Video & Transcript Research : 'supervised visitation'
Page 153 of 451
CT
Connecticut 2026 Regular Session
Medical Assistance Program Oversight Council Women and Children’s Health Committee June 8th Meeting Jun 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- varnish application at the well-child visit.
- Adding one more thing to your incremental visit.
- You do not want to go to the emergency department for a dental visit.
- . ...at birth, who had a previous dental visit in the nine months.
- Within a visit, right?
Summary:
The MAPOC Women and Children’s Health Subcommittee heard a presentation from Kate Parker Riley, executive director of the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership, on the Husky Dental Program and efforts to improve oral health during pregnancy. She reviewed the structure of Connecticut’s Medicaid dental benefit, the ASO model, provider network, utilization trends, and member barriers to care. She noted that children’s dental measures remain above the national median, but adult utilization is lower and the dental provider network has been shrinking, with longer wait times in rural areas.
A major focus was the state’s goal to raise the rate of oral evaluation during pregnancy from about 17.5% to 25% by 2030. Riley described planned outreach to OB/GYN practices using a draft “snapshot” report showing each practice’s pregnancy oral-health rate compared with the state average, along with education materials based on ACOG and AAP guidance. Committee members and guests discussed barriers such as lack of provider training, workflow burden, access to dentists who will see pregnant patients, and the need for stronger referral bridges. Suggestions included adding simple oral-health screening questions in OB settings, using human support to make appointments, and exploring co-located dental hygienists or other embedded models.
Riley also highlighted partnerships with DSS, DCF, Head Start, WIC, Read to Grow, YMCA programs, refugee resettlement agencies, and school-based and hospital partners, as well as data-sharing and navigation efforts. She said pregnant members newly identified through HUSKY will now receive outreach and navigation support. DSS dental director Carolyn MacArthur introduced herself and said she supports the initiative, noting the literature linking untreated maternal dental disease to poor child oral-health outcomes. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with thanks and a preview of upcoming July presentations on integrated behavioral health and home visitation programs.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Use of legislative email, phone number and office space restricted, HF4172 3/26/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- That's just me. it's good that we have people visit us. it's good that we have people visit us.
- <00:15:07.640>
or your space uh when they are visiting or your space uh when they are visiting - A visit, a day visit is not temporary occupying. Thank you. All right. Thank you for that.
- A<00:22:10.760>
visit, <00:22:11.320>a <00:22:11.400>day <00:22:11.600>visit< - is not temporary A visit, a day visit is not temporary occupying. occupying. occupying.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- You talked about home visits.
- I think the program is your universal home visit, where a nurse actually visits the home.
- There can be up to 10 prenatal visits for the member.
- Well-child visits: this is a well-child visit percentage rate of a visit within the first 15 months of
- Well, we really appreciate you visiting with us today and for all your information.
Summary:
The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives.
Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/15/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Aug 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Then our final two programs are home visiting and child welfare.
- If you turn with me to page 11, we will examine home visiting.
- I'm curious what you mean by completion in home visiting.
- What does completion of a home visiting program mean? So, Mr.
- And why wouldn't these services in home visiting be required?
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Jun 27th, 2025
Legislative Health & Human Services Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And to date we've completed over 3100, excuse me, 31,000 visits.
- when we are conducting our health and wellness visits.
- And again, ongoing visits to date, over 31,000 visits have been completed.
- These are not, they are scheduled visits.
- At a movie and someone will call and say we're here to do your visit.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 02/19/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- on a proportion of the number of visits on a proportion of the number of visits that<00:13:29.920
- <00:31:08.440>
our many of the individuals visiting our many of the individuals visiting our - Notably, 61% of these visits were from families who are visiting our food shelf for the very first time
- Notably, 61% of these visits were from families who are visiting our food shelf for the very first time
- <01:26:40.960>
a reality is that if she doesn't visit a reality is that if she doesn't visit
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- school as you guys can tell him visiting school as you guys can tell him visiting me<00:04:22.639
- excited to welcome students visiting excited to welcome students visiting from<00:05:20.479>
- [clears throat] Visiting Senator Enoi.
- <00:09:37.040>
Madame You picked a great day to visit. - Madame You picked a great day to visit.
Bills:
SB2097, SB2317, SB2319, SB2177, SB2190, SB2424, SB2524, SB2627, SB3084, SB895, SB896, SB3102, SB3157, SB3215, SB2050, SB2090, SB2211, SB2572, SB2096, SB2025, SB2127, SB2046, SB2262, SB2354, SB2387, SB2487, SB2955, SB3234, SB2851, SB2573, SB2391, SB3282, SB3055, SB2189, SB2194, SB3152, SB2635, SB888, SB2203, SCR1, SCR2, SCR3, SCR4, SCR5, SCR6, SCR7, SCR8, SCR9, SCR10, SCR11, SCR12, SCR13, SCR14, SCR15, SCR16, SCR17, SCR18, SCR19, SCR20, SCR21, SCR22, SR3, SR5, SR6, SR7, SR8, SR9, SR10, SR11, SR12, SR13, SR14, SR15, SR16, SR17, SR18, SR19, SB2010, SB3118, SB3276
Keywords:
sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, food system resilience, grant program, Hawaii agriculture, agriculture, insurance, small producers, state support, biosecurity, farm coverage, public-private partnerships, agricultural policy, grant funding, food security, climate resiliency, housing development, zoning exemption, government assistance, affordable housing
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing BR Sub. on Econ. Dev., Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy (2-12-25) - Reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, so we get visitation from all over the world.
- Primarily, our visitation comes from the Upper Midwest. We are primarily a drive market.
- Okay, so we get visitation from all over the world.
- Okay, so we get visitation from all over the world.
- Tourism destinations is what we call VFR: visiting family and relatives.
Keywords:
Reuploaded to restore full meeting
00:13 Call to Order and Roll Call
01:14 Approval of Minutes
01:40 Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet
27:44 Department of Parks
59:23 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met for its second Budget Review on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Members then heard a presentation from the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Tourism on the 1% tourism marketing fund. Witnesses explained that the fund supports statewide tourism promotion, advertising, research, regional marketing, and matching grants to local tourism commissions, and that it cannot be used for capital construction. They reported that the General Assembly and governor increased appropriations in the 2024 session, adding $3 million in FY25 and $7 million in FY26, and set aside funding for the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority, the National Quilt Museum, and the Southern Kentucky Tourism Initiative.
Tourism officials emphasized that Kentucky tourism is a major economic driver, citing 2023 figures of $13.8 billion in economic impact, 79.3 million visitors, $9.7 billion in direct spending, more than 95,000 jobs supported, and nearly $1 billion in state and local tax revenue. They said the department now uses targeted digital and over-the-top advertising in selected domestic and international markets, with 62% of media placements digital and 80% of the budget spent out of state. Members asked about market selection, how the department measures return on investment, and what attracts visitors from places such as Dallas, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.; officials said research shows a mix of family visits, outdoor recreation, and varied Kentucky offerings, and that 81% of overnight visitors are repeat visitors. They also discussed the potential impact of tariffs and trade tensions on bourbon-related tourism and international visitation, especially from Canada, and officials said they were monitoring the situation with U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA.
The committee then heard from Kentucky State Parks officials on capital projects funded through HJR 76, HJR 56, and House Bill 6. They said they are providing quarterly project reports and have been meeting regularly with the Finance Cabinet’s engineering and contract staff. The presentation focused on campground utilities, broadband, and structural upgrades, including $40 million for campground improvements across the park system, with completed bathhouse renovations at Barren River and Nolin Lake and additional projects underway or in planning. Officials said the work is based on camper survey feedback, such as requests for better Wi-Fi, sewer and electric upgrades, frost-free spigots, and improved site layouts, and noted that the My Old Kentucky Home campground project is under construction and expected to be completed by spring 2026.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Health Policy Jan 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- You talked about home visits.
- I think the program is universal home visit where a nurse actually visit the whole.
- There can be up to 10 prenatal visits for the member.
- That's that spike from 2018 to 2019, well, child visits.
- This is a well child visit percentage rate of a visit within the first 15 months of life were late showing
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee (11-4-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Based in part on data from site visit Based in part on data from site visit schools,<00:08:45.519
- 20:56.400>
staff visits to several schools, staff visits to several schools, staff reported<00 - frequently mentioned by site visit frequently mentioned by site visit interviews<00:24:23.279>
site visit schools. site visit schools. >> Got<00:52:31.280>- 31.760>
we [clears throat] On site visits, we [clears throat] On site visits, we learned<00:26it. - 31.760>
Summary:
The Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee received an Office of Education Accountability presentation on student discipline data in Kentucky schools for the 2024 school year. OEA said the study used Safe Schools data, educator and student surveys, site visits to 12 schools, and principal surveys. The report found that about 1 in 10 schools have major behavior-related challenges and up to one-third have at least moderate challenges, with the most common concerns varying by level: high schools cited vapes, cell phone misuse, apathy, and tardiness; middle schools cited apathy, vapes, and cell phone misuse; and elementary schools reported more extreme classroom behaviors such as throwing objects, overturning furniture, and screaming. OEA also noted that 14% of students had at least one behavior event in 2024, but repeated events were rare, and event rates alone do not reliably measure the severity of behavior problems in a school or district.
The presentation emphasized that many disciplinary consequences do not align consistently with statutes or local expectations. OEA said law violations made up 19% of more than 250,000 recorded behavior events, while most were board violations, and that some serious incidents resulted in minimal consequences. The report highlighted concerns about weapons, threats, and assaults: only 9.2% of weapon events led to expulsion or alternative placement, few threats resulted in those outcomes, and fewer than 10% of assaults led to expulsion or alternative placement, including some first-degree assaults. OEA also said the Safe Schools data do not identify victims, limiting analysis of assaults on staff or students, and recommended clearer statutory definitions and better data reporting.
A major theme was the difficulty schools face in addressing chronic disruption and severe behavior while complying with federal protections for students with disabilities. OEA said principals reported the biggest challenges were federal limits on disciplinary removals and a lack of alternative placement options. The report described variation among districts in how they implement federal requirements, with some administrators discouraging alternative placements or avoiding discipline because of perceived legal risks. Site visits found that many schools lacked chronic-disruption policies, and teachers often reported frustration with minimal consequences and repeated classroom removals. OEA recommended that KDE collect more information from educators, identify promising practices for alternative instructional settings, and develop clearer guidance and training. In discussion, committee members said the findings showed reporting gaps and resource strains, and OEA staff clarified that some underreporting reflects local discretion, while law violations should still be reported.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome to the Senate and I hope you enjoyed visiting the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
- They're visiting here this week. Yes, welcome to your Senate. You can have a seat now.
- Senate and I hope you enjoyed visiting Senate and I hope you enjoyed visiting the<00:04:36.880><
- visiting here this week. visiting here this week.
- Others visiting >> You can have a seat now.
Bills:
HB20, HB276, HB644, HB812, HB816, HB916, HB1131, HB1247, HB1518, HB1525, HB1537, HB1541, HB1546, HB1553, HB1562, HB1565, HB1566, HB1576, HB1577, HB1591, HB1605, HB1612, HB1613, HB1614, HB1618, HB1620, HB1650, HB1656, HB1658, HB1661, HB1664, HB1668, HB1676, HB1707, HB1711, HB1713, HB1715, HB1718, HB1727, HB1749, HB1756, HB1774, HB1776, HB1801, HB1802, HB1805, HB1813, HB1815, HB1831, HB1838, HB1853, HB1854, HB1859, HB1863, HB1871, HB1872, HB1918, HB1920, HB1952, HB1965, HB1966, HB1967, HB1969, HB1972, HB1973, HB1974, HB1975, HB1980, HB1985, HB2005, HB2023, HB2031, HB2033, HB2062, HB2113, HB2114, HB2116, HB2138, HB2139, HB2156, HB2158, HB2159, HB2171, HB2208, HB2268, HB2270, HB2272, HB2273, HB2276, HB2289, HB2310, HB2315, HB2335, HB2338, HB2339, HB2340, HB2343, HB2361, HB2384, HB2387, SB2338, SB2431, SB2438, SB2593, SB2907, SB2671, SB2321, SB3084, SB2401, SB3033, SB2972, SB3032, SB2806, SB3014, SB2108, SB2981, SB2973, SB2423, SB2078, SB2322, SB2397, SB2896, SB2088, SB2347, SB2408, SB2970, SB2851, SB2713, SB2697, SB2312, SB2192, SB2363, SB2530, SB3028, SB2024, SB3007, SB2599, SB2596, SB2662, SB2930, SB3334, SB2378, SB3019, SB3231, SB2240, SB2372, SB2175, SB2046, SB2298, SB2922, SB2835, SB3263, SB2174, SB2128, SB2006, SB2489, SB3134, SB2982, SB2425, SB2849, SB2797, SB2795, SB2575, SB2521, SB2765, SB2386, SB2852, SB2022, SB2117, SB2277, SB2387, SB2688, SB2885, SB3132, SB3219, SB2169, SB2591, SB2090, SB2983, SB888, SB3249, SB2611, SB2429, SB2463, SB3154, SB3131, SB3152, SB3315, SB2448, SB2054, SB2140, SB2520, SB2377, SB2986, SB2010, SB2189, SB2026, SB3010, SB2818, SB2002
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, it does not have the years of supervised clinical work required for legitimate certification.
- c><03:31:28.160>
the <03:31:28.399>years <03:31:28.640>of <03:31:28.880>supervised - does not have the years of supervised does not have the years of supervised clinical<03:31:30.000
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 12, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Most of the time, the postpartum visit generally is two weeks later.
- So how does that model work, and are you billing them for the ER visit?
- So sometimes we can do those visits, and the endocrinologists do those visits via telemedicine.
- So sometimes we can do those visits, and the endocrinologists do those visits via telemedicine.
- And thank you for visiting our sites, too. That's great.
Summary:
The committee held a panel discussion focused on how Florida health care organizations are working to improve access, quality, and affordability. Panelists from Florida Community Care/Independent Living Systems, Sunshine Health, AdventHealth, UF Health, and Nemours described their approaches, including Medicaid managed care, value-based contracting, community partnerships, mobile screening units, smart-room technology, telehealth, and specialized programs for maternal health, children, and complex chronic conditions. Several speakers emphasized that managed care and coordinated care can improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary utilization and costs.
Members asked about the impact of Medicare’s V28 changes, mobile cancer screening, urgent care versus emergency room billing, pediatric specialty access, complaint resolution, Black maternal mortality, provider shortages, network adequacy, and the use of AI in prior authorization. Witnesses said V28 has affected providers and revenue, UF Health’s mobile screening program is expanding beyond a few cancer types, and its urgent care model bills patients at the appropriate level rather than both urgent care and ER rates. Nemours said it reduced specialty wait times through scheduling changes, telemedicine, and registry tools, while AdventHealth described postpartum coordination and maternal heart programs to reduce maternal complications and mortality.
On complaints and access problems, panelists said their organizations use patient/member advocates, care managers, call centers, and escalation processes to resolve issues, and Sunshine Health specifically discussed a transportation complaint that was addressed with its vendor and the family. Sunshine Health also said it is not using AI for prior authorization, though it is exploring responsible uses elsewhere, and Florida Community Care said it is not using AI in utilization management. In closing, panelists identified workforce shortages, provider burnout, and high-cost drugs as the biggest ongoing challenges. The meeting ended with thanks to the panel and adjournment after Representative Brackett moved to rise, without objection.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Health Committee and Senate Health Committee Aug 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We've also been expanding, working to maximize the use of telehealth visits, asynchronous messaging visits
- We've also been expanding, working to maximize the use of telehealth visits, asynchronous messaging visits
- We're able to do phone visits, video visits, email visits, in addition to delivering in-person care.
- She was undocumented and was afraid to come in for a visit. We contacted her and visited her home.
- And so those are the patients that we visited.
Summary:
The joint informational hearing focused on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s Medi-Cal program and on community health effects from recent immigration enforcement actions. Committee leaders said H.R. 1 would sharply reduce federal funding, increase administrative burdens, and worsen access to care, especially for Medi-Cal enrollees, immigrant families, rural communities, and reproductive health patients. The second half of the hearing examined how ICE raids and related federal actions are creating fear, reducing clinic and emergency department use, and disrupting children’s access to schools and early childhood education.
Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Bass outlined the main H.R. 1 provisions affecting Medi-Cal: work requirements, semiannual eligibility redeterminations, shorter retroactive coverage, new cost-sharing, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, reduced federal support for emergency and lawful immigrant coverage, and a one-year ban on Medicaid funding for prohibited abortion providers. She estimated millions could lose coverage, with tens of billions of dollars in federal funding at risk. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California warned the defunding provision could force clinic closures, service reductions, and loss of access to family planning, STI testing, and cancer screenings. The California Hospital Association said the financing changes could cut hospital revenue by tens of billions over 10 years and threaten access, especially for rural and safety-net hospitals. The Western Center on Law and Poverty argued the law would increase churn, paperwork, and uninsured rates, disproportionately harming working adults and people experiencing homelessness.
Committee members asked about implementation timelines, notification systems, administrative costs, the effect on immigrant eligibility, and whether California could delay or mitigate some provisions. Bass said the state was still assessing federal guidance, planning county and provider outreach, and exploring a possible delay for work requirements and a transition period for provider-tax changes. Members also discussed how state budget actions may need to be revisited in light of H.R. 1, and how California might preserve access through state-only funding or other policy changes.
In the second panel, CHIRLA, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Children’s Partnership described the health consequences of immigration enforcement. Speakers said raids and data-sharing fears are causing anxiety, trauma, and avoidance of care, with Los Angeles County reporting declines in emergency, urgent care, and clinic visits after enforcement actions. The Children’s Partnership said school and early childhood absences are rising in some communities and that enforcement is undermining children’s emotional well-being and access to education. Members asked for more data and discussed possible state protections, telehealth, mobile care, and legal and policy responses to reduce fear and preserve access to health and education services.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 2/24/25
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The first licensing visit is an announced technical assistance visit.
- Subsequent licensing visits are unannounced.
- is announced and all the first visit is announced and all the other<00:28:55.080>
visits <00:28 - that allows for more frequent visits that allows for more frequent visits more<00:52:01.119>
- <01:42:50.400>
to just wait till the next yearly visit to just wait till the next yearly visit
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/16/2026 - House Public Safety & Law Enforcement
Public Safety & Law Enforcement
Transcript Highlights:
- many visits.
- If it takes one visit, if it takes three visits, you know, I think the use of the 12 visits is usually
- I'm just curious how long that 12 visits...
- No, I mean, I visited them once. Yes, I understand.
- No, I mean, I visited them once. Yes, I understand.
Keywords:
trauma, public safety, counseling, mental health, employee benefits, law enforcement, stress management, suicide prevention, workforce readiness, disciplinary action, appeals, termination, superior court, investigative process, reinstatement, immigration, data sharing, federal government, undocumented immigrants, visa overstays
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- better judgment of the judge, they were sent with their very mentally unstable dad for an overnight visit
- A very mentally unstable dad for an overnight visit, who then shot both of them and then himself.
- In those three weeks, we could be out talking to other people, visiting other folks, being on a plane
- It has to do with school accreditation, program clinical hours, and physician supervision.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- visits by 62%.
- visits by 62%.
- As Taki mentioned, visited her actually more than twice a day in her case.
- Telemedicine is much more than a video visit between a patient and a physician.
- Virtual and same-day visits, home visits, problem solving, Virtual and same-day visits, home visits,
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing with testimony on several health care bills, with most of the discussion focused on primary care access, community health center reimbursement, midwifery and birth centers, telehealth, hospital-at-home, direct primary care, and trans-inclusive health care access. Chair Feeney and Chair Murphy opened by noting the large number of signups and asking testifiers to keep remarks brief because of time constraints. Legislators and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that Massachusetts’ primary care system is under strain and that federal policy changes and reimbursement gaps are worsening financial pressure on providers.
On community health centers, Representative Blay, Senator Lovely, Michael Curry, Bethany Keeley, Jag Deep Trevetti, Sean Cahill, and Christina Severin all supported H. 1096/S. 711, which would require commercial insurers to pay federally qualified health centers at least the MassHealth prospective payment system rate. They argued that commercial plans currently reimburse health centers below Medicaid rates, threatening sustainability, staffing, and access, especially as federal cuts and coverage losses could increase uncompensated care. Testifiers said the bill would stabilize health centers, protect primary care access, and not cost the state money.
A second major topic was H. 1117/S. 784 on sustaining birth centers and the midwifery workforce. Senator Lovely, Senator Miranda, Emily Anesta, Rebecca Orden, Catherine Rushworth, Nishira Burrill, Joel Sutherland, Rachel Blessington, Joelle Ward, and others described the 2024 maternal health omnibus as an important first step, but said birth centers and midwives still face low reimbursement, workforce shortages, and financial instability. They urged reimbursement parity, a workforce development fund, and support for freestanding birth centers, citing improved outcomes, lower C-section rates, better patient experience, and racial equity in maternal health. Several speakers shared personal birth stories and said the bill would help preserve and expand birth options in communities like Roxbury, Worcester, and the North Shore.
The committee also heard support for H. 1343 on direct primary care from Dr. Garofalo, Dr. Altman, Dr. Nair, Stephanie Cameron, Dr. Haley Moke-Blessed, and others, who said current insurance rules force patients to use a separate in-network primary care doctor for referrals and sometimes prevent physicians from dispensing medications. They argued the bill would reduce delays, administrative burden, and costs while improving continuity of care. In addition, Dr. Miklides and Sue Stempeck supported H. 1141 on hospital-at-home parity, saying the model has strong outcomes and should be reimbursed at the same rate as brick-and-mortar hospital care. Heather Myers and Katrina Cook testified on telehealth and digital health equity, urging broader coverage for asynchronous care, remote monitoring, interpreter services, and digital literacy supports. SEIU Local 509 supported H. 1188/S. 681 on trans-inclusive health care access, saying it would remove arbitrary insurance barriers to gender-affirming care. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- recognized, we have Jan Salo Taylor, Sals, and Faith Koua, and also joining Faith is her brother, visiting
- <00:01:32.759>
from <00:01:33.079>New faith is her brother visiting from New faith - with us here, visiting the state Capitol today.
- <00:02:07.479>
with <00:02:07.680>us <00:02:08.479>here <00:02:08.720>visiting - <00:02:09.039>
the <00:02:09.119>ho visiting with us here visiting the ho visiting