer and designating a portion of I-25 as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway. Supporters highlighted Romer’s long public service, his work on education and infrastructure, and his role in major state projects. A proposed amendment to strike the word “memorial” was withdrawn, the House suspended the rules to allow Romer to speak from the well, and Romer offered remarks about legislative collegiality and the importance of democracy and listening to opposing views. House Joint Resolution 1026 was adopted on a 60-0 vote, with four excused and one absent. After a brief recess, the House returned to special orders and resumed reading House Bill 1410 at length, continuing through extensive appropriations language for the Department of Human Services, including child welfare, youth services, Medicaid-related transfers, SNAP and benefits administration, and other funding line items. No final action on House Bill 1410 was taken in the portion provided.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Revenue Committee, February 12, 2026

Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • <01:07:54.840> the least initially to help prevent the least initially to help prevent the
  • Please proceed. prevent any future fraud. prevent any future fraud. Thank<01:14:58.800> you.
  • So, preventing that type of stuff. This is more like a whack-a-mole.
  • So, preventing that type of person.
  • the in the automation to try and prevent the in the automation to try and prevent those<01:19:40.480
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Education Policy Committee 2/11/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:46:00.400> future safeguards to prevent future safeguards to prevent future issues<00:
  • agency effectively detects and prevents agency effectively detects and prevents fraud<00:46:26.400
  • <01:05:10.799> and partnership focused on preventing and partnership focused on preventing
  • this or place that would have prevented this or prevented<01:14:00.040> you<01:14:00.360>
  • <01:20:07.480> proposals governor's fraud prevention proposals governor's fraud prevention
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The Education Policy Committee met to hear a delayed presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on MDE’s oversight of Feeding Our Future, a report released in June 2024. The chair framed the hearing as an oversight review of how the Minnesota Department of Education handled the nonprofit’s participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program, emphasizing that the hearing was not about criminal charges against agency staff. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall and Director of Special Reviews Katherine Tyson explained that their review focused on state oversight, not the underlying federal fraud case, which involved an alleged $250 million scheme and ongoing criminal proceedings. The auditors concluded that MDE’s oversight was inadequate and created opportunities for fraud. They said MDE failed to act on warning signs before the pandemic, did not effectively use its authority to hold Feeding Our Future accountable, and was ill prepared to respond to problems. Examples included approving applications despite concerns about internal controls and staffing, failing to follow up on earlier review findings, not adequately investigating at least 30 complaints, and in one case referring a complaint back to Feeding Our Future for resolution rather than conducting an independent investigation. They also said MDE deferred serious deficiencies without enough evidence that problems had been fully corrected and approved meal claims despite records showing major inconsistencies. Tyson said MDE had made progress on all eight recommendations in the report, though one recommendation to the legislature had not yet been addressed because the session had not convened since the report’s release. The auditors recommended that the legislature establish clearer statutory criteria or give MDE rulemaking authority for sponsor applications, and that MDE strengthen verification of sponsor information, focus more on high-risk sponsors, improve complaint procedures, and emphasize program integrity if waivers reduce oversight in the future. In response to member questions, the auditors said MDE’s reported progress was partial in some areas and that further review would be needed to fully confirm implementation. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • And you used key words a couple of times, prevention.
  • Prevention is an afterthought.
  • So you're absolutely right that prevention, 50% of cancers can be prevented.
  • Now they can be prevented through things like stop smoking, lose weight, stop drinking, get your prevention
  • Doyle and Senator Hall, prevention is no longer an option, but preventing recurrence is.
Bills: SB1, SB 1
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Ways and Means (03/04/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Oil Fund also helps to prevent oil spill releases as part of our prevention program, including the
  • oil spill releases part of our prevent oil spill releases part of our prevention<00:45:59.800> program
  • The home heating oil category has fewer regulations, so those spills are harder to prevent.
  • The home heating oil category has fewer regulations, so those spills are harder to prevent.
  • The home heating oil category has fewer regulations, so those spills are harder to prevent.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on HB 660, which would require historic horse racing facilities to pay 10% of HHR winnings to host communities as mitigation. Representative Om said the amendment was intended to leave charities and the state whole while funding local costs tied to large gaming facilities. Supporters argued the measure would address future municipal expenses, while opponents said host towns have not reported current problems and that the bill would single out one industry. Members questioned the 10% rate, whether the proposal was retroactive, and whether it would apply to existing facilities; the sponsor said it would apply to facilities already in place or later added. The hearing was then closed without any vote recorded in the transcript. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 658-FN, which raises reimbursement caps and adjusts fees for the Oil Discharge and Disposal Cleanup Fund and the Oil Pollution Control Fund. Representative Malloy introduced the bill, and Representative Aly explained the funds as a state-backed insurance mechanism for oil spill cleanup and prevention, including replacement of leaking home heating oil tanks for low-income homeowners. Bob Scully of the Energy Marketers Association supported the bill, saying the fee structure helps fund remediation and tank replacement, though costs are ultimately passed on to consumers. Department of Environmental Services officials Robert Bishop and Jennifer Marts described the bill as extending the fee collection for 10 years, changing reporting dates, increasing the cap for low-income tank replacement, and rebalancing fees based on an actuarial review. DES testified that the actuarial study found the fund needed to remain solvent and that home heating oil releases are the largest category of new releases, with the fuel oil fee otherwise needing to rise by more than 200% to cover projected costs. The board instead proposed a smaller increase and adjusted other fees accordingly, while maintaining a reserve to cover the first days of a major coastal spill before federal funds become available. Members asked about the basis for the fee changes, the role of the actuarial review, and the statutory language governing who pays the fees. The transcript ends during this hearing, with no final committee action or vote shown.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Insurance Committee Apr 23rd, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • to comply with heat illness prevention standards, helping to prevent avoidable tragedies like heat-related
  • agricultural employers to comply with heat illness prevention standards.
  • employers to comply with heat illness prevention standards.
  • I have no choice as long as farmworkers die from preventable causes.
  • They prevent farmworker heat illness, injury, and death.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Insurance met as a subcommittee and heard several bills related to workers’ compensation, insurance access, climate resilience, and farmworker protections. AB 815 would prevent social service workers who use personal vehicles to transport clients from being misclassified as commercial or for-hire drivers under personal auto policies; supporters said the current practice leads to unaffordable premiums and denied claims, while no opposition testified. AB 1329 would revise the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund to reduce litigation and medical-legal costs and lower employer assessments; insurers and business groups opposed unless amended, citing concerns about eligibility standards and the QME process, but the bill advanced after amendments were discussed. AB 1048 would allow disputed unauthorized payment reductions for medical providers to be reviewed through independent bill review; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, while opposition argued IBR is the wrong forum and existing contract dispute processes should control, though the bill also passed. AB 1236 would create a Department of Insurance grant program for climate and sustainability risk-reduction projects, with broad support from the department, environmental groups, and insurers, and it passed unanimously. The committee also heard AB 1336, the Farmworker Heat Illness Prevention Act, which would create a rebuttable presumption that a heat-related injury arose out of employment when an agricultural employer fails to comply with heat illness prevention standards. Supporters, including United Farm Workers, argued the bill would help protect farmworkers amid extreme heat and enforcement gaps; opponents from the workers’ compensation and agricultural sectors said the measure improperly uses the compensation system to enforce OSHA rules and could create unclear adjudication and delay issues. Members discussed Cal/OSHA enforcement limits, undocumented workers’ reluctance to report violations, and the relationship between the bill and existing workers’ compensation procedures. Despite opposition, AB 1336 passed on a divided vote. The committee also took up a consent calendar including AB 1125, AB 1293, and AB 1398, which were approved together. Roll calls were held open and later completed, and the bills that advanced were sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The meeting concluded with the committee adjourning after final votes were recorded.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Emergency Management Committee May 12th, 2025

Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:
  • year 2020-2021. 2023 leaves Californians vulnerable to disasters that could have otherwise been prevented
  • And this has devastated some of our counties and our communities. in their efforts to prevent wildfires
  • BRIC funding was intended to prevent future disasters around communities.
  • We know that funding for disaster prevention must be flexible and BRIC funding was a key piece to that
  • So, I'll say the cliche, an ounce of prevention.
Keywords: 988, house, all
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force Jun 24th, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force

Transcript Highlights:
  • For legislation pertaining to substance abuse prevention and treatment.
  • All of these excess costs could be preventable.
  • Do we know how to 100% prevent fetal alcohol syndrome?
  • Correct, for treatment and prevention.
  • I mean, an ounce of prevention, right? Yes.
Keywords: 959, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Preventing all fire is not a reasonable expectation.
  • Ignition prevention—we have to prevent as many of these catastrophic fires as we can.
  • That new tab is called Prevent. And it's got a...
  • Prevent. I'm sorry. Prevent.
  • And it's got a “Prevent,” I’m sorry, “Prevent,” and it’s got a drop-down.
Summary: The hearing focused on California wildfire resilience, with the first panel discussing statewide funding, policy, and strategic priorities, and the second panel shifting to home hardening and defensible space. The LAO outlined the state’s wildfire risk, the large increase in resilience spending in recent years, and the fact that most funding has been one-time rather than ongoing. Testimony emphasized that wildfire risk varies greatly by region, that the state must balance response spending with prevention, and that success should be measured more carefully than by acres treated alone. Witnesses also noted the importance of local, federal, utility, and Proposition 4 funding sources, as well as the need for long-term maintenance and strategic prioritization rather than scattered projects. Cal Fire leadership and other witnesses stressed that California’s wildfire problem is not uniform: forested areas, chaparral, and wildland-urban interface communities require different strategies. In Northern California and forested watersheds, speakers emphasized fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural burning, strategic fuel breaks, watershed protection, and maintaining forest health. In Southern California, testimony focused on wind-driven fires, ember intrusion, ignition prevention along roads and power lines, and the limits of large-scale vegetation clearing. Several witnesses argued that the state should invest where it can leverage local and regional partnerships, support capacity-building programs like Regional Forest and Fire Capacity, and improve data systems to track treatment effectiveness and project outcomes. Members repeatedly pressed witnesses on how to prioritize limited funds, asking what should be done more of, less of, and first. The chair argued that protecting homes and communities through hardening and defensible space should be a major priority, especially near structures, while also acknowledging the need for broader landscape work and watershed protection. There was discussion of incentives such as insurance discounts, property tax treatment, and community certification for hardened homes, along with the need for multiple payers rather than relying on the state alone. Cal Fire reported new and expanding data tools, including treatment trackers, defensible space inspection dashboards, and a fuels treatment effectiveness program that evaluates whether nearby treatments affected wildfire behavior. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Education (02/17/2026)

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:47:58.880> early for identification prevention early for identification prevention early
  • It's about preventing them.
  • enough to prevent and address bullying. enough to prevent and address bullying.
  • , identify best practices for prevention, identify best practices for prevention, and<01:14:51.520
  • to this spot and how do we prevent it. to this spot and how do we prevent it.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Limiting local governments from mandating HOAs 3/2/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • If the developer wants it, nothing prevents him or her from doing it.
  • If the developer wants it, nothing<00:16:16.560> prevents<00:16:17.240> the<00:16:17.440
  • Um, we got that changed so that they cannot, um, prevent them from being put on, within HOAs.
  • And it could vary depending on the And they have prevented many floods from happening because of that
  • It does not prevent No, it does is not.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: House File 2614 was heard with a delete-everything amendment adopted at the outset. The bill, as explained by the authors, would prevent local governments from requiring amenities or common property that effectively force the creation of a homeowners association, while still allowing developers to create HOAs voluntarily when needed. The authors said the language was negotiated with stakeholders, including the League of Minnesota Cities, and was intended to be moved on to the Housing Committee for further discussion. Supportive testimony came from Housing First Minnesota and the Minnesota Homeownership Center. They argued that unnecessary HOA mandates can raise housing costs, reduce homebuyer choice, and shift public infrastructure costs onto homeowners through dues in addition to property taxes. Testifiers cited examples involving single-family developments, a Burnsville case involving a large roof assessment and disputed ACH withdrawal, and the Heritage Park development in Minneapolis, where an HOA was required but later became difficult to dissolve. They said the bill would preserve HOAs where they are genuinely needed, such as townhomes or shared-amenity developments. Members raised questions about the removal of county-specific language in the amendment, the meaning of the bill’s references to services and common property, and whether the bill would still allow neighborhood signs or other developer-requested features. A major point of concern was stormwater ponds and drainage infrastructure: one member argued that prohibiting cities from requiring HOA maintenance of such facilities could shift costs to taxpayers, while the authors responded that the bill was meant to stop cities from mandating discretionary amenities and that maintenance issues had been partly addressed in the amendment. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, but the amendment was adopted and the bill was discussed for referral onward.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Jun 9th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill increases access to a critical HIV prevention mechanism called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or
  • It prevents HIV transmission.
  • It was our dream that there would be drugs for both treatment and prevention.
  • Early effective treatment is crucial to prevent lifelong complications.
  • Early effective treatment is crucial to prevent lifelong complications. Here is the challenge.
Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills on June 9. SB 1023 by Senator Laird would require insurers that cover injectable HIV PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit, with supporters saying the change would reduce reimbursement delays and expand access, while health plans opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that interferes with benefit design. SB 964 by Senator Smallwood-Quivas would limit prior authorization for certain dose or frequency adjustments to covered medications, especially for chronic complex conditions; medical supporters said it would prevent harmful delays in care, while insurers argued it weakens safety and utilization controls. SB 1323 by Senator Rubio, as amended, would strengthen protections for people in immigration custody receiving medical care by requiring hospitals and facilities to inform staff how to respond to requests and allowing patients to notify family members of their location; it passed with one no vote. SB 1099 by Senator Reyes would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA rules, with supporters saying it would reduce legal uncertainty for safety-net services; it passed, though one member later changed a vote to no on the add-on roll call. The committee also took up SB 895 by Senator Wiener, a proposed $12 billion science research bond for the November ballot that would create a California scientific research funding institute. Supporters from UC, UAW, hospitals, and advocacy groups said the measure would help offset federal cuts, protect research jobs, and sustain California’s leadership in biomedical and other research; there was no opposition, and the bill passed on a party-line style vote with two no votes. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would stabilize Medi-Cal coverage for acupuncture, which supporters described as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological treatment for pain and other conditions that has repeatedly been threatened in the budget process; it passed unanimously. The committee also approved consent items SB 918 and SB 1202, and later cleared the remaining measures on call after roll votes and add-on votes were taken.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

November 18, 2025 - 03:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank you, Mister Chair. >> You mentioned the wellness prevention, which is very important.
  • And I'm looking on slide 12 where prevention of services prevention is key for me and I'm looking at
  • Could you explain to us what are you doing as prevention and hot? Can we?
  • through the Opioid Settlement Trust Fund, which is going towards for the prevention.
  • prevention.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Apr 3rd, 2025

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • The preventable death during childbirth compared to the national average is alarming.
  • It is a preventable disease. It's an extraordinarily expensive disease.
  • It's largely preventable. Most people have no idea that they have it.
  • Some of that was preventable. Some of it was. bad, you know what I mean?
  • Education equals prevention. And prevention equals life.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, they say $1 of prevention can amount to like $5, $6 of care that you don't need.
  • Well, exactly what you said: the ounce of prevention is so critically important to prevent the more expensive
  • They cite that 988 funding is categorized as prevention, which is an optional use of BHSA funds.
  • Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center. But I don't see a picture. I am here. Can you hear me?
  • Hirsch's Suicide Prevention Center.
Summary: The hearing focused on California’s 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and the broader crisis response system, with members and witnesses emphasizing both the system’s life-saving role and the risks posed by funding gaps, rising demand, and uneven local implementation. Opening remarks highlighted the personal impact of suicide and the need to strengthen crisis response so calls are answered quickly and linked to appropriate care rather than defaulting to 911, emergency rooms, or law enforcement. State officials described the AB 988 five-year implementation plan, which sets goals around public awareness, equitable access, high-quality call/chat/text response, and better integration with ongoing behavioral health services. State agencies reported progress on infrastructure, coordination, and related behavioral health investments. CalHHS said California has expanded mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, and youth behavioral health supports, and is preparing additional public awareness and grant programs tied to Proposition 1. DHCS explained that 988 is funded through a federal SAMHSA grant and the AB 988 surcharge, while Medi-Cal separately funds mobile crisis services; officials said the mobile crisis benefit is active in 53 counties and that statewide expansion remains a work in progress. Cal OES described the statewide technical buildout, including network infrastructure in all 11 crisis centers, interoperability with 911, and a pilot of next-generation routing and call-handling tools. The 988 California Consortium said call volume continues to rise sharply, missed calls remain a major concern, text/chat capacity is limited, and centers need more stable funding, better reimbursement, and stronger feedback loops with the state. County and community witnesses stressed that local systems need more flexible, sustained support to match the demand. Lake County described a peer-led rural mobile crisis model that has reduced law enforcement holds and increased housing placements, but said county-run mobile crisis teams still cannot reliably access 988 surcharge dollars and face reimbursement problems from Medi-Cal and commercial plans. Santa Clara County reported strong performance metrics, rapid call answer times, and a broad continuum of mobile crisis services, but said staffing and funding are strained and commercial reimbursement remains slow. The Mental Health Association of San Francisco said the peer-run warm line complements 988 by offering non-emergency support and warm handoffs, but recent budget changes forced cuts to Spanish-language service, federation support, and hours. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; members mainly asked questions about surcharge levels, budget timing, coordination among agencies, data collection, and how to improve collaboration with frontline crisis centers.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I urge you to please prevent more gas expansion...
  • We can protect our families from preventable tragedies.
  • We can protect our families from preventable tragedies.
  • Preventable diseases create preventable strain on the health care system and the state budget.
  • And preventing gas expansion is preventing new gas pipelines and preventing gas leaks and preventing
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 03/05/26

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • > care<00:38:28.480> because preventative and diagnostic care because preventative and
  • . prevention. prevention.
  • time-consuming scheduled care to prevent time-consuming scheduled care to prevent accidents,<01:
  • It's preventive.
  • um in coverage that is really preventing um in coverage that is really preventing kids<01:49:47.920
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • If we don't prioritize our wildfire prevention dollars, if we just sort of scattershot them around, I'm
  • It includes $59.1 million to CAL FIRE for the Wildfire Prevention Grant Program, which supports local
  • This funding is used for fuel reduction, wildfire prevention, planning... as well as wildfire prevention
  • This will be for wildfire prevention; it can use the use of healthy... fire, basically sort of defensible
  • But we have very much Continued to increase our focus on fire prevention and wildfire resiliency.
Keywords: 988, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • It is also preventative, right?
  • So I think that's on a number of the prevention pieces.
  • And so, as Chair Kennedy mentioned earlier, this is preventative.
  • We're preventing these folks from going into the emergency room.
  • and prevention efforts, and how we provide actions, through our prevention and prevention efforts and
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.