Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:44.320><c> on</c><00:15:44.560><c> antiscychotics,</c> patients on antiscychotics, patients on
• These are my patients. I consider them my patients.
• I consider them These are my patients. I consider them my<00:46:34.800><c> patients.
• </c> my patients. It's kind of convoluted. my patients. It's kind of convoluted. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• </c> to shut this unit down if that patient to shut this unit down if that patient has<01:42:23.199><

Summary: The working group on restrictive housing met with a quorum present, approved the August 21, 2025 minutes, and adopted a procedure to take public testimony on each agenda item with a two-minute limit per testifier, with some flexibility for follow-up questions. The main presentation came from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on restrictive housing policies and a recent outside assessment of mental health care practices at HSCF and OOTC. DCR said the assessment found strengths such as consistent medication administration and staff commitment, but also identified major problems including outdated workflows, staffing shortages, inadequate physical plant conditions, overuse of suicide/safety watch for personal safety issues, and a need for more individualized treatment plans. DCR described several corrective steps already underway: filling a long-vacant high-level mental health administrator position, adjusting evening medication passes, working with DOH on transfer and referral workflows, planning a new electronic medical records system and revised screening tools, and pursuing additional training for ACOs and mental health staff. For OOTC, DCR said the facility is overcrowded and decrepit, needs a better screening tool, and requires more mental health-specific training and staffing. For HCF, DCR said the layout limits confidential assessments and provider access, and that the proposed consolidated healthcare unit would add 43 beds, private exam rooms, and a de-escalation room. DCR also said the new unit could serve acute and chronic suicide/safety watch needs and possibly some inmates with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or significant cognitive impairment. The discussion then focused on Act 292, which DCR said is difficult to implement as written. DCR said the bill aligns with DOJ, NCCHC, and ACA guidance in defining restrictive housing, limiting duration, requiring reviews, identifying vulnerable populations, and using step-down units, but raised two major concerns: a requirement to refer vulnerable people to DOH for confinement, and a requirement for clinical assessments every 12 hours by a provider. Members responded that the law should be matched with funding and staffing, and asked what resources are needed. DCR said it submitted a request for 35 positions at a cost of about $8.6 million, and also said funding may be needed for community-based beds and contracted medical services. Members also asked about the current MOA/MOU between DOH and DCR, the working group membership, and the timeline for revisions. DCR said the group includes DCR, DOH, and governor’s office medical advisors, that a first draft is complete, and that the revised agreement should be in place by the end of the year. On staffing, DCR said ACO recruitment classes increased from five to eight, vacancy rates dropped from 34% to 24%, but OOTC still faces a projected $7.1 million shortfall and heavy overtime costs, forcing post closures and program reductions. The meeting ended with continued discussion of screening tools, including DCR’s explanation that current broad questions may over-identify people with substance-use-related symptoms as having serious mental illness, and that a more discrete tool is needed to better identify those with acute needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patient, physician, the relationship is the most critical.
• I think the practical matter is the relationship between the patient and the doctor.
• Why would a dental hygienist be able to use a laser on a patient without the actual dentist?
• Why would a dental hygienist be able to use a laser on a patient without the actual dentist?
• Why would a dental hygienist be able to use a laser on a patient without the actual dentist?

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber approved the journal and adopted the special order report, and the Speaker announced a schedule change canceling the floor on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main business was CS for HB 7033, the House tax package, presented by Rep. Duggan. He described a broad set of tax changes, including the previously passed sales tax rate reduction from 6% to 5.25%, exemptions for certain bullion sales, changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use, property tax administration updates, affordable housing-related exemptions, repeal of the aviation fuel tax, delayed natural gas fuel tax implementation, corporate income tax changes, and other provisions. Debate focused heavily on the TDT section and the bill’s property tax relief structure. Amendments to preserve local flexibility or remove the TDT restrictions were offered and debated; one Duggan amendment was adopted to allow local governments to keep 25% of TDT revenues for general use while directing 75% to property tax relief, and another amendment requiring audit certification of compliance was also adopted. A combined reporting amendment offered by Rep. Eskamani to close corporate tax loopholes was debated at length but failed. On final passage, supporters argued the bill provides immediate, permanent tax relief and affordability help, while opponents said it diverts tourism dollars away from local needs and could harm tourism-dependent counties and services. CS for HB 7033 passed the House 78-29. The chamber then took up CS for CS for HB 1221 on local option taxes, which would give local governments more control over certain local taxes and, as presented, redirect TDT revenues toward property tax relief with some local flexibility. After questions and amendments, including a Miller amendment allowing 25% of TDT revenue for general purposes and another accountability amendment, the bill moved to final debate. Members split sharply: supporters framed it as immediate tax relief and local accountability, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism marketing, infrastructure, and county budgets. The transcript ends during closing debate on HB 1221, before final passage is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this moment, we are called to love, as the Apostle Paul has said: love is patient, love is kind.
• Help us, gracious God, to be patient. Open our ears to hear the goodwill in our opponents' voices.
• In this moment, we are called to love, as the Apostle Paul has said: love is patient, love is kind.
• Help us, gracious God, to be patient. Open our ears to hear the goodwill in our opponents' voices.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was it patients that were waiting? Was it patients that were waiting for acceptance in home health?
• Was this patients waiting for a substance in the hospice?
• I mean, why were there only 12 patients waiting to go into a nursing home?
• And when we limit competition, we limit opportunity for patients, for families, and for providers.
• This is for all Medicaid patients, not just kids. So kids are already covered.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee met on March 25 and first took up HB 199, which would extend Louisiana’s nursing home moratorium. Chairman Miller amended the bill to shorten the extension from five years to four, moving the termination date to July 1, 2031. Rep. Barault argued the state faces a growing bed-capacity problem and proposed an amendment to exempt St. Tammany Parish; Rep. Cruz offered a substitute to reduce the extension to three years. The Nursing Home Association said it had negotiated in good faith and supported the four-year compromise, while the Pelican Institute opposed the moratorium as anti-competitive. A St. Tammany resident testified that her mother faced a long wait for placement and that more local beds are needed. The three-year substitute and the St. Tammany exemption both failed, and HB 199 was reported favorably with the four-year amendment. The committee then favorably reported HB 223 to recreate the Department of Children and Family Services for four more years, with Secretary Rebecca Harris saying the department’s recent reorganization has allowed it to focus more directly on child safety and child welfare. Members discussed planned reforms such as differentiated response, stronger community-based care, and the transfer of TANF to Louisiana Works in 2027. HB 907, which grants civil and criminal immunity for the use or distribution of expired naloxone or other opioid antagonists, also passed with technical amendments; public health officials and members emphasized that expired naloxone remains effective enough to save lives and should still be used in emergencies. HB 535, which streamlines hospital-based acknowledgements of paternity by allowing notarization without two witnesses, was reported favorably after Woman’s Hospital testified that the change would speed up paternity establishment, child support enforcement, and the addition of fathers to birth certificates. HB 554, which would increase penalties for violations at health care facilities and require LDH reporting, drew testimony from a family member describing serious care failures and from LDH, which said it already has caps on fines and that the bill would not change those caps. Rep. Jackson amended the bill to require LDH to publish fines assessed and collected and to list facilities with repeated immediate jeopardy or actual harm deficiencies, but the bill was then voluntarily deferred for a week to allow further discussion with the department. The committee also reported HB 224, a largely technical update to the Children’s Code recommended by the Louisiana State Law Institute, HB 246, which updates membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and related bodies, and HB 405, which updates the name of the national acupuncture certifying organization. HB 222, requiring Medicaid coverage for certain dental procedures when needed to clear patients for other medically necessary treatment, was reported favorably despite a fiscal note. Finally, HB 235 on sewer systems generated extensive discussion: Rep. Fontenot described rising sewer rates, poor maintenance, and sewage overflows in his district, and argued for allowing property owners to install private sewer treatment systems in certain circumstances. Members raised concerns about local control, PSC rate-setting, and whether local governments should have more authority over sewer service decisions; the bill was still under discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• and hospitals to have access to the information so they'll know who's reviewing, but as far as the patient
• and hospitals to have access to the information so they'll know who's reviewing, but as far as the patient
• as</c><00:02:47.159><c> far</c><00:02:47.400><c> as</c><00:02:47.519><c> the</c><00:02:47.800><c> patient
• </c> reviewing uh but as far as the patient reviewing uh but as far as the patient and<00:02:48.480><

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 662, relating to personally identifiable information. Representative John Blanton explained that the bill would let judges, including federal and state judges, request redaction of their personal and immediate family information from public records, but that the protection would end if they later made identifying information public themselves. He also said the bill would restrict access to certain medical examiner information tied to insurance-company examinations, while still allowing doctors and hospitals access to know who is reviewing the information. The chair noted a committee substitute with a small change on page 3, line 12, removing name and license number language. After discussion, the sponsor agreed to proceed with the substitute. Senator Nemes moved adoption of the committee substitute, seconded by Senator Carroll, and it was adopted without opposition. The committee then voted on the bill itself. Senator Nemes moved passage, Senator Carroll seconded, and the roll was called. House Bill 662 was reported favorably with the expression of opinion that it should pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• wherever that patient comes from them wherever that patient comes from and<00:28:02.559><c> then</c><
• <c> and</c> benefits patients, taxpayers, and benefits patients, taxpayers, and communities<01:14:26.800
• </c> patients as well. patients as well.
• They're often seen as staff, and the patients or family sometimes can't tell the difference.
• They're often seen as staff, and the patients or family sometimes can't tell the difference.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• research partnership in medical device and biotechnology research, fostering new advancements in patient
• c><00:28:02.600><c> care</c><00:28:03.200><c> and</c><00:28:03.440><c> Health</c> advancements in patient
• care and Health advancements in patient care and Health Care Care Care technology<00:28:06.159><c> the
• um while that uh observe the patient um while that uh while<01:20:39.480><c> that</c><01:20:39.639><
• within uh patients uh which got<01:44:43.280><c> me</c><01:44:43.719><c> thinking</c><01:44:44.719><

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> prescriptions for my patient population. prescriptions for my patient population.
• The patients do not get their medications. Um, I probably lose a patient.
• The patients do not get their medications. Um, I probably lose a patient.
• The patients do not get their medications. Um, I probably lose a patient.
• The patients do not get their medications. Um, I probably lose a patient.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would clarify that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary policy for a newborn’s care unless the mother has no coverage or no employer-sponsored coverage. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure simply codifies the department’s long-standing interpretation of existing law. Representative Miles asked whether the coverage would extend to a grandchild if a young woman on her parents’ plan had a baby, and Birdsell said it would. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Senator Kevin Avard. The bill requires insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, when they change Medicare Advantage offerings. Benton Court said the bill was prompted by disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers and the department were confused by carriers exiting, changing plans, or narrowing offerings. He said the department does not regulate Medicare Advantage itself, but does license the carriers, and the notice requirement would help the department advise consumers; he also said noncompliance could affect a carrier’s license and could lead to fines. Members discussed the notice period, and the department and AHIP indicated support for changing it from 120 days to 90 days to align with federal timing. The hearing was closed with plans to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Representative Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion for pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole said the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell at a loss. Members questioned whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts, whether the bill would raise consumer prices, and whether it would mainly affect independent pharmacies. Cole and others said the issue has changed over time because PBMs now control a much larger share of the market, and that the bill would let pharmacies refuse loss-making fills and direct patients to mail order instead. The discussion also noted that the bill excludes Medicare and Medicaid and that the current proposal does not create a middle-ground option for patients to pay a premium at the counter.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any material in here that's covering the importance of being patient on the road?
• Yes, so we have a video about speeding in there and about being patient.
• Any material in here that's covering the importance of being patient on the road?
• Yes, so we have a video about speeding in there and about being patient.
• Yes, so we have a video about speeding in there and about being patient.

Committee: All ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Highway Commission Review and Advisory Subcommittee received a quarterly update from ARDOT Director Jared Wiley on major highway projects, federal funding, land conveyances, and agency safety outreach. Members asked about the status of numerous projects, including Jonesboro area work, the Townsend Avenue project in Fort Smith, the I-40/Highway 59 interchange in Van Buren, the I-55 bridge replacement at Memphis, the I-40/I-55 interchange congestion near Memphis, the Mountain Home Bypass, and other local road and drainage concerns. Wiley said most large projects are progressing well, though some are delayed by utilities, change orders, or sharply rising costs; he noted the Townsend Avenue project is being paused because costs grew from an estimated $12–15 million to more than $60 million, with funding to be redirected to other area projects. He also said the I-55 bridge project is about 60% designed and could begin construction in 2027, and that the Van Buren interchange should be completed before year’s end. The committee also reviewed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding report and quarterly land conveyances. Wiley explained that the federal project list reflects state oversight on some jobs, that federal aid agreements must be submitted before expenditures, and that ARDOT uses biennial appropriations to front project costs and seek reimbursement. On land conveyances, he described three surplus-property transactions: a drainage easement near I-40 sold back to a landowner, a Paragould Bypass-related tract sold after it became landlocked, and a small Highway 112 parcel in northwest Arkansas sold back for development after plans changed. Wiley then highlighted ARDOT outreach and safety efforts, including the Street Smart education program for middle and high school students, with online lesson plans, videos, quizzes, and materials available through StreetSmartAR.org. He also discussed the agency’s litter campaign, saying ARDOT collected 14,000 bags of trash in one day this year, has issued warnings and citations for unsecured loads, and spent nearly $11 million on litter cleanup last year. He reported that all ARDOT staff have completed human trafficking awareness training, and he described ongoing campaigns on work zone safety, “Slow Down, Phone Down,” move-over awareness, and a new podcast to answer public questions. The meeting ended with thanks to the director and a note that the committee may not meet again until November unless needed sooner.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their work is essential in the health care team to care for patients with hearing, communication, Their
• The state admission is to return health care to rural areas and underserved patients.
• And so as we go through this, just be patient and just recognize that the nominees, it's not their fault
• And so as we go through this, just be patient and just recognize that the nominees, it's not their fault
• cumbersome and difficult to have three different contracts with three different entities for the patients

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met to consider a series of gubernatorial nominations, first for several boards and commissions and then for key health-related executive positions. Early confirmations included Michael Vaughn to the Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Tina Frazier to the State Board of Licensed Social Workers, Dr. Kanya Martin and Dr. Edgar Boyd to the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dr. Christopher Thurman to the Health Care Workforce Training Commission, Samuel Haubrick and Robert Wipp Jr. to the Committee of Home Inspector Examiners, and Dr. Gabriel Pittman to the State Board of Health. Each nominee briefly described their background and qualifications, and committee members generally emphasized professional experience, public service, and rural health needs. All of these nominations advanced on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee then considered Clayton Bullard for two roles: Cabinet Secretary of Health and Mental Health and Administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Senators focused heavily on Medicaid managed care, provider payment delays, MCO oversight, and the short timeline before a new administration. Bullard said his priority would be stabilizing the agency, building a balanced budget, monitoring contractors and managed care organizations, and ensuring claims are paid promptly; he reported high rates of clean-claim payment within 14 days and said the agency would continue fining MCOs for noncompliance. Members also pressed him on legislative oversight and the need to keep lawmakers informed about policy changes. Both nominations were approved and sent to the full Senate. Sharon Schell Millington was then nominated to lead the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Senators asked about security concerns, staff safety, de-escalation training, pay for direct care staff, and coordination with local law enforcement. Millington said the agency had increased staff pay, adopted nationally recognized restraint/de-escalation training, and was working to improve communication with law enforcement. Her nomination also passed and moved to the Senate floor. At the end of the meeting, the chair answered a question about board membership requirements, clarified that the statute limits how many members may reside in one congressional district but does not require every district to be represented, and thanked committee staff for their work as the committee’s final HHS meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• involves not only day-to-day patient encounters, but also advocacy for patients regarding state health
• So this is going to provide for patient safety for these therapies with the guardrails that this bill
• The stem cell physicians of Arizona are in support of this, and it would offer patients more treatment
• It's access to health care, it's medical freedom, and it's keeping patients safe.
• It's access to health care, it's medical freedom, and it's keeping patients safe.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a proclamation honoring the East Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Members also welcomed the Doctor of the Day and several guest groups, including Alzheimer’s Association advocates. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several Senate bills. In Committee of the Whole, the House advanced SB 1037, SB 1233, SB 1290, and SB 1445, adopting committee amendments where offered and giving each a do pass recommendation; SB 1814 was retained. Members discussed SB 1055, which would require reporting certain unlawfully present individuals arrested for crimes to federal immigration authorities, with Democrats raising concerns about profiling and civil liberties and Republicans arguing it simply enforces federal law; it also received a do pass recommendation. SB 1274, relating to transportation and infrastructure, was amended and recommended do pass, SB 1502 also advanced, and SB 1573, concerning foreign or religious sectarian law in state courts, prompted debate over whether it was necessary or duplicative but was likewise recommended do pass. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, and the measures were assigned accordingly. The House then took up third-reading votes. SB 1168 and SB 1172 passed overwhelmingly, SB 1290 passed after debate about HOA meeting openness, SB 1221 passed on a 32-24 vote after supporters said it would improve tax transparency, and SB 1400 passed 47-9 despite concerns about peer support and counseling protections. SB 1214, a medical practice bill involving stem cell regenerative therapies, failed 25-31 after some members said they were not comfortable with the measure; afterward, a motion to reconsider its failure was adopted, placing it back on the third-reading calendar. The House also granted the Senate permission to adjourn until April 27, and then adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• with House Bill 84, which is an act relating to allowing telehealth appointments to be recorded with patient
• with House Bill 84, which is an act relating to allowing telehealth appointments to be recorded with patient
• Please listen to the third reading of the bill. with patient and provider consent. with patient and provider
• teleaalth appointments to be recorded teleaalth appointments to be recorded with<00:13:51.760><c> patient
• </c> with patient and provider consent. with patient and provider consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Safeguards are put in there with regard to informing patients that the therapeutically equivalent drug
• doesn't contain the identical active ingredient and informing the patient of their right to refuse.
• There are some reasons why you want a certain type for a certain type of patient, but you shouldn't have
• So on page 11, in the draft that we looked at last time, we had the, it had listed statins for a patient
• So on page 11, in the draft that we looked at last time, we had the, it had listed statins for a patient

Summary: The committee reviewed four bill drafts for the Rural Health Transformation effort. The first required the presidential physical fitness test in PE classes; members asked about DPI and school support, then moved and approved the draft. The second required physicians to complete one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle and included legislative intent encouraging other health boards to consider nutrition-related CE; it was approved after brief discussion. The third bill adopted the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. Members discussed a separate issue involving occupational therapy compact background checks and whether that fix could be added now or would need to wait until later; the committee also discussed Board of Medicine input and the compact’s workforce benefits. The draft was moved forward to the full committee. The fourth bill expanded pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution. Legislative Council explained the draft, and Senator Roars proposed substantial amendments to narrow motion sickness, UTI, diabetes supply, and substitution provisions. Members debated whether to vote on amendments now or wait for the special session public hearing; concerns were raised about transparency, stakeholder input, and avoiding premature action. No amendment vote was taken, and the bill was left for later consideration. The committee then recessed until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means fewer paying patients, more bad debt, and more charity care.
• That means fewer paying patients, care.
• S.190 is pro-patient and it is pro-hospital. I did want to describe something else that happens.
• S.190 is pro-patient and it is pro-hospital. I did want to describe something else that happens.
• And additionally, members may have heard in the news that there's an issue regarding Medicare patients

Transcript Highlights:

• And while those services offer therapy for patients with schizophrenia, depression, and PTSD, 28 days
• schizophrenia, for patients with schizophrenia, for patients<00:08:00.879><c> with</c><00:08:01.120>
• </c> fills up quickly, the earliest patient fills up quickly, the earliest patient could<00:45:02.800
• Clinicians are frustrated about the limited tools at their disposal to help their patients heal.
• Going to have a positive impact on patients, but they decided that they were willing to do it.

Bills: HF4588 , HF3685 , HF4577 , HF4932

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• From a patient-centered perspective, accountability is not weakened when responsibility is channeled
• [Witness testimony continues] The bill is an attempt to move away from false choices between patients
• The providers cannot pass along the cost of GRT to patients.
• . ...receive for their services without passing additional costs along to patients.
• I appreciate that, and I will take that down. ...come for patients. Thank you.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• She gave an example of a border hospital patient who might need continued services in another state after
• So legally, I could not proceed with treating patients. And I cover a 13-bed ICU.
• And if you're familiar with that time frame, we had a lot of ventilated patients who needed valuable
• And in terms of patient safety, I would also assume that, um...
• And in terms of patient safety, I would also assume that if patients were to be harmed in the act of

Committees: House Economic Development , House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• The only pathway for an SVP patient to be released to the CONREP program is through a court order.
• Patients who do not adhere to their terms and conditions while living in the community can be revoked
• Very few SVP patients ultimately achieve conditional release.
• one SVP patient released to CONREP in the county at the same time.
• And I do thank you guys for your patient. So I definitely want to continue this dialogue.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee held an oversight hearing on the state auditor’s October 2024 report on the California Forensic Conditional Release Program (CONREP) for sexually violent predators. The auditor said CONREP participants were convicted of new offenses less often than SVPs who were unconditionally released, but also found long delays in finding housing, weak guidance for local housing committees, and limited accountability over Liberty Healthcare and the Department of State Hospitals (DSH). The audit noted that 18 of 56 SVPs placed through CONREP had been revoked and returned to state hospitals, and that some participants waited months or years for placement while pre-placement costs continued to accrue. The auditor recommended, among other things, clearer committee guidance, better oversight of Liberty, and exploring transitional housing; DSH agreed to most recommendations but rejected transitional housing as a solution. Members from rural and high-desert districts described repeated placements in their communities and argued the program concentrates risk in areas with fewer services and slower law-enforcement response times. Senator Jones said the audit confirmed a broken system and pointed to his bill SB 380 to require DSH to develop transitional housing. Assembly Member DeMaio sharply criticized the program, the audit title, and Liberty Healthcare, alleging misleading practices with property owners and calling for the program to be suspended. Other members pressed DSH and Liberty on why placements often end up in rural areas, how judges make placement decisions, and whether the current process adequately protects public safety. DSH and Liberty defended the program as a court-ordered, highly supervised treatment model intended to reduce reoffending and support eventual reintegration. They said DSH now has a more active review process for proposed sites, has implemented four of the five audit recommendations, and is tracking program reviews and committee guidance. They also said the state has repeatedly sought additional vendors without success, and that the small scale and high-profile nature of the program make contracting difficult. DSH and Liberty maintained that transitional housing would not solve the core placement problems and would add cost without resolving county-of-domicile and school-proximity restrictions. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, after public comment was waived due to no speakers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Minnesota Hospital Association is committed to patient access to care.
• a county process, even as the patient or family works through hospitalization.
• patient or we can receive<00:38:04.000><c> payment.
• Patients come from all over the state to go to Hennepin Healthcare.
• Our hospitals will always work towards coverage for our patients.

Bills: HF4401 , HF4466

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Clinically, these genetic counselors are crucial educators and advocates for the patients that they serve
• They work alongside physicians and play a critical role in improving comprehensive patient care.
• And connecting patients with resources and cutting-edge treatments.
• prevent life-threatening complications, and advancing cutting-edge research that translates directly to patient