Video & Transcript Research : 'benefit plan'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/15/26

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:25:23.200> by of workers compensation benefits by of workers compensation benefits by
  • They<00:41:09.680> offer<00:41:10.000> benefits.
  • They're more They offer benefits.
  • So that's a benefit to Minnesota.
  • This is the plan." And then to build it. This is the plan."
Bills: HF4862, HF4598
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • benefit plan premiums in decrease health benefit plan premiums in the<00:29:20.720> markets<00
  • plan if they amended their essential health benefit plan.
  • <00:52:30.800> their benefit plan if they amended their benefit plan if they amended their
  • So we essential health benefit plan.
  • <01:07:19.119> The all health benefit plans. The all health benefit plans.
Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance met for its first interim meeting, established a quorum, approved routine opening items, and welcomed a new committee assistant and a legislative intern. The committee first heard a Kentucky Bankers Association presentation from Tim Shank and John Cooper focused on the state’s housing shortage, which they described as affecting all 120 counties and especially low- and moderate-income and workforce housing. They urged support for a proposed $20 million banker-backed revolving fund, paired with tax credits, to finance new housing construction; they said the program would be flexible, could support alternatives such as manufactured housing, and would use below-market loans with tax credits vesting over five years only after units are completed. They also asked for extension of the historical tax credit carryforward from five to seven years and for continued support of new market tax credits, arguing that supply-chain delays make the longer period necessary for historic rehabilitation projects. The bankers also raised concerns about credit unions, arguing that because credit unions do not pay the same taxes as banks, they should not be allowed to acquire healthy state-chartered banks or hold state and local deposits. They cited the recent purchase of First State Bank of Middlesborough as an example, saying the transaction would reduce state, county, and city tax revenue and weaken local tax bases. In response to committee questions, the presenters said local regulations, zoning, parking, sidewalk, and utility easement issues can significantly delay housing projects, and they emphasized that state policy and infrastructure support are needed to help address affordability and development barriers. The committee then shifted to a Department of Insurance presentation by Commissioner Sharon Clark on how to read KRS 6.948 health mandate and federal cost defrayal impact statements. Clark explained that the mandate statements were created in 1998 so legislators would have actuarial estimates of how proposed health insurance mandates would affect administrative costs, premiums, and total costs, and she noted that later legislation added federal cost-defrayal analysis. She also reviewed the background of the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits framework and said the department’s statements are intended to help lawmakers make informed decisions on proposed health coverage mandates. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAM DEFER, WAM-CPN, WAM Public Hearings 03-03-2026

Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • Your next measure is SP 2047, Senate Draft 1 relating to pharmacy benefit managers.
  • Uh, we’re just going to require that DNR and DHHL take the lead to develop the plan since they actually
  • Next item: Senate Bill 2803. the lead to develop the plan since they the lead to develop the plan since
  • We’re going to blank the appropriations and require that a draft BL plan be submitted by 2027 and that
  • the final plan be submitted in 2028, and we’re going to defect the date to 2015.
Summary: The joint committee on Ways and Means and Consumer Protection met for decision-making only on two agendas and took action on a large number of Senate bills, with no oral testimony heard. On the 1016 agenda, the committee recommended passage of measures including SB 2088, SB 2925, SB 2781, and several others, and passed a number of bills with amendments. Notable amendments included SB 3263, which adopted AG amendments related to the name, image, and likeness endowment trust fund; SB 2047 on pharmacy benefit managers, which incorporated Hawaii Pharmacist Association changes; SB 2087 on health insurance, which added Insurance Division clarifications; SB 2100 on pesticides, which added a blank appropriation; SB 2353 on outdoor signage, which removed provisions related to the Wiki special district; and SB 2902 on renewable energy, which clarified certification standards for portable solar devices and exempted them from certain disclosure requirements. Most recommendations were adopted without objection, though a few members noted reservations on selected bills. The committee also deferred one bill on the agenda, SB 3327. The committee then moved to the 1015 agenda and acted on additional measures. SB 2003 was passed with amendments tied to Act 255, including a repeal trigger if deadlines are missed; SB 2497 on utility-related transparency drew the most discussion, with one member warning about litigation and costs while another argued it was simply about electricity-rate transparency, and it ultimately passed with PUC-related amendments and an exemption for utility cooperatives. Other measures were passed unamended or with technical or fiscal amendments, including bills affecting land planning, tax credits, conveyance tax language, shoreline maintenance, and community improvement projects. Several bills had appropriations blanked or effective dates deferred to 2050, and many were adopted with members noting reservations rather than opposition. On the 1017 agenda, the committee continued approving measures, including SB 709 on crisis intervention officers and assisted community treatment, SB 2153 on defining bona fide farmer/agriculture activity, SB 2694 on water rate adjustments, SB 3025 on income eligibility limits, and SB 3085 on the Hawaii film studio, which included a five-year repeal provision if the studio has not relocated. The committee also passed numerous other bills unamended or with technical amendments, often deferring effective dates or blanking appropriations. Across both agendas, the committee’s actions were largely consistent: bills were advanced with amendments tailored to agency requests, technical corrections, or fiscal adjustments, and votes were generally unanimous or near-unanimous with occasional reservations recorded.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Health and Human Services May 20th, 2025

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • I said, we have time to plan for our mother, only for the mother to, we have to take time to plan and
  • We took months already to plan. I would have a lot of time.
  • So I started planning for my death.
  • So I started planning for my death.
  • This is a benefit plan that provides enrollees with a clearly defined number of visits and services through
Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, then established a quorum with five members present. Members heard and left pending several House bills, including HB 4743 on allowing hospitals to license mobile stroke units under a hospital license, HB 4129 on earlier DFPS enforcement tools for single-source continuum contractors in community-based foster care, HB 4903 creating a Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to coordinate child care regulations across state agencies, HB 3812 revising the gold card/prior authorization process for physicians, HB 4535 requiring written informed consent before COVID-19 vaccination and a standardized state information sheet, and HB 4666 reducing the frequency of some HHSC reports to the legislature. The chair also noted HB 35 would be voted on later after a subcommittee back was received, and that a large number of bills would be heard the next day. Most of the testimony focused on HB 4535 and HB 4730. On HB 4535, supporters argued the bill would strengthen informed consent for COVID vaccination by requiring written consent and clearer state-level information about risks, manufacturer liability protections, and adverse-event reporting; opponents, including a pediatrician and medical groups, said existing federal and state informed-consent materials already cover these topics and warned the bill could create duplicative paperwork and penalties. On HB 3812, the Texas Medical Association supported changes that would extend the gold-card evaluation period to one year, raise transparency, and make prior authorization exemptions easier to administer, while health plans said they were neutral and viewed the bill as a balance between reducing burden and preventing fraud or unsafe care. HB 4730 drew extensive testimony from adoption professionals, birth mothers, adoptive parents, and child welfare advocates. The bill would require DFPS to create a relinquishment form, train child-placing agency staff, and extend the minimum waiting period for voluntary relinquishment from 48 hours to seven days. Supporters of the current law argued the 48-hour period aligns with hospital discharge, allows informed decisions, and helps birth parents and adoptive families begin healing and bonding without pushing children into foster care or creating legal and Medicaid complications. The author said the bill would be revised and that the seven-day provision was a work in progress. No votes were taken on the bills during the meeting; each bill was left pending after public testimony closed.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Well, I think what's happening is if the bill that would have an impact on health plans could either
  • Well, I think what's happening is if the bill that would have an impact on health plans could either
  • mean, there was a number of groups, the Oklahoma City Chamber, the Oklahoma Association of Health Plans
  • maybe need the critical service and the many that will pay the cost as it's spread out amongst the plan
  • And so that's the whole idea of having an actuarial study to see what that impact on the plan is.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Retirement May 5th, 2026

Retirement

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we're not currently planning for that.
  • They would suspend their benefits to stay the rest of the year.
  • So they either suspend their benefit or their benefit gets reduced dollar for dollar above a certain
  • I don't think their benefit would be very significant.
  • I don't think their benefit would be very significant.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • This is to make sure that all PBMs, including those that are employer-sponsored plans and ERISA plans
  • This is just gonna increase the cost on plans.
  • And it makes clear that it applies to an out-of-state health benefit plan provided to residents. of Texas
  • benefits.
  • Supreme Court's reckless decision held that if a state law requires a plan to structure benefits in a
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • plans.
  • And if that's through an ERISA plan or any other plan...
  • They're the third-party benefit administrators for ERISA health care plans.
  • Eighty percent of the plans have gone to ERISA.
  • An ERISA plan, the savings is baked into the total plan.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Health and Human Services (Part II) Mar 5th, 2025

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • plans.
  • Senate Bill 1122 closes this loophole by clarifying that Texas law applies to all health benefit plans
  • These provisions apply to ERISA plans.
  • And if that's through an ERISA plan or any other plan, a sort of mandate-like plan, uh, this, this will
  • They're the third-party benefit administrators for ERISA healthcare plans.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • You have a strategic plan and the goals all should align.
  • That's the plan. So, any other member questions?
  • So, the plan for this bill is of that.
  • That's<00:47:24.960> the<00:47:25.119> plan.
  • I certainly plan to we can support this.
Bills: HF4598, HF4884, HF3732
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Health and Human Services Apr 1st, 2025

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Remedial plans are non-disciplinary. We did have one remedial plan. We did have one remedial...
  • We did have one remedial plan. Remedial plans are non-disciplinary.
  • Senate Bill 1236, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, PBMs,” “Senate Bill 1236, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, PBMs
  • design or what the benefits can be.
  • design or what the benefits can be.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 883, which would protect physicians’ ability to prescribe off-label medications and treatments, framed by the author as a “Right to Treat” measure tied to COVID-19 care. Supporters, including physicians and patient-choice advocates, said the bill would safeguard the doctor-patient relationship and prevent interference by boards, pharmacies, or hospitals. Several witnesses described using hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, budesonide, antibiotics, steroids, and monoclonal antibodies during the pandemic, and said they faced complaints, board scrutiny, or pharmacy refusals for those prescriptions. The bill was left pending after public testimony closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 331, which would extend hospital price-transparency requirements to additional health care facilities such as freestanding ERs, urgent care and retail clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient clinics, and birthing centers. Proponents argued that broader disclosure of prices for shoppable services would help consumers compare costs and reduce surprise billing, while opponents from ambulatory surgery centers said the bill would impose costly compliance burdens on small providers and that insurers or the state already have much of the needed data. The bill was also left pending. Senate Bill 2422 would expunge Texas Medical Board records and impose reparations for disciplinary actions tied to COVID-era treatment decisions, including references to ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, budesonide, and masks. The author and supporters argued that doctors were unfairly targeted for trying to save patients and should be made whole; the Texas Medical Board representative said most pandemic complaints were dismissed, that actions generally involved broader issues such as privileges, documentation, or informed consent, and that no physician was disciplined solely for prescribing off-label COVID medications. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2207, which would loosen Texas Medical Board rules on physicians advertising themselves as board certified, especially by reducing barriers tied to maintenance of certification requirements. Supporters said the current rule is overly restrictive, inconsistent, and costly, and that it drives physicians out of practice; they also said Texas is one of only a few states with such a rule. Witnesses described hospitals using the rule against physicians and said the change would improve transparency and competition. The bill remained pending after testimony.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Tue Mar 24, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • . >> Were you planning on doing that anyway before this bill or are you planning on... an owner and an
  • Thank you for the opportunity to provide on SUD treatment plans in their on SUD treatment plans in their
  • 32:44.520> and<00:32:44.760> health mutual benefit societies, and health mutual benefit
  • Hawaii Association of Health Plans Hawaii Association of Health Plans offering<00:35:47.920>
  • SD2 HD1 relating to pharmacy benefit SD2 HD1 relating to pharmacy benefit managers.<01:13:30.800
Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2433 SD1 relating to condominiums, which would direct the condominium education trust fund toward educational resources for unit owners and require the Real Estate Commission to ensure owners’ interests are represented in funded activities and related rulemaking. Supporters, including the Hawaii Real Estate Commission and a condominium owner advocate, said owners need a seat at the table in condo governance and education efforts. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill was necessary, with the Real Estate Commission indicating it could already use the trust fund for owner education and that owners are already considered stakeholders, though not through a specific commission seat. No vote was taken during the excerpted discussion. The committee then took up SB 2047 SD2 HD1 on pharmacy benefit managers, which would set requirements for maximum allowable cost reimbursement, allow reverse-and-rebill claims after successful appeals, and authorize fines for violations. The Insurance Division offered comments, the Hawaii Pharmacists Association supported the measure with amendments and suggested future PBM reform funding, and Kaiser Permanente requested a technical amendment. A committee question raised whether the staffing and resource request for implementation was too large for a bill focused only on MAC pricing, and the witness said he would provide more data to the next committee. No final action was shown. Next was SB 2425 SD2 HD1 on health insurance and substance use disorder treatment, requiring insurers to honor written assignments of benefits to SUD providers and prohibiting anti-assignment clauses. Supporters described patients being unable to access treatment because of high out-of-pocket costs and said direct payment would reduce harm for people in recovery. HMSA opposed the bill but said it would begin direct payments to non-participating SUD facilities effective March 27, while continuing to object to the assignment-of-benefits portion because of fraud and balance-billing concerns; the Hawaii Association of Health Plans also opposed. Members questioned HMSA about reimbursement mechanics and why the bill was needed if coverage policies were already changing. Finally, the committee heard SB 3045 SD1 HD1, which would require coverage of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies, including for Medicaid managed care, under certain conditions. DHS and the Insurance Division offered comments, while SHPDA, Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation, and others supported the bill, citing inconsistent access and a case in which a woman allegedly died after being denied a CGM. HMSA said it already covers medically necessary CGMs and had updated its policy in 2025 for type 1 and insulin-dependent patients, but it raised concerns about expanding mandated coverage to type 2 and gestational diabetes and about supply impacts. The committee also discussed whether the bill duplicated existing coverage standards and why it had been introduced repeatedly. No votes or final dispositions were included in the excerpt.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • We have time to be... to plan for our mother.
  • We took months already to plan.
  • They've created a hospital plan.
  • So I started planning for my death.
  • This is a benefit plan that provides enrollees with a clearly defined number of visits and services through
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Is it the health plan?
  • Remedial plans are non-disciplinary.
  • Gain rather than on benefit patients.
  • What they're doing is they're tiering their benefits.
  • For Part D plans, or when we're changing how formulary design or what the benefits can be, those are
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/13/25

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank you. planning to go into into uh testifying planning to go into into uh testifying tonight<00:01
  • They have been layered and built over years with good planning to integrate benefits, wages, sick pay
  • They have been layered and built over years with good planning to integrate benefits, wages, sick pay
  • What this bill does is it provides the ability to have a Good planning to integrate benefits, wages,
  • It offers a more fair salary benefit.
Bills: HF1976
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26

State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • and safety planning needs to be done. and safety planning needs to be done.
  • Um, it appears that it is a plan to do something, but it doesn't really lay out a plan.
  • a plan. a plan.
  • corrective action plan.
  • So the corrective action plan is reactive, not preventative.
Bills: HF3676, HF3683, HF3395
Summary: The committee first approved minutes from February 19 and February 26, while skipping the February 24 minutes because of a drafting error that would be corrected later. It then took up House File 3676, a Safe at Home program bill described by Rep. Nash as arising from a constituent’s dangerous identity exposure and intended to tighten protections for participants, including allowing emancipated minors to enroll. Testimony from the Secretary of State’s office explained that the bill would clarify who may apply for a minor, require proof of guardianship, strengthen court findings before a participant’s physical address can be disclosed, increase penalties for harmful disclosure, prohibit discrimination based on participation, require state agencies to designate a Safe at Home contact person, allow use of the Safe at Home card as proof of residence for certain ID purposes, and require judge training. Members raised concerns about federal compatibility, constitutionality of court-related provisions, and the need for a fiscal note on the felony penalty. Several sections were noted as being removed or modified in a later engrossment, and the committee voted to re-refer HF 3676 to the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. The committee then heard House File 3683, which would direct the state budget forecast to include the estimated cost of fraud. Rep. Nash argued that fraud is a significant but unquantified drain on state resources and said the bill would adapt existing forecast language used for inflation to track fraud costs. Minnesota Management and Budget Deputy Commissioner Anna Mingi testified that fraud is unacceptable and that the agency works to prevent and detect it, but said the twice-yearly forecast is not the right tool for this kind of retrospective analysis. She explained that if fraud is identified, the forecast would reflect reduced spending through program integrity actions rather than a separate fraud-cost line item. The bill was moved and referred to the general register after a roll call was requested.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • So that's the plan.
  • The Musk-Lutnick-Trump plan for Social Security is to take away earned benefits from seniors, hollow
  • . benefits, slowing benefit payments, and reducing costs at the expense of beneficiaries.
  • Bisognano, is that a benefit cut? Is that a benefit cut? I'm sorry, my time is limited here.
  • Is it a benefit cut?
Summary: The committee meeting focused heavily on the nomination of Frank Bisignano as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, with intense discussions around the current state of Social Security and its management under the current administration. Members voiced significant concerns regarding potential changes to Social Security and Medicaid, specifically addressing issues such as office closures, delays in benefit processing, and the perceived policies from Elon Musk's association with the administration. Public testimonies highlighted fears that these changes would severely impact the accessibility of benefits for seniors and vulnerable individuals, resulting in a chaotic environment at the SSA. Members expressed a unified opposition to the notion of dismantling these critical programs, emphasizing the long-term implications on their constituents' well-being.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/26

State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It would become a multi-employer plan, just a different type of health plan.
  • It would become a multi-employer plan, just a different type of health plan.
  • It would become a multi-employer plan, just a different type of health plan.
  • It would become a multi-employer plan, just a different type of health plan.
  • having a Cadillac plan. having a Cadillac plan.
Bills: HF3422, HF3461, HF2904