Video & Transcript : 'nursing program' :
Page 142 of 500
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- such a program.
- It's a discipleship program for a year.
- We took on his case and worked many hours and weeks calling nursing homes, but he wasn't nursing-home
- We worked many hours and weeks calling nursing homes where he wasn't nursing-home criteria because he
- And we are, you know, the Section 8 program and the Housing Choice Voucher program is a great program
Committee:
House Judiciary
Summary:
The committee took up several bills, beginning with HB 519, which would require special masters appointed in complex consolidated litigation to comply with judicial conduct and federal appointment/disqualification standards, subject to Louisiana law. After a technical amendment clarifying that the provision applies to cases designated under Supreme Court rules, the bill was moved favorably without objection. HB 29, creating the Ascension Parish Retired Employee Insurance Fund, was then heard and also advanced favorably without objection.
The committee next considered HB 324 on judicial salaries. The bill would make the 2024 and 2025 judicial supplement stipend permanent and add future cost-of-living adjustments, subject to available funding and approval by the Louisiana Supreme Court and Judicial Budgetary Control Board. Members asked about funding sources and whether the stipend could be made permanent without a constitutional amendment; after discussion, the bill was moved favorably without objection.
The longest discussion centered on HB 211, the Homelessness Court Program, later named the Streets to Success Act. Amendments were adopted to limit the bill to licensed group homes and to remove enforcement language that would have created civil actions against local governments for failing to remove encampments, while setting staggered effective dates. Supporters, including the bill author and governor’s office representatives, said the measure would create a coordinated court-and-services response for people experiencing homelessness, especially those with substance use or mental health issues, and would allow designated camping areas and diversion into treatment. Opponents, including housing advocates, legal aid groups, and people with lived experience, argued the bill would criminalize homelessness, increase jail and court involvement, and fail to address root causes such as unaffordable housing, lack of shelter capacity, and inadequate wraparound services. The bill drew extensive testimony but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC) Mar 20th, 2026
ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)
Transcript Highlights:
- The other part of this equation that is not at the table today is the VA nursing home.
- And then we're projected, though, to spend $145 million just on contract nursing alone.
- And we've got to stop just immediately going to contract nursing.
- And then we're projected, though, to spend $145 million just on contract nursing alone.
- And we've got to stop just immediately going to contract nursing.
Committee:
All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 5 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It will encourage shared program.
- </c> Public Safety to implement a program Public Safety to implement a program whereby<01:44:23.840><
- </c> Either assisted living homes or nursing homes, and also implement a program whereby if those individuals
- </c> thing that you said, you said nursing thing that you said, you said nursing homes homes homes and
- </c> uh nursing homes, assisted living? uh nursing homes, assisted living?
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- HERE WE GO UNDER TAB ONE SENATORS SB 788 VETERANS NURSING HOMES BY SENATOR TRUENOW, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
- FOR ONLY VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES AND SURVIVING SPOUSES TO CREATE VETERAN AND SPOUSE DESIGNATED NURSING
- HOME BEDS IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.
- WE HAVE INDEPENDENT LIVING, ASSISTED LIVING BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SKILLED NURSING ON OUR CAMPUS
- TRAINING SERVICES PROGRAM BECOMES THE VETERANS FLORIDA OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM AND LAUNCHES A GRANT PROGRAM
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee Jun 24th, 2025
Aging and Long-Term Care
Transcript Highlights:
- care facilities for the elderly as an alternative to nursing home placement.
- It's just for participants of the Assisted Living Waiver Program.
- What are the components of the ALW program and also the assisted living transitions program and they
- So this is a very lucrative program for providers.
- So, this program position is the rent control piece, right?
Committee:
House Aging and Long-Term Care
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study May 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We've got a great little program set up.
- We're saying this is great for this program, but we're not always seeing the end results. of these programs
- There's lots of different programs available.
- Licensure for School Nurses Grades Pre-K through 12.
- Any more requirements for nurses.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Transcript Highlights:
- He explained that the program is the legally authorized alternative-to-discipline program for physicians
- In 2019, we added nursing faculty to get a higher rate because of the demand and the need to hire nursing
- In 2019, we added nursing faculty to get a higher rate because of the demand and the need to hire nursing
- For example, we have a really strong Running Start program.
- This bill helps address that, and we have fantastic financial aid programs in the state.
Committee:
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Keywords:
Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database, National Practitioner Data Bank, license renewal, license reinstatement, medical board, professional discipline, credential surrender, healthcare regulation, SB 5963, passport to careers, Washington College Grant, financial aid, higher education
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 15th, 2026
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Standridge, you are recognized to introduce the nurse of the day. Certainly.
- From there, she enrolled in a master's program to complete her degree in nursing.
- From there, she enrolled in a master's program to complete her degree in nursing.
- This is a program that's sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
- He's the school liaison program manager of the 72nd. Jimmy Higgins is here.
Bills:
SR31 , SB2060 , SB2184 , HB1371 , HB1411 , HB1933 , HB2361 , HB2398 , HB2893 , HB3006 , HB3044 , HB3127 , HB3322 , HB3147 , HB1276 , HB3472 , HB3522 , HB3704 , HB4303 , HB4319
Keywords:
military, children, resilience, Purple Up!, military families, master development district, improvement district, public improvements, infrastructure financing, special assessments, statutory revision, consolidation, law amendment, emergency legislation, legal clarity, oil and gas, mineral rights, proceeds, royalties, escrow account
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and spent much of the day on recognitions and special presentations, including Capitol Cowboy Day honoring Oklahoma State University, the Doctor and Nurse of the Day, Miss Oklahoma Teen Taylor Meeks, military families for Purple Up for Military Kids Day, and several visiting groups in the galleries. During the OSU presentation, university leaders highlighted OSU’s agricultural research and asked for support for an upcoming agronomy research bill, and Coach Eric Morris was welcomed as the new head football coach.
The chamber then took up Senate Resolution 31, designating April 15 as Purple Up for Military Kids Day in Oklahoma, which was presented with remarks about the sacrifices of military children and families and the significance of wearing purple. The Senate also advanced and passed several measures, including bills dealing with duplicate statutory sections and statutory interpretation, a negotiated oil and gas bill, the True Grit Trail, nitric oxide sales to minors, foster care and juvenile transition documents, a paraprofessional certification change, an Indian education council sunset extension, veterans’ tax refund donations, a Route 66 specialty license plate, cell phone restrictions in K-12 classrooms, tire pyrolysis funding, ABLE Commission reporting, scholarship-granting organization tax credits, municipal ordinance publication deadlines, and agency rule authority and review.
Most bills were advanced without objection and passed by wide margins, with a few closer votes on House Bill 2398, House Bill 3127, House Bill 3704, and House Bill 1276. House Bill 1276, extending the classroom cell phone prohibition, drew the most debate, with supporters citing improved student focus and classroom interaction and one member raising local control concerns before voting yes. House Bill 3704, concerning participation in a federal tax credit for scholarship-granting organizations, prompted questions about double-dipping on tax benefits and state sovereignty, but it ultimately passed 38-8. The Senate then announced a Technology and Telecommunications meeting for the next morning and adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (04/17/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- 1,250 nurses who are members.
- 1,250 nurses who are members.
- Nurses are would otherwise. Right.
- </c> um nurse um nurse but<01:52:58.880><c> they</c><01:53:00.239><c> it's</c><01:53:00.480><c> the</
- </c> their program that is a thousand hours. their program that is a thousand hours.
Summary:
The committee heard Senate Bill 254, which Senator David Roford described as a technical correction to controlled substance inventory law for pharmacies. He said the bill would remove outdated language requiring inventories to be done in an odd-numbered year, while keeping the existing requirement that pharmacies conduct a full controlled substance inventory every two years in line with federal law. Members asked several clarifying questions about whether the requirement is pharmacy-by-pharmacy, whether new pharmacies would be affected, and whether the change would alter scope or compliance; the sponsor and a representative of the New Hampshire Pharmacist Association said it would not, and that it mainly provides clarity for pharmacies and inspectors. The public hearing on SB 254 was then closed, and the committee also heard support from a representative of the pharmacist community, who said the association supports the bill.
The committee then discussed a non-germane amendment to SB 254 dealing with FBI background checks for educational surrogate parents under the Department of Education. Representative Leyon explained that the amendment was requested by the Department of Education after the FBI rejected prior statutory language, and that the goal was to allow people serving as educational surrogate parents to complete FBI fingerprint-based background checks so they can perform their duties. Department of Education and Department of Safety staff testified that the amendment mirrors language that has worked in other education-related background check statutes, including provisions with specific disqualifying offenses tied to child safety, and that the FBI requires precise statutory language and direct transmission of records through the Department of Safety. Members questioned why the FBI’s approval was needed, whether individuals could simply provide their own records, and whether changing federal leadership could require future changes; witnesses said the state needs both state and national records, that records must come directly from the FBI through the Department of Safety, and that the language is intended to satisfy current federal requirements.
During the discussion, some members expressed skepticism about the need for the amendment and about placing it on a bill about controlled substance inventories, but no vote was taken during the portion of the transcript provided. The committee also briefly discussed a separate bill on physician assistants/physician associates, with members noting that the proposed name change would not alter scope of practice and that some outside groups had raised concerns about transparency, but that discussion was interrupted and not concluded in the excerpt.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 19, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- DCF created last year a new program called behavioral qualified residential treatment programs, which
- While in its infancy, this program is already serving children falling through the cracks of not being
- We strongly support continuing this program, and so we would definitely recommend proceeding with that
- The CARES program was put into an act and is a statute.
- And those positions, 200 of them are for CNAs, 84 are for nurses, excuse me, not CRNAs, CNAs.
Summary:
The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to review agency budgets, vacant positions, and possible efficiencies across several health and human services agencies. Members were asked to identify savings and potential areas for increased funding, and the discussion repeatedly focused on whether long-vacant FTEs, reversion of funds, and staffing shortages reflect true operational needs or broader budgeting and recruitment problems. The chair and members emphasized that the exercise was intended to help the committee make more informed budget decisions and to identify structural issues that may require legislative action.
For the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, members highlighted a large waiting list, including individuals in crisis and children, and discussed whether vacant positions and unspent funds could be redirected to services. Several members raised concerns about delays in crisis applications, the use of paper applications, and whether the issue is staffing, process, or both. For the Department of Children and Families, the presenters discussed vacant positions, the use of staff augmentation in state hospitals, support for expanding behavioral qualified residential treatment program beds, and concerns raised by audits of the managing entities, which showed procurement and financial management problems. They recommended continued oversight, reporting requirements on Medicaid enrollees receiving mental health services through managing entities, and support for the governor’s proposed funding items.
Other agencies reviewed included Elder Affairs, where members questioned the need for multiple divisions, CARES assessments, and supervisory overhead; the Department of Health, where vacancies, turnover, pay gaps, and units of rate were discussed as barriers to recruitment and retention; and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where the presenters said vacancies were tied to new nursing homes and recommended shifting a major priority into general revenue rather than trust funds. Throughout the meeting, members generally agreed that the vacancy review was eye-opening and suggested deeper, possibly separate, reviews of agency staffing, pay parity, and fund reversion practices. No formal votes were taken during the transcript.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Kids, it's my pleasure to introduce the Pinal County Farm Bureau Ag Ambassadors Program, the student
- leadership and outreach program made up of high school students from across Pinal County.
- Mom's Demand Action also has a wonderful program that I've been trying to get into my district called
- And we're talking about now replacing all of our nurses with nurse assistants or even...
- Replacing all of our nurses with nurse assistants or even taking like one nurse and making them responsible
Summary:
The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and heard introductions of guests. Members then adopted several procedural motions, including extending the second regular session, suspending the seven-bill limit for Representative Livingston on budget-related measures, and requesting the Senate return SB 1786 on artificial intelligence content verification for reconsideration. The House also moved into Committee of the Whole to consider calendar items.
In Committee of the Whole, the House recommended do pass on SB 1057, SB 1171, SB 1424, and SB 1515, while retaining SB 1178 on the calendar. SB 1171, dealing with fingerprinting and fraud prevention in health and human services, was amended and received supportive comments about accountability and Medicaid fraud. SB 1424, concerning firearm safety instruction in schools, drew extensive debate: a proposed Gutierrez amendment modeled on “Christian’s Law” to require secure firearm storage measures was defeated by division vote 23-31, and the bill itself was defended as age-appropriate firearm safety education while opponents argued it was an unfunded mandate, a parents’ rights issue, and an improper burden on schools. SB 1515, creating a public safety parity fund for DPS and corrections bonuses from rainy-day fund interest, was amended and recommended do pass.
The House then considered an additional Committee of the Whole for SB 1552, adopted a floor amendment, and recommended the bill do pass as amended. In third reading, SB 1021 failed 22-35, while SB 1215, SB 1345, SB 1456, and SB 1493 all passed, with SB 1345 drawing a floor explanation about an added regulatory requirement for health care facilities. The House also received first readings of several appropriations bills and announced a special Joint Appropriations Committee hearing on the budget the next morning before adjourning until Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 25 February, 2026; 3:00 PM
Public Health and Welfare
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, isn't that why we have our medicinal cannabis program?
- </c> intent to then remove skilled nursing intent to then remove skilled nursing facilities<00:46:29.680
- leaving skilled nursing facility or hospice<00:46:48.880><c> facility?
- ,</c><00:47:14.079><c> I'm</c> wanted a medical cannabis program, I'm wanted a medical cannabis program
- Program Act, creates a tightly Program Act, creates a tightly controlled<00:53:59.760><c> science-driven
Committee:
Joint Public Health and Welfare
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee, February 27, 2026
Labor, Health & Social Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Once uh a notice from registered nurses.
- Um, and as you see registered nurse.
- </c> psychiatric mental health nurse psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner,<00:20:34.880><c> a
- And then um if you to the program.
- </c> tell you that because their programming tell you that because their programming company,<01:06:09.440
Committee:
House Labor, Health & Social Services
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- statewide standing order to any school to obtain and maintain albuterol for administration by a school nurse
- terms management of albuterol rather than use of albuterol in the provision relating to permitting non-nurse
- House Bill 2369 establishes the Washington Local Food for Schools Program in the Office of Superintendent
- It also requires OSPI to collaborate with specified agencies to support the program in the bill, including
- ...from the Department of Health, OSPI, and school nurses to lean instead of requiring the Department
Committee:
House Education
Keywords:
competency-based assessment, graduation requirements, education reform, student opportunity, pathway options, albuterol, asthma, inhaler, rescue inhaler, respiratory emergency, school nurse, student medication, self-administration, anaphylaxis, public schools, private schools, charter schools, tribal compact schools, K-12 health, medication policy
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Mar 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Per student than charter districts on all positions except nurses and secretaries.
- and secretaries ...instructional facilitators, nurses, and secretaries.
- about that program in the accountability report.
- Core educational program and student success.
- So that partnership program has been around for a while.
Summary:
The House/Joint Education committee continued its adequacy study with a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on resource allocation, focusing first on matrix spending and then non-matrix spending. Staff explained the methodology for mapping APSCN expenditure data to matrix lines, reviewed district and school categories used in the analysis, and highlighted key findings: foundation funding covered a large share of matrix costs but total spending on matrix items exceeded foundation funding, with classroom teachers making up the largest share. Members asked for additional breakdowns on waivers, superintendent survey responses, trend data, and spending by district type, size, and rural/urban status. Staff also noted limitations in tracking two matrix lines—salary enhancement for other employees and all personnel health insurance—because of coding and definition issues.
The committee then reviewed non-matrix expenditures, including instructional aides, facilities, school safety, mental health, dyslexia services, gifted and talented, and career and technical education. Staff reported that non-matrix spending remained above $2 billion over the last three years, with most of it coming from other funds rather than foundation funding. Members raised concerns about dyslexia identification and funding, mental health needs, school safety, food service, athletic transportation, and whether some items should be added to the matrix. The Department of Education clarified that the building fund reflects district-held funds for construction and maintenance projects, while the facilities partnership program is a separate state process for approved projects.
In the final discussion, staff summarized total spending as more than $15,800 per student in 2025, with about 69% going to matrix resources and 31% to non-matrix resources. The chair explained the adequacy process and the committee’s role in setting future funding recommendations, and members discussed the recommendations worksheet included in the binder. The chair then proposed postponing the remainder of Part Two of the presentation until a May meeting after the fiscal session, along with inviting the Department of Education back for more detailed questions; with no objections, the committee adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- But those programs that I talked about, our youth and community programs, are wildly popular; they're
- But particularly in that program, you know, we prioritize areas for count. particularly in that program
- The second program that was funded under the Certified California Veterans Service Provider Program in
- program.
- There were no programs at all.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs held an informational hearing focused on the effects of federal budget cuts and policy changes on veterans, military readiness, and California’s veteran support systems. The chair and members emphasized that federal reductions to the VA, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, SNAP, and the federal workforce are disproportionately harming veterans by threatening health care, employment, housing, crisis lines, and suicide prevention services. The chair also highlighted California’s progress on veteran homelessness and the importance of preserving state programs that leverage federal dollars.
Major General Matthew Beavers of the California Military Department described the department’s structure, its response to the Los Angeles fire emergency, and concerns that federal cuts could reduce readiness through less training, older equipment, and fewer resources. He also discussed state programs such as Work for Warriors, STARBASE, youth and community schools, and the counterdrug task force, saying they are valuable but vulnerable if funding is redirected away from readiness. Members asked about the impact of federal changes on the Guard and how the Legislature could help, and Beavers said the state should advocate for recapitalized equipment and continued support for key programs.
A second panel focused on veterans’ benefits and claims support. CalVet, Los Angeles County, and Swords to Plowshares testified that county veteran service officers, legal aid, and community-based partnerships are essential to helping veterans access VA benefits, especially after the PACT Act expanded eligibility and increased claims volume. Witnesses said these services bring substantial federal dollars back to California, but county offices and legal providers are underfunded and overburdened. Members discussed data sharing, staffing shortages, and the need for more resources to reach veterans who are not connected to VA care.
In the final panel on mental health and suicide prevention, CalVet and nonprofit providers described state-funded programs such as the Veterans Support Self-Reliance program and the California Veterans Health Initiative, which place services in permanent supportive housing and provide no-cost counseling statewide. Witnesses said these programs are showing measurable improvements in health, medication adherence, and emergency room use, but they depend on sustained funding and are vulnerable to step-down grants and federal instability. Committee members expressed support for the programs and raised questions about access, staffing, and the role of non-veteran family members in Vet Center services.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (02/18/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- We have peer-to-peer mental health and substance use programs, and there are programs across the country
- I am also a nurse.
- I’m a registered nurse from Manchester and a member of the New Hampshire Nurses Association.
- access the program.
- The program is a federal program, which would really need a federal fix, and we support a program that
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Mar 27th, 2026
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- Most of our programs are programs that serve people who are hurting.
- , the adult foster care program, and the adult day health program.
- programs, I am.
- Programs on that campus, which includes substance use disorder treatment programs, residential programs
- diversion programs.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Summary:
The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session on health and human services, held in Clinton and opened with remarks from the House and Senate co-chairs, local officials, and committee members. The chairs emphasized the importance of hearing directly from agencies about the Commonwealth’s health care and human services budget needs, thanked Clinton for hosting, and introduced the day’s panels, beginning with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and then MassHealth.
Secretary Kiame Mahania presented Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS budget, describing a $33.7 billion request driven largely by non-discretionary cost growth, caseload increases, and federal uncertainty. He highlighted targeted investments in foster parent reimbursement, family resource centers, maternal health, food assistance, immigrant legal services, and workforce rates, while warning that federal cuts and the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act could strip billions from state health funding. Members questioned him about primary care shortages, federal program integrity audits, ConnectorCare, regional health disparities, and the proposed cap on adult dental coverage; he defended the cap as a difficult but necessary cost-control measure and said the administration would continue cooperating with federal partners.
Undersecretary Michael Levine then testified for MassHealth, saying the agency faces two major challenges: rapid cost growth and looming federal changes. He outlined a $22.7 billion gross MassHealth budget and proposed actions including a moratorium on new expansions, capping adult dental benefits at $1,000, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management spending to peer-state levels, and convening work groups to slow growth in personal care attendant, adult foster care, and adult day health programs. He also warned that federal policy changes could cause about 300,000 residents to lose coverage by 2030 and reduce federal revenue by about $3.5 billion, and said MassHealth would use outreach and systems changes to help eligible members stay covered. Members raised concerns about the impact of these cuts on homeless care, preventive services, dental access, GLP-1s, and regional hospital and specialist shortages, while Levine argued the proposals were aimed at preserving core coverage and sustainability.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- And members, SB 275 provides that when a certified registered nurse anesthetist... ...nurse anesthetist
- , or Nurse Anesthetists.
- LaFleur with the Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Jason Harrison with L.O.A.
- You see it in the VA program. The federal government requires data.
- Accumulator and maximizer programs: patients exhaust assistance faster.
Committee:
House Insurance
Summary:
The House Insurance Committee met on April 29 with a quorum present and took up several insurance and health care-related bills. SB 192, a dental reimbursement bill, was amended to allow dentists to opt in electronically to credit-card payment methods and to clarify applicability and effective date; it was reported as amended. SB 84 would require prostate cancer screening coverage for men over 40 under current clinical guidelines and prohibit cost-sharing; supporters from the American Cancer Society said Louisiana has a high incidence of prostate cancer and that out-of-pocket costs deter early screening. The committee adopted amendments and reported the bill as amended. SB 275, dealing with reimbursement and network participation for certified registered nurse anesthetists, drew support from nursing and hospital groups and was reported favorably. SB 169, a cleanup bill on biomarker testing, was also amended and reported.
The committee spent substantial time on SB 401, which creates a temporary prescription drug affordability board to review pricing data on selected drugs and report findings to the legislature. Supporters said the board would improve transparency and help lawmakers understand drug pricing trends; opponents raised concerns about confidentiality, market effects, and the lack of a defined policy outcome beyond reporting. Amendments narrowed the scope, added confidentiality protections, and removed opposition cards, and the bill was reported as amended. SB 387, a major PBM reform bill tied to SB 401, would change PBM compensation, rebate handling, formulary practices, audits, and appeals, while excluding ERISA plans after discussion and amendment. Supporters argued it would curb spread pricing and other practices that raise costs, while opponents from the Pelican Institute and PCMA warned it would interfere with private contracts, reduce flexibility, and could raise premiums or disrupt city, school board, and small-group plans. After extensive debate and a roll call, SB 387 was reported with amendments by a 10-4 vote.
The committee also considered SB 241, which requires certain insurance adjusters and public adjusters to include license numbers in written communications. After amendments limiting the requirement to individual licenses and removing one statutory reference, the bill was reported as amended. Throughout the meeting, members and witnesses repeatedly discussed the need for transparency in drug pricing and PBM practices, the role of ERISA and non-ERISA plans, and potential impacts on public employers and consumers.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- And members, SB 275 provides that when a certified registered nurse anesthetist... nurse anesthetist.
- , or Nurse Anesthetist.
- You see it in the VA program. The federal government requires data.
- Accumulator and maximizer programs... It's retroactive and unpredictable.
- Accumulator and maximizer programs. Patients exhaust assistance faster.
Committee:
House Insurance