Transcript Highlights:

• The credit goes as earnings increase up to a maximum threshold, The credit goes as earnings increase
• It's $138 million in FY27, and it increases obviously. It's quite large.
• It's $138 million in FY27, and it increases obviously based on participation.
• rate increases and the volatility that we see in the health insurance realm.
• It isn't realized until premiums spike for employers and workers.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increases.
• The increases consist of 23 million for employee benefit premiums with an average of a 6.6% employer
• of 29 percent, followed by an increase in excess insurance premiums of 6.8 million, representing 7.7
• NPSIA passed on a 16% premium increase in FY26. We did project a 16% increase for FY27.
• They'd also have to pay a premium I'm not sure what they're exactly paying right now in premium, but

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a core component of the program and of disenrollment for failure to pay premiums.
• Again, it's not Medicaid, which doesn't have premiums.
• Families pay a premium of $15 between 133% and 150%, or $20 between 150% and 200%.
• And again, after HB 121 is implemented, it will increase to 300%.
• You know, the legislation, you know, we developed six different premium tiers for payment of premium

Summary: The committee met to receive implementation updates on recently enacted health care laws from AHCA and the Department of Health. AHCA reported on rural emergency hospitals, explaining the new Class 4 hospital designation, rule changes completed June 1, 2025, and that no Florida hospitals have yet converted, though one North Walton/DeFuniak Springs-area hospital has expressed interest. AHCA also reviewed the non-emergent care access plan requirement for hospitals with emergency departments, saying 83 plans had been received since July 1 and 63 approved, with plans emphasizing patient education, referrals to primary care or urgent care, and coordination for Medicaid managed care enrollees through the Florida HIE/ENS system. Members asked about HIE capacity, data collection, and whether the plans would identify shortages or trigger accountability measures; AHCA said it had moved to a new HIE vendor and would continue gathering data. AHCA also updated the committee on the TEACH workforce program, reporting $6.8 million in FY 2024-25 spending across 59 parent organizations and 229 facilities, with more than 1,800 students and nearly 380,000 clinical hours reimbursed, and said a federal 1115 workforce waiver was unlikely to move forward under CMS. On KidCare, AHCA said House Bill 121’s expansion to 300% of the federal poverty level remains blocked by federal litigation and CMS action tied to premium nonpayment rules, and members and public witnesses urged prompt implementation and asked for enrollment/disenrollment data and the rural health transformation funding outlook. Public testimony largely supported the NCAP and TEACH programs and pressed for action on KidCare. Representatives from health centers said NCAP has strengthened hospital-health center relationships and improved care coordination, including reduced recidivism in some hospitals. A Bond Community Health Center physician said TEACH is helping offset the burden of training students and could help address workforce shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas. Advocacy groups urged the committee to push for implementation of the KidCare expansion, citing children in the coverage gap and rising uninsured rates. The Department of Health then presented on several programs from the 2024-25 session. It reported on the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education (FRAME) program, including 78 dentists and 15 dental hygienists funded under the dental track and nearly 1,300 medical professionals funded overall, with 123 dental applications and 71 funded dentists in the most recent cycle. DOH also updated the Screening and Services Grant Program, the Health Care Innovation Revolving Loan Program, the statewide telehealth maternity care program, and the swimming lesson voucher program, noting strong participation and outcomes such as reduced ER visits and improved postpartum follow-up in the maternity program. Finally, DOH said implementation of the HIV prevention drug/pharmacist dispensing law is underway, with three certification courses approved and five certifications issued. Members asked about barriers to wider use of HIV prevention drugs, more detailed maternal outcome data, and the dental workforce program report; DOH said more detailed reports would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you can identify yourself and proceed. money it means increasing my prices money it means increasing
• I didn't want to um have the increased I didn't want to um have the increased uh<00:38:04.280>
• and include mandating a 50-50 premium and include mandating a 50-50 premium split<00:39:51.599><
• <01:03:29.400> split requirement to bargain the premium split requirement to bargain the premium
• We're hearing double-digit increases from the last county levies.

Bills: HF1976

Keywords: paid leave, family leave, employment law, Minnesota statute, benefit eligibility, seasonal employment, workforce, labor rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as the increase over time?
• also sales tax increases.
• also sales tax increases.
• You can all recall in 2023 that was an increase.
• So those are the folks; the average increase is 82%.

Summary: The committee heard a JLARC presentation on the Department of Health’s oversight of hospital inspections, complaints, and reporting. JLARC said DOH was late on 72% of acute care hospital inspections as of December 2024, had not verified that third-party accrediting standards were substantially equivalent to state standards, did not consistently require proof of those inspections, did not review adverse health event corrective plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. JLARC also raised a possible language-access barrier in the complaint system. Members asked about complaint filing by staff, the meaning of adverse health events, inspection outcomes, and whether the audit compared DOH to other agencies. JLARC said it had not reviewed inspection results or cross-agency comparisons, but noted inspectors were dedicated and working long hours. DOH later said it concurred with the recommendations and outlined a strategic plan with target dates for improving timeliness, verifying accreditation standards, expanding language access, reviewing adverse event laws, and improving public data access, with annual reporting to the Legislature expected. The committee then heard a Department of Health presentation on certificate of need modernization. DOH described the current certificate of need process, which reviews need, financial feasibility, quality, and cost containment for certain facility changes and new services, and said the program has not been modernized since the 1980s. DOH proposed 10 statutory modernization recommendations, including clarifying the program’s purpose, creating a planning entity, adding flexibility, reducing legal costs, updating access-to-care standards, expanding oversight to freestanding emergency departments and urgent care, addressing equity, improving cost control coordination, strengthening long-term funding, and using better data systems. Members asked about oversight of freestanding urgent care and EDs, funding sources, and whether the process could be streamlined or made more responsive to complaints or other triggers. A third panel discussed artificial intelligence in health care. Lucy O’Rourke of the Coalition for Health AI described CHAI’s work on responsible AI principles, technical standards, model cards or “nutrition labels,” testing and governance tools, and educational resources for providers. She said the group is focused on trust, transparency, fairness, safety, security, and privacy, and noted Washington’s AI-related policy work as among the more progressive in the country. No questions were asked. The final portion focused on the financial impact of federal and state health care policy changes. The Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals are facing low or negative operating margins, service reductions, layoffs, and closures, and that state cuts and taxes enacted in 2025, combined with federal HR1 changes, will significantly worsen finances. Providence Swedish leaders described staffing reductions, service cuts, delayed capital investments, and pressure from denials, tariffs, and reimbursement changes, while emphasizing that frontline staffing cuts are tied to service reductions rather than nurse-to-patient ratio changes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange then began a presentation on expiring federal ACA premium tax credits, state Cascade Care Savings assistance, and eligibility changes affecting lawfully present non-citizens, with examples showing large premium increases for customers if federal subsidies expire.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about 12% lower in premiums.
• The prices have increased 236% in 20 years. PBMs' profits have increased 300% in 20 years.
• The prices have increased 236% in 20 years. PBMs, profits have increased 300% in 20 years.
• And when we say free, we do pay for premiums. Everybody's paying for premiums.
• , the same premium.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review the history and current treatment of North Dakota health insurance mandates, with presentations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the Insurance Department. The discussion focused on how mandates apply differently to fully insured, self-funded, ACA, Medicaid, and PERS plans; how the state’s benchmark plan and federal essential health benefits affect coverage; and how the existing process requires cost-benefit analysis and, for certain measures, a PERS pilot period before broader application. Presenters also reviewed the long list of existing state mandates, including provider, beneficiary, and coverage requirements, and noted that many were enacted decades ago and have not been revisited despite changes in medical evidence and treatment options. Witnesses from the carriers argued that mandates should be reviewed periodically because some are outdated, can create unintended costs, and may not align with current medical guidance. Examples cited included PSA screening, off-label drug coverage, prior authorization rules, step therapy, and cost-sharing provisions for mental health and substance use treatment. They emphasized that carriers often cover services without a mandate when supported by clinical evidence, and that mandates can shift costs to employers and employees, especially in the fully insured small-group market. They also suggested possible policy improvements such as clearer mandate definitions, better transparency around cost-benefit analyses, a regular 10-year review of mandates, and more timely submission of proposals through the interim process. PERS and the Insurance Department highlighted a recurring tension over what counts as a mandate and when a measure triggers the state’s defrayal obligation under federal law. PERS described its interim committee process, the April 1 deadline for fiscal-impact proposals, and the limited pilot program used for certain measures, noting that only a few bills have gone through the full pilot process. The Insurance Department explained that it views new benefit mandates through the lens of the ACA benchmark plan and essential health benefits, distinguishing true new benefits, such as infertility coverage, from changes to existing benefits, such as telehealth or insulin cost-sharing caps. No votes were taken on policy changes; the meeting was informational, with members asking questions about costs, applicability, transparency, and whether a periodic mandate review should be established.

Transcript Highlights:

• , ...a 22% decrease in their annual insurance premiums and a measurable reduction in uninsured losses
• From 2022 to 2024, organizations reported insurance expense increases ranging from 50% to 500%.
• We are seeing huge premium increases in the wildland-urban interface, as well as in infill areas like
• Despite zero insurance claims to date, they saw a 450% increase in insurance premiums from last year
• We can answer questions like: Are some types of places seeing larger premium increases than others?

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several bills focused on California’s insurance market, wildfire resilience, and consumer protections. AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, was heard first. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Alabama Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler testified in support, describing state grant programs that help homeowners harden roofs and create defensible space, with the goal of reducing losses and improving insurance affordability and availability. Supporters from the insurance industry, local government, and the Rebuild Paradise Foundation also backed the bill, and committee members emphasized the need for more incentives for mitigation. The bill passed the committee on a do pass motion and was sent to Appropriations. AB 290, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require the FAIR Plan to offer automatic payments and address non-renewal grace-period issues. The author described her own experience being forced onto the FAIR Plan and facing a large premium increase, while Consumer Federation of California called the bill common-sense consumer protection. The FAIR Plan opposed unless amended, saying it was already handling major wildfire claims and other operational demands and requested more time and changes to the non-renewal grace-period language. Members across the committee supported the bill as a needed modernization measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 1339, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would direct the Department of Insurance to study insurance availability and pricing for affordable housing providers and report policy recommendations. Supporters from affordable housing organizations said rising premiums were forcing providers to cut services, defer maintenance, and use reserves, threatening housing stability for low-income residents. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 646, by Assemblymember Wallace, also passed to Appropriations; it concerns disclosure related to motor vehicle protection products and catalytic converter theft deterrence, with support from auto dealers and industry groups. The committee also approved AB 1531 on consent. Members later added on to the record in support of the bills, and the hearing concluded without recorded opposition votes on the measures that advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• The insurance premiums won't be Driven by litigation.
• Finally, and most importantly for policy consideration, this bill will raise premiums.
• You may hear from insurers that expanding appraisal rights will increase costs or raise premiums.
• have continued to grow premium volume and maintain strong financial positions.
• in cost to insurance companies increasing premiums that just bought.

Bills: HF4881, HF4867, HF4422, HF4223

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, regulation, financial institutions, prescription drug affordability, consumer protection, restitution account, financial compensation, attorney general, distributions, property insurance, homeowners insurance, fire and allied lines, hail insurance, appraisal clause, loss adjustment, alternative dispute resolution, insurance claims, claim valuation, actual cash value

Transcript Highlights:

• And the doctors would need to increase their premiums by 16 to keep this fund solvent.
• in the state, and the way premiums can be lowered is by increasing predictability, a mathematical equation
• This is about lowering premiums.
• It will affect the premiums.
• That if we do that premiums will go down because the premiums started going up a couple of years ago,

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida doctors and hospitals face the highest medical mile premium medical malpractice premium rates
• Premiums are high in Florida because medical malpractice is high.
• The way you decrease medical malpractice premiums is to stop the malpractice.
• It increases the challenge is on an already stressed recruitment environment.
• But this bill will increase costs of health care for all Floridians.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The commercial insurance companies say it's going to increase costs, it's going to increase the premiums
• going to increase the<01:46:34.159> premiums.
• We're going to have to increase<01:52:46.320> the<01:52:46.560> premiums<01:52:47.760><
• c> even<01:52:48.080> though<01:52:48.320> we increase the premiums even though we
• increase the premiums even though we have<01:52:48.719> heard<01:52:49.040> that<01:52:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:51.880> the<00:41:52.040> draw this increasing the draw this increasing the
• 22:10.920> it increases price volatility, and it increases price volatility, and it creates<01
• is<01:23:30.120> the increase risk premiums, which is the increase risk premiums, which is
• Uh that was a 112% increase.
• <01:57:17.840> Um price increases. Um price increases.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > in<00:07:10.800> premium<00:07:11.759> uh<00:07:11.919> for in the increase
• in premium uh for in the increase in premium uh for homeowners<00:07:13.199> for<00:07:13.599
• We have had our members report 400% increases in insurance premiums from '24 to '25, and in some cases
• > insurance<00:47:47.839> premiums 400% increases in insurance premiums 400% increases
• in uh in their significant increase in uh in their premiums.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They can't afford their Medicare Part A premiums, I mean deductibles, their B premiums, their D premiums
• > the<00:47:17.200> MET corresponding increase of the MET corresponding increase of the
• <00:52:38.079> to and and there and there are increases to and and there and there are increases
• <00:52:49.359> to going to be seeing those increases to going to be seeing those increases
• fee revenue increase. is December 2025. there would be an is December 2025. there would be an increase

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> of um any increased premiums, and then of um any increased premiums, and then of course<00:36:
• I've heard members talk about increasing health insurance premiums.
• <00:56:25.280> in<00:56:25.480> premiums should be no increase in premiums should be
• <01:00:41.080> increase is not a additional premium increase is not a additional premium increase
• 30% rate increases in their premiums. 30% rate increases in their premiums.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 4609, the Minnesota Building Families Act, and laid it over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. The bill would require insurance coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF-related care, and the author emphasized that it would not change Minnesota’s current surrogacy laws. She also noted the bill already contains a religious exemption and clarified that it had been referred through commerce but came to health first because of reviser delays. Supporters testified that infertility is common and financially devastating, describing personal experiences with miscarriages, cancer-related fertility loss, and large out-of-pocket costs such as second mortgages, retirement withdrawals, and fundraising. A physician testified that infertility is a disease, that delays in care can worsen outcomes, and that insurance coverage can improve health outcomes and reduce multiple births and costs. Supporters also argued that fertility coverage is already offered by some large employers and in other states without major premium increases. Opponents, including representatives of the Minnesota Catholic Conference and Minnesota Family Council, argued the bill would subsidize IVF and potentially surrogacy, which they said raises ethical concerns about embryos, commodification, and exploitation of women. They urged the committee to vote no and instead support restorative reproductive medicine or other approaches that address underlying causes of infertility. In member discussion, some legislators expressed sympathy for families affected by infertility and miscarriage but raised concerns about insurance costs, success rates, and the need for guardrails; others noted adoption as another way families are built. No vote was taken beyond laying the bill over.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't do anything about Medicare, but we're always asked to increase Medicaid spending.
• every time your premium is increased because the hospital cost is pretty much the Time your premium
• is increased.
• premiums.
• premiums.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Arkansas DHS hospital spending and reimbursement methods, with Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks explaining Medicaid hospital payments. They described fee-for-service per diem payments, cost settlements, and the upper payment limit (UPL) program, noting that SFY 2025 hospital payments included $688 million in inpatient/outpatient claims, $473 million in UPL payments, $248 million in cost settlements, and about $47 million in other payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked about why per diem rates vary, how cost settlements work, why UPL applies mainly to private hospitals, and how assessment fees are structured and funded. DHS said the hospital assessment fee is broad-based and uniform, used as the state share to draw federal funds, and that supplemental hospital payments after federal match totaled $548 million with no general revenue used. The Arkansas Hospital Association’s Jody Ann Tritt then gave a broader overview of the hospital landscape, explaining the different hospital types in the state, including critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals. She said Arkansas hospitals face financial strain, citing a negative 5.18% patient service margin statewide and lower reimbursement than surrounding states. She argued that Arkansas hospitals are paid less than hospitals in neighboring states for similar services, that commercial payer rates and administrative burdens are a major problem, and that Medicaid and Medicare rates remain below cost even with UPL support. She also said hospitals are the backbone of community care, provide emergency and public health functions, and are looking for ways to invest in technology and telehealth but often lack the revenue to do so. Members pressed for clearer data on hospital finances, reimbursement adequacy, and the impact of commercial insurers. Tritt said the association had just authorized a statewide survey to gather updated financial information from hospitals, which she said would take about a year to complete. She also explained that Medicaid pays weekly, Medicare and commercial plans can involve delays and denials, and that hospitals often spend significant resources on revenue cycle work. The discussion ended with a brief update on assisted living reimbursement: DHS said one facility, The Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, nine Living Choices waiver clients were being transitioned, and the updated rate study would be available after cost reports are collected, likely before the end of the fiscal year. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody's insurance premiums went up.
• And as those go up, your premiums go up.
• Insurance companies get their money from premium.
• We're not going to be able to stop increases in premiums in your homeowner's insurance or in your auto
• Dealing with increases in points and some of the other, really the increases in points and looking at

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on House Bill 1229 met to try to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, which deals with reporting certain traffic offenses to driving records and, by extension, insurance companies. House members argued that the House position was driven by concern that reporting lower-level offenses would unfairly raise insurance costs, while Senate members said they opposed removing reporting because they wanted transparency and believed people who break the law should face consequences. The discussion focused heavily on whether the bill should continue to exclude offenses at two points and below from reporting, or whether a narrower compromise such as one point and below might be acceptable. Committee members and DOT Driver and Vehicle Director Brad Schaefer reviewed a color-coded list of offenses and how they are currently reported. Schaefer explained that salmon-shaded items automatically appear on driving records because they trigger suspension or revocation, green items are commercial-driver violations that also trigger suspension, and the remaining unshaded zero-, one-, and some two-point violations were the main subject of the conference discussion. Members debated whether some low-point items, such as equipment violations, no child restraint, distracted driving, and failure to use due care, should remain reportable, while acknowledging that serious offenses like fleeing and human trafficking would remain reportable regardless. No final compromise was reached. Several members expressed interest in a possible middle ground limited to one-point-and-below offenses, but others worried the Senate would not accept it. The committee agreed to adjourn and reschedule after members had more time to review the list and consider possible amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• through premium taxes. through premium taxes.
• their insurance premium tax liability. their insurance premium tax liability.
• <00:17:28.000> increases Yes, there were some premium increases Yes, there were some premium
• calendar year 2026 premium tax return. calendar year 2026 premium tax return.
• One category since 1998 has increased 53%. Another category has increased by 66%.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :38.080> increasing addition to increasing the increasing addition to increasing the increasing
• regulations about premium increases. regulations about premium increases.
• It's increasing premiums to get to that point.
• It's increasing<00:50:16.160> premiums<00:50:16.559> to<00:50:16.720> get<00:50:
• 16.800> to<00:50:16.960> that increasing premiums to get to that increasing premiums to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So figure 2 is a breakdown of $100 in qualified monthly premiums.
• About $3 is due to the premium tax, and $3.75 is the premium surtax.
• The report shows how the New Mexico premium assistance program works.
• HCAF revenue from the premium surtax has far exceeded the insurance subsidy needs.
• And for those that remain, they'll see a premium increase of about $1900 per person.