Transcript Highlights:

• DHS recent RFP. DHS recent RFP.
• So,<00:39:53.320> DHS<00:39:54.360> reported So, DHS reported So, DHS reported that that
• This DHS apathy is disgusting. This DHS apathy is disgusting.
• at DHS occurred when DHS it it started when<00:41:46.960> DHS<00:41:47.640> introduced<
• suspected fraud to DHS. suspected fraud to DHS.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on March 2 and approved the February 23 minutes after a quorum was reached. The main presentation was from the Department of Human Services on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), a federally required Medicaid benefit that helps Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees get to medically necessary appointments. DHS said the program served more than 250,000 people in 2025 at a cost of $127 million, with participation up about 14% over five years, and described the seven transportation modes, provider enrollment requirements, STS certification, background checks, prior authorization rules, and planned transitions to a single administrator for parts of the program in 2026 and 2027. DHS officials emphasized fraud prevention efforts, saying NEMT is one of the agency’s high-risk Medicaid services. They described enhanced prepayment review, provider revalidation and site visits, removal of inactive providers, and a provider moratorium in metro counties. Inspector General James Clark said the governor’s anti-fraud proposal would add pre-enrollment risk assessments, more staffing and technology, and electronic visit verification. He also noted that about 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care and that managed care organizations have their own compliance and special investigations units. Committee members raised concerns about fraud, oversight, and privatization. Chair Robbins questioned DHS about the absence of the commissioner and the program’s use of brokers, citing past concerns and asking about the vendor MTM’s history; DHS said the RFP for the new broker had closed and the vendor selection was still underway. Representative Pinto questioned why oversight is outsourced to managed care organizations and suggested bringing more oversight back in house. MTM representative Phil Stahlberger defended the company’s record, said the Missouri dispute was about contract terms from about 15 years ago, and said MTM currently works in Minnesota counties and many other states, with on-site reviews, trip verification, and complaint review processes. No further votes or final actions on the NEMT policy were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• occurs so starting July 31st in 2024 DHS occurs so starting July 31st in 2024 DHS established<00
• talking to a few folks with within DHS talking to a few folks with within DHS and<00:15:22.680><
• This is within DHS, okay? Yes.
• that we were able to find to DHS that we were able to find to DHS programs<01:28:38.040> the<
• Medicaid that's what happened so DHS Medicaid that's what happened so DHS actively<01:45:14.199>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about DHS program integrity.
• that DHS has done over the past year. that DHS has done over the past year.
• has DHS have we ever done a task force? has DHS have we ever done a task force?
• I'd love to know your in the DHS.
• Um the bad actor is DHS. Frosters. Um the bad actor is DHS.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of my other piece about DHS is that would be an interesting connection with this: recently DHS has
• with um part of my other piece about DHS with um part of my other piece about DHS is<00:09:46.200
• DHS is not communicating well.
• DHS is not communicating well.
• DHS is not communicating well.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Children and Families Committee met with a quorum, approved the January 21, 2025 minutes, and then focused on child care shortages and the pressures facing family child care providers across Minnesota, especially in Greater Minnesota. Chairing members noted the issue affects both rural and metro areas and introduced testimony from Cindy Cunningham, a St. Paul family child care provider and public policy chair for the State Association for Family Child Care. Cunningham argued that family child care is in crisis despite state investments, saying provider numbers continue to decline and that the system is not working. She raised concerns about food reimbursement tiers, special licenses that may not qualify for the family child care food program, the need for supplemental support for lower-tier programs, and the burden of upfront grant spending and delayed reimbursement. She also said providers receive little financial benefit for their own children in care and described a recent DHS decision affecting supervision of providers’ own children as an example of poor communication. Her broader message was that unclear, inconsistent, and poorly implemented licensing rules are driving providers out of the field. She recommended implementing the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s recommendations, improving DHS communication with both licensors and providers, updating public guidance and training materials, and considering more direct county funding and support for family child care. She also suggested reevaluating support for certified centers and other state-funded programs that she said operate under different standards. Committee members thanked her for the detailed testimony and said they wanted to follow up with her. The committee then moved on to letters and additional testimony from providers around the state, with members emphasizing the goal of identifying specific regulations that are hindering child care startup and continuation.

Transcript Highlights:

• If DHS does not meet the funding requirement, the Director of DHS must allocate monies from the funds
• As I said, the membership is appointed by the Director of DHS.
• occurred more than 12 months before the complaint was submitted to DHS.
• DHS must close the complaint and cease the investigation.
• I'm curious to know where DHS is to talk about this issue and answer some of the questions on how DHS

Bills: HB2050, HB2082, HB2176, HB2195, HB2202, HB2307, HB2584

Keywords: radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice, health workforce, rural health care, critical access hospital, supervision, telehealth

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 2050, which updates Department of Health Services rules for radiologic technologists and radiologic assistants. The bill changes school accreditation and training requirements, reduces clinical hours, revises supervision and scope-of-practice rules, adjusts fees, and removes radiologic technologists from the telehealth health care provider definition. Testimony from a radiologic technologist supported the bill as an update to outdated standards and a response to workforce shortages, while a nurse practitioner supported the section allowing NPs to use diagnostic x-ray machines under nursing board standards. HB 2050 passed 7-0 with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2082, which creates a Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission and expands the research fund to include appropriations, gifts, donations, and federal grants. An amendment shifted grant-awarding authority to the DHS director, required the commission to set criteria and review applications, and added public meeting requirements; it also tied funding to at least $5 million in available resources and removed the return-on-investment reporting requirement. Supporters said the bill would strengthen pediatric cancer research and leverage an underused funding source, though members raised concerns about oversight. The bill was amended and then passed 7-0. House Bill 2176 and House Bill 2195 both dealt with DHS licensing and complaint-investigation procedures for health care institutions and nursing care institutions. HB 2176 allows DHS to deny licenses or ownership changes based on serious prior licensing problems or safety risks, and it sets notice, investigation, and deficiency-statement rules; speakers from public health and hospital groups supported it as improving transparency and preventing bad actors from cycling through ownership. HB 2195 limits DHS access to certain personnel records, requires deficiency statements within 10 business days, and bars investigations of incidents older than 12 months; an amendment delayed implementation to July 1, 2027 and added corrective-plan and off-site review provisions. Both bills passed 7-0 as amended. The committee also approved House Bill 2202, which appropriates $300,000 annually for a dementia care tele-mentoring program to train providers statewide, especially in rural and underserved areas. The Alzheimer’s Association and a patient with younger-onset Alzheimer’s testified that the program would improve early diagnosis and care, though one senator opposed state funding on the view that medical schools should teach the material. HB 2202 passed 6-1. Finally, House Bill 2307, addressing placement for dangerous, incompetent, non-restorable defendants when secure state hospital beds are unavailable, drew the most debate. An amendment replaced out-of-state placement with a temporary, limited-use solution involving up to three beds at the Arizona State Hospital forensic campus, created a study committee, and shifted some non-psychiatric costs to counties; counties and hospital stakeholders opposed the county-cost language, while sponsors and DHS said the measure was an emergency stopgap. The amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then passed House Bill 2584 4-3, which prohibits public funds from being used for genetic sequencing equipment from foreign adversary countries or entities; supporters framed it as a national security measure, and opponents voted no. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• judiciary portions of the overall DHS judiciary portions of the overall DHS policy<00:01:28.960>
• of portions of the DHS policy bill. of portions of the DHS policy bill.
• uh kind of this this realm within DHS uh kind of this this realm within DHS and<00:09:40.320>
• <00:10:29.120> is administration or anywhere at DHS is administration or anywhere at DHS is
• They're in DHS versus the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2260, a Judiciary Committee clone of portions of the larger DHS policy bill, and adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as largely technical but also incorporating changes from the related human services bill. The bill was presented as covering several DHS-related policy areas, including background studies transparency, anti-kickback provisions for medical assistance and child care assistance, and personal data protections for human services judges. The amendment also added a number of provisions related to direct care and treatment, competency restoration billing and data sharing, fraud enforcement tools, behavioral health fund eligibility, and clarifications to prior law. Testimony from DHS Office of Inspector General legislative director Ardian Diddy emphasized that the bill would improve transparency in background studies, update investigative and arrest data access, extend a limited set-aside to similar provider types, and correct an effective-date error from last session. He also said the anti-kickback language would mirror federal Medicaid law for medical assistance and create a state-level prohibition for CCAP, giving DHS and law enforcement more tools to investigate fraud and misuse. Additional provisions would add human services judges to existing personal data protections for judicial officials. Diddy also explained amendment sections from the governor’s fraud package, including authority to act against entities convicted of fraud or theft, data-sharing improvements, and a disqualification from management and billing positions. Members raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving DHS employees with outside LLCs and about the need for stronger safeguards against fraud. The chair and other members referenced recent fraud cases and said the bill would help prevent similar abuses. Christy Grumman of DHS testified on the judge privacy section, saying there are about 35 human services judges and describing a recent incident in which a judge received violent threats serious enough to require the family’s temporary relocation by the State Patrol. Representative Hudson supported the anti-kickback provisions as a needed codification of agency authority. The committee then approved the amended bill and recommended it be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Finance, and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• I came to DHS in late March, but I'm no stranger to Medicaid fraud.
• I received a phone call back from DHS on November 20, 2024. DHS asked me a few questions.
• call from DHS, and the next day they happened to call me.
• How many times did I call DHS? They didn't do a damn thing. Nothing.
• How long does it take DHS to respond?

Transcript Highlights:

• DHS and different folks.
• This is DHS. DHS. How can this be broken? We finally get on by cell phones.
• DHS is the wrong entity.
• DHS. DHS.
• DHS is the of it who can deal with it. DHS is the wrong<02:09:05.840> entity.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• had older policies to come in, but DHS had older policies to come in, but DHS interpreted<00:10:
• <00:37:07.760> what to be, even ask 10 people at DHS what to be, even ask 10 people at DHS
• The ICS we designed through DHS-led The ICS we designed through DHS-led workgroups<00:37:15.040>
• Line 1.13 directs the Commissioner of MMB to withhold 10% of the DHS administrative budget until DHS
• <01:18:10.280> has Again, in the past, it seemed DHS has Again, in the past, it seemed DHS

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• G4 is, again, DHS. It's for $758,000.
• is DHS Division of Medical Services. This is for $2.3 million.
• G4 is, again, DHS. It's for $758,000.
• This is DHS Developmental Disabilities with UA Fayetteville.
• Contract number 11, DHS with ARVAC.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that they would want to take this action, and DHS would issue that sanction out of DHS.
• that they would want to take this action, and DHS would issue that sanction out of DHS.
• that they would want to take this action, and DHS would issue that sanction out of DHS.
• that they would want to take this action, and DHS would issue that sanction out of DHS.
• It is our DHS staff that are transferring from DHS to DCF this coming June.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:01.360> produced November 2024 forecast at DHS produced November 2024 forecast at DHS
• [DHS?]
• DHS is an integral part in that.
• Right now it's kind of comingled with DHS. Mr. Doug B.
• <00:32:06.639> Human<00:32:06.880> Services DHS Human Services DHS Human Services programs

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Attorney's Office that DHS fraud could Attorney's Office that DHS fraud could likely<00:23:50.400>
• that manager level employees at DHS that manager level employees at DHS falsified<00:24:03.200><
• personally at DHS that feels that way. personally at DHS that feels that way.
• to DHS.
• And when DHS reviews those flagged claims, how does DHS define a potentially fraudulent claim?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• G4 is, again, DHS.
• G4 is, again, DHS.
• This is DHS Developmental Disabilities with UA Fayetteville.
• This is DHS Developmental Disabilities with UA Fadeville.
• Contract number 11: DHS with ARVAC.

Summary: The committee considered and approved several temporary appropriation requests in Section B, including spending authority for the Court of Appeals to pay appointed counsel in criminal appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics airport and aviation grants, and Insurance Department items for workers’ compensation benefits and premium tax refunds. It also approved ARPA-related requests in Section C to return unused federal funds from DHS aging, mental health, substance abuse, and Older Americans Act grants. In Section D, the committee reviewed and approved Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests, including Agriculture grants for wildfire preparedness and forestry capacity, a large Commerce broadband BEAD request, environmental recycling-related reallocations, and Oil and Gas Commission grants for facility repairs and sample preservation. Members questioned the broadband program’s audit process and performance safeguards; the State Broadband Director said the funds are federal, subject to audits, and payments are released only after engineering certification of completed work. The committee also approved DHS reallocations in Section E, including major transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical appropriations to private and public nursing home lines, as well as transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests, miscellaneous federal grants, pay plan and performance fund transfers, methods of finance, and a large set of contracts. A Northwest Arkansas Community College official explained storm-damage repairs and insurance settlement issues, and DHS explained its hospital medical transfer was moving excess appropriation rather than cash. Members also questioned several UAPB tobacco prevention subgrants, especially arts-based outreach, and asked for more data on effectiveness; the committee later voted to expunge and re-refer the J-2 item for further review at a later ALC meeting. Additional discussion covered a DEQ grant to Free Geek of Arkansas for e-waste recycling, a UAPB tobacco program, and various contracts for universities, DHS services, corrections, and public safety. The meeting ended with reports filed for information and a brief member comment thanking others for concern after a tornado in Stone County; no one was injured.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> men choices tool that DH NOS has DHS NOS men choices tool that DH NOS has DHS NOS has<01:20:04.639
• <01:25:15.080> to and the rack have been begging DHS to and the rack have been begging DHS
• provided specific resources to DHS provided specific resources to DHS regarding<01:25:57.280>
• this matter we've demanded that DHS this matter we've demanded that DHS partner<01:26:31.199>
• We need transparency from DHS.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The actual OIG within DHS would be moved to this new statewide OIG.
• , based on the letter from DHS.
• So I know we just talked about DHS in inspections or potential..."
• So there'll be more inspections, not just from DHS.
• are<01:34:20.800> in five Bill proponents and DHS are in five Bill proponents and DHS are

Bills: HF1, HF98

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• The finding in the FY24 departmental audit of DHS can be summarized as follows: DHS discovered and reported
• Janet Mann, Secretary, DHS. Hey, good morning. Lori McDonald, Chief of Staff, DHS.
• Janet Mann, Secretary, DHS. Hey, good morning. Lori McDonald, Chief of Staff, DHS.
• Until 2013, that was held within DHS.
• There's also a component of DHS that works on that.

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to receive a primer on the subcommittee’s history and on how Medicaid oversight works in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s origins in response to earlier Medicaid audit concerns and explained that Medicaid is audited every year in the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk, large federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including issues with eligibility controls, data matching, contractor charging, incarcerated juveniles’ coverage handling, provider eligibility support, and the state’s Medicaid recovery audit contractor exception request. They also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for possible prosecution. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of the Medicaid program, describing eligibility groups, delivery systems (fee-for-service, managed care/PASSE, and premium assistance for expansion adults), the size of the program, and the agency’s budget and provider base. DHS also outlined the difference between state plan amendments and waivers and said other committee materials would be sent to members. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, explaining that it investigates suspected intentional fraud, suspends providers when there is a credible allegation of fraud, recovers improper payments in mistake cases, and recommends policy changes when trends are identified. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, handles neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases in long-term care settings, and works with DHS, OMIG, and federal partners. Members asked about where cases are filed, how provider suspensions work, whether beneficiary fraud is investigated, and how education is provided to providers. DHS confirmed that beneficiary fraud cases are referred to local prosecutors and said the expansion population will move toward community engagement/work requirements under federal changes, with a soft launch planned before full implementation. The meeting ended with no formal votes beyond adoption of the prior minutes and no other committee actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then lastly, it adds staffing at DHS And then lastly, it adds staffing at DHS to<00:19:26.400
• the jurisdiction of the MCOs or DHS the jurisdiction of the MCOs or DHS directly,<00:20:18.320><
• /c><00:31:47.800> collect<00:31:48.200> that DHS the authority to collect that DHS the
• I look at it as an opportunity for DHS.” Ms. Brisbin continued: “DHS.
• No, if DHS... sorry, thank you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll again compliment and thank DHS for helping us through... ...and we'll compliment, thank DHS for
• That's something DHS can see.
• My understanding is DHS is reading it as a surgeon.
• I mean, unfortunately, as DHS, we don’t try to guess the intent.
• I mean, unfortunately, as DHS, we don't try to guess the intent.

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation. Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a DHS policy proposal same.
• And finally on page R27, House DHS.
• Um, so to start, as is the custom, DHS Um, so to start, as is the custom, DHS has<00:44:03.359><
• functions that it needs to and that DHS functions that it needs to and that DHS needs<00:45:16.319
• <01:10:07.120> is reimagine oppose the way that DHS is reimagine oppose the way that DHS is

Keywords: 1187, senate, all