Transcript Highlights:

• And now this is the formal follow-up that the committee ordered.
• As of July 1, Idaho had 30 licensed facilities, Treatment.
• So our research identified a treatment oversight gap.
• So our research identified a treatment oversight gap. or is working.
• And that has their own special requirements and oversight for treatment.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee met by Zoom with Representative Redman joining remotely after his flight was canceled. Members approved the minutes, formally approved a Medicaid study, and voted to release a follow-up report on state oversight of children’s residential care for public discussion. OPE staff then presented the follow-up, explaining that the original report had identified major gaps in oversight, but that substantial progress had since been made through agency changes and House Bill 723, which codified several recommendations into law. The children’s residential care discussion focused on remaining gaps that still require legislative action: extending licensing authority to include treatment oversight, requiring public reporting of restraint and seclusion data, and creating a clearer process for investigating abuse by facility staff and placing substantiated abusers on the child protection registry. Department of Health and Welfare and licensing officials said they had already implemented many operational changes, including unannounced surveys, a new incident protocol, a public dashboard, and improved placement tracking. The ombudsman reported increased complaints, more site visits, and stronger collaboration with licensing, and said his office could potentially take on more oversight if given authority and staffing. Members discussed whether to keep the report open, but ultimately voted to close it while noting the legislature would need to act on the remaining issues. The committee then released a report on career technical education funding and teachers. OPE presented data showing 1,103 approved secondary CTE programs, 151,500 enrollments, and significant differences in access by region and district size, with larger and more urban districts offering more diverse programs. The report found that many LEAs struggle to recruit CTE teachers, especially in high-demand areas like health professions, public safety, engineering, and technology, and that the largest dedicated CTE funding stream cannot currently be used for base teacher salaries. Members discussed whether allowing that flexibility would simply shift shortages elsewhere, the competitiveness of CTE pay compared with industry, and policy options such as changing funding formulas, adjusting credential pathways, or targeting incentives to hard-to-fill fields. Department and board representatives were expected to respond further after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e e The House will be in order.
• Connor. uncertainty stop work orders have Frozen uncertainty stop work orders have Frozen Global<01:17
• We have worked on treatment.
• we have record worked on treatment we have record treatment<03:35:28.760><c> that's</c><03:35:28.960
• </c> risen the yays and nays are ordered risen the yays and nays are ordered pursuant<03:47:57.199><c

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm going to call this meeting to order.
• I think in order for all of us to be successful.
• treatment for both pregnant women and babies.
• So that's why the treatment is.
• Someone decides that they want to get treatment, they start treatment.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The meeting of the House Health and Human Services Committee was called to order.
• We currently serve 47% of Medicaid members in SED treatment.
• We currently serve 47% of Medicaid members in SED treatment.
• Treatment.
• So to really differentiate that so that treatment is getting—we're getting to the core of treatment,

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So ordered. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it. So ordered. The Senate is called to order.
• clear and convincing evidence that the order for continuing treatment is necessary.
• So ordered. The Senate is called to order. Mr.
• It will allow a guardian to independently initiate an application for continued court-ordered treatment
• Court-ordered treatment is one of the most restrictive state interventions that can happen.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Health will now come to order. Good afternoon.
• Treatment centers around trying to find the best medication that will help the patient.
• course of treatment with a biologic and switch to a biosimilar.
• As a clinician, ordering the right test only matters if my patients can access it.
• Year after year, making it difficult to afford essential medications and treatments.

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in Medicaid are for diabetic treatment. in Medicaid are for diabetic treatment.
• And we assumed that people would gradually start treatment and about 32% would stay on the treatment
• </c> for diabetes treatment. for diabetes treatment.
• </c> to the treatment environment. to the treatment environment.
• </c> ideal for treatment with a GLP1. ideal for treatment with a GLP1.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on February 23, 2026, approved the January 12 minutes, and then focused primarily on Kentucky Medicaid’s coverage and potential expansion of GLP-1 drugs, especially for weight loss. Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee explained that Medicaid currently does not cover drugs for weight loss, anorexia, or weight gain, but the department had filed a regulation to remove that blanket exclusion so GLP-1s could be covered when used for an underlying health condition. She said the administrative regulation review subcommittee found the regulation deficient, and the co-chairs wanted the board to discuss the policy and financing implications before any change. DMS also said it would be open to adding caveats to ensure coverage would not extend to cosmetic weight loss alone. The department provided several data points on current utilization and spending. In 2025, Kentucky Medicaid paid for appetite-stimulating drugs such as Megestrol, Dronabinol, and Marinol, but did not pay for weight-loss drugs. For GLP-1s, DMS said coverage began in 2025 and is limited to FDA-approved medical conditions, with prior authorization requiring a type 2 diabetes diagnosis code and A1C documentation. DMS reported $234.6 million in GLP-1 spending in 2025 before rebates, about 240,931 prescriptions, and said GLP-1s accounted for 7.3% of pharmacy spend in 2024 and 8.3% in 2025. It also said there were 24,844 expansion members and 13,638 non-expansion members using GLP-1s, with spending of about $156 million and $78.5 million respectively, and that 10 pediatric weight-loss prescriptions were covered under EPSDT. The department said outcome analyses, including whether GLP-1 use reduces insulin or other diabetes treatment, are underway and should be completed in a couple of months. Members asked about cost, rebates, and whether the state should wait for more outcomes data before expanding coverage. DMS said average reimbursement to pharmacies was $975 per prescription and the average dispensing fee was $109; it also said 2025 rebate invoices totaled $90.8 million, with $7.6 million collected so far. Several members expressed concern about the high cost and the need to evaluate whether the drugs improve health outcomes before expanding access, while others noted the potential benefits for obesity and diabetes treatment. Some members also discussed whether GLP-1s are effectively being used for weight loss in diabetic patients and whether broader data collection should be used to assess long-term value. After the Medicaid discussion, Eli Lilly executive Tracy Sims presented on obesity as a chronic disease and the economic burden it creates in Kentucky. She said Kentucky’s adult obesity rate is a little over 37%, that obesity is linked to about 200 diseases, and that untreated obesity costs the state billions in GDP and hundreds of millions in state budget impact. She highlighted recent federal access programs for GLP-1s, including a Medicaid-related program that she said could lower the state share of a Zepbound prescription to about $71 per month after federal matching. No votes were taken on the GLP-1 policy question during the meeting, and the main action was the receipt of testimony and discussion of the department’s proposed regulatory change.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Health and Mental Health will now come to order.
• Once you test positive, you're seeking a treatment.
• I know there was a Medicaid 1115 waiver to provide mental health treatment and substance use treatment
• We're going to go a little out of order.
• You had to have the proper treatment, and then the speed of treatment tended to pay a big, big in outcomes

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's designed to get them efficient delivery of medical treatment.
• The specific diagnosis and or treatment of these patients, The over-65 population.
• Well, some of these states don't have medical treatment guidelines.
• If they're following ODG, people are getting treatment anyway.
• And a lot of times people will be delayed medical treatment as a result.

Summary: The Labor and Industrial Relations Committee first took up House Bill 680 by Rep. Weibel, which proposes a major overhaul of Louisiana’s workforce development system. The bill and a large amendment package were described as modernizing workforce planning, consolidating some state-level strategy and administration, and strengthening coordination with local workforce partners, employers, and regional stakeholders. A transition advisory team with an 18-month sunset was added to help implement the changes, and members repeatedly raised concerns about preserving local input for different regions, parishes, and cities. Rep. Weibel, the secretary of Louisiana Works, parish officials, and other supporters said the goal is to shift more resources from overhead to training and direct services while keeping local boards and parish involvement in place. Testimony from a Utah official and from local government and business representatives emphasized that similar consolidations can create efficiencies without eliminating local responsiveness. The committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 680 with amendments. The committee then heard House Bill 780 by Rep. Furman on workers’ compensation. The bill seeks to streamline disputes over compensation and medical benefits, reduce litigation, and lower costs by restoring an expedited preliminary determination process and changing the standard for penalties and attorney fees to an arbitrary-and-capricious standard. Supporters, including lobbyists and defense attorneys, argued that the current process is outdated, overly technical, and too litigious, especially because adjusters now often work remotely and the statute still relies on fax and certified-mail procedures. They said the bill would speed up decisions, reduce unnecessary attorney-fee claims, and help employers and injured workers alike. Opponents, including attorneys for injured workers, argued the bill would make it harder for workers to recover penalties when benefits are delayed, shift the burden in favor of insurers, and fail to address understaffing and defense costs. Members debated whether the bill’s new standard should replace the current “reasonably controverted” language; an amendment to restore that language was offered but opposed by the author and other members and was not adopted. The committee adopted technical amendments and other committee amendments, heard additional testimony, and continued debating the bill’s substantive changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll come to order. We will resume our posted business.
• That's when the treatment is concluded.
• They've got $5,000 in soft tissue treatment.
• We enter a docket control order.
• PO'd at someone, I could order them to file that order with... of all of the district courts in Texas

Bills: SB30 , SB517 , SB1313 , SB1314 , SB1316 , SB1541 , SB1698 , SB1845 , SB1860 , SB2420 , SB2429

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, elections, election audit, county elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss several critical pieces of legislation including SB30 and SB38. Senator Betancourt introduced a committee substitute for SB38 which underwent a smooth adoption process, moving it favorably toward the Senate. The meeting featured a mix of invited testimonies where both proponents and opponents took the floor. One notable highlight included a testimony from Melissa Casey, who criticized the current legal state as prone to fraud and detrimental to both insurers and the public at large, contending that it inflated insurance costs across the board. The discussions delved deeply into the implications of the bills on judicial processes and potential insurance ramifications, with spirited debates surrounding issues of non-economic damages and jury rights. The atmosphere remained engaged as committee members heard varied perspectives on the bills, showcasing a robust democratic process. The meeting underscored the importance of public testimony in shaping legislation, ensuring that multiple voices were considered as the committee pressed on towards making decisions that affect the legal landscape of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> sent to a long-term treatment program. sent to a long-term treatment program.
• . treatment. treatment.
• Treatment was. When I was finally given the opportunity to access treatment, it changed everything.
• Treatment was. not the solution. Treatment was.
• </c><00:13:48.160><c> Treatment</c> time. Please vote yes today. Treatment time.

Committee: House Families & Children

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 01:00 - Discussion of 26RS SJR 54 03:23 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SJR 54 04:48 - Discussion of 26RS SB 122 17:08 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SB 122 21:30 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Taos, House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee has come to order.
• He is filling this position on behalf of his community in order to protect their water.
• Water treatment technology is also rapidly developing, on par with AI and quantum computing.
• So the carbon footprint of this treatment would be astronomical.
• Eddaf filed the petition on behalf of his community in order to protect water rights.

Bills: HM45 , HB276 , HB300

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Keywords: Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy

Summary: The committee first heard House Memorial 45, which asked the Water Quality Control Commission to promptly hear a petition seeking consideration of the beneficial reuse of treated produced water. The sponsor and supporters argued that produced water could help conserve freshwater, support agriculture and rural communities, and potentially aid compact obligations with Texas and industrial users. The committee also heard extensive opposition from acequia leaders, environmental groups, and residents who said the science is not yet sufficient, the water contains unknown or proprietary contaminants, and the memorial could pressure regulators or shift pollution burdens to other communities. After questions focused on the meaning of a memorial, the status of the petition, and the role of the Produced Water Research Consortium, a motion to table HM 45 passed, with members explaining they wanted the petition in hand before acting. The committee then took up House Bill 276, which appropriates $3.3 million to NMSU for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to support celebration of the 400-year anniversary of winemaking in New Mexico. Supporters described the bill as a statewide agritourism and economic development effort tied to New Mexico’s long wine history, with marketing, signage, and tourism promotion intended to benefit wineries across the state. Members asked about the funding source, the anniversary date, and whether the effort would include wineries outside the south; the sponsor said the campaign would highlight wineries statewide. The committee voted do pass on HB 276. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 300, which would appropriate funds for the care and management of free-roaming horses and related domestic horse management, with an emphasis on tribal and local herd-control efforts using fertility control and trained community members. Supporters said the program would help address overpopulation, grazing impacts, and roadway safety, while opponents questioned relocation plans and whether the money should be spread across more counties. The sponsor and expert witness said trained personnel were already in place and the funds would support implementation. After discussion, the committee voted do pass on HB 300. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again Saturday to hear House Bill 207.

Transcript Highlights:

• So ordered.
• </c> Without objection, it is so ordered. Without objection, it is so ordered.
• So ordered. So we have before objection. So ordered.
• </c> to to to stay in in treatment. to to to stay in in treatment.
• </c> we don't kick patients out of treatment. we don't kick patients out of treatment.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met on October 14, approved the minutes, and then took up a large group of staff-suggested amendments to multiple regulations. Those staff amendments were approved without objection and were described as technical changes needed to comply with KRS Chapter 13A and other governing law. The committee then moved out of order to consider Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure regulation 2011 KAR 9:270, which governs buprenorphine prescribing and related standards. Board representatives said the regulation has been updated over time since 2015 and that the current amendments are intended to streamline the rule, remove outdated federal references such as the X-waiver, narrow education requirements to addiction-related topics, and create exceptions for settings like emergency rooms and certain pain treatment situations. The agency amendment would also allow buprenorphine monoproduct for up to 30 days when a patient is transitioning from a full opioid agonist, and would add physicians certified in addiction medicine as eligible specialty consultants. Board officials said the regulation was developed through a two-year process with a work group, informal outreach to medical organizations, and multiple comment periods, and they argued the rule is working because overdose deaths have declined and provider numbers have increased. Several witnesses and committee members raised concerns that the regulation remains too restrictive. Senator Rocky Adams noted that major medical organizations had said the proposed language could restrict access and worsen overdose risk, and he questioned whether the committee was being asked to choose between conflicting expert views. Opponents, including a medical student, a recovery advocate, and Dr. Colleen Ryan of the Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine, argued the rule is outdated, creates unnecessary barriers to buprenorphine treatment, and should be repealed or substantially revised to align with federal guidance and evidence-based care. They said rigid requirements can discourage treatment and that addiction should be treated like other chronic illnesses. No final vote on the medical licensure regulation is reflected in the transcript excerpt, and the discussion ended with the chair preparing to hear from additional opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> members of the fraud committee in order members of the fraud committee in order to<00:17:33.919>
• Point of order, Mr. Speaker. State your point of order.
• </c> they have everything in order they have everything in order financially.<00:52:35.040><c> Uh</c>
• </c> order to do what they're supposed to do. order to do what they're supposed to do.
• . of order.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our assisted outpatient treatment is in that vein.
• It kind of goes to these treatment programs generally.
• We also have an adult treatment court that Judge Bryant runs and a veterans treatment court.
• We were one of the first gold certified treatment courts.
• and a DWI treatment court.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• treatment.
• They can't get treatment, and it's just not covered.
• We do have many other treatment modalities available that we cover for... ...many other treatment modalities
• We know that treatment looks different.
• There's different kinds of treatment. But again, you have to know that treatment is an option.

Bills: H4796 , H4838

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: organ transplant, emergency vehicle, transportation, medical personnel, regulation, organs, menopause, perimenopause, healthcare access, female health, public health, medical education, workplace policies, discrimination, accommodation, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• any effects resulting from those treatments.
• Treatment is experimental.
• transition procedure or not. treatment.
• to see if there are other treatments covered.
• Who have received treatments and have received coverage for those treatments.

Bills: HB778 , HB 1266 , HB1576 , HB2213 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2841 , HB3306 , HB3320 , HB3388 , HB3508 , HB3520 , HB3689

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services will come to order.
• It's a very important mechanism to help that individual child, baby, get the appropriate treatment.
• Get the appropriate treatment.
• and especially substance abuse treatment.
• Or is this going to open the door for vulnerable people to get unproven treatments?

Summary: The committee met to consider a large agenda of health and human services bills, moving quickly because of a two-hour time limit. Early measures reported favorably included SB 976 on challenges to court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, SB 306 on Medicaid provider network access and after-hours availability, and SB 584 on housing supports for college students and youth in extended foster care. SB 1412 on home health regulation modernization also passed, with one support appearance from the Home Care Association. Members then approved several bills focused on research and care delivery, including SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF with an adopted amendment adding academic medical centers, SB 524 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 1156 revising a Medicaid home health aide program for medically fragile children, and SB 1490 transferring and redesigning the managed care program for critically ill children. SB 1174 on foster home licensure transfers, SB 1620 implementing mental health and substance use commission recommendations, SB 1568 revising e-prescribing exemptions, and SB 788 on veterans nursing home beds were also reported favorably. The committee had more extensive debate on SB 1270, the Department of Health agency package, which included provisions on vaccination status, medical marijuana background screening, licensing and compact issues, and sovereign immunity for volunteer dental workers; it passed after an amendment and several members voiced concerns about patient treatment and “voting power” language. SB 1606 on patient access to records drew strong opposition from providers and health information professionals over privacy, HIPAA, and administrative burdens; it was initially reported unfavorably, then reconsidered and ultimately passed after a motion to reconsider. Other bills reported favorably included SB 1736 on insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives, SB 1808 on patient refunds from providers, SB 1842 on referral disclosure of network status, SB 1354 on behavioral health managing entity oversight, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies with informed consent requirements, and SPB 7032 on presumptive Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals, which was submitted and reported as a committee bill. The meeting ended after all agenda items were handled and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• versus in-person or one-on-one treatment provider treatment.
• ...treatments for suicidal behaviors.
• A lot of Kaiser members come to my treatment clinic.
• The ones suffering with the different treatment.
• Sometimes I look at their treatment records with them.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on Kaiser Permanente’s behavioral health care system, focusing on Department of Managed Health Care enforcement actions, Kaiser’s corrective action work plan, and testimony from patients, advocates, and union representatives. DMHC officials reviewed a long history of complaints, surveys, fines, and settlements involving Kaiser’s access to behavioral health services, including deficiencies found in 2012 and 2016, a 2022 non-routine survey, and a 2023 settlement that imposed a $50 million penalty and required $150 million in community investments over five years. DMHC said it continues to monitor Kaiser through quarterly meetings, complaint review, follow-up surveys, and a reimbursement process for members who could not obtain timely in-network care. Committee members pressed DMHC on what “timely access” and continuity of care mean in practice, how virtual care and group therapy fit into the standards, and what triggers a non-routine survey. DMHC said initial behavioral health appointments generally should not take more than two weeks, urgent care should be within days, and follow-up care within 10 days, with out-of-network care required when plans cannot meet standards. Officials also said Kaiser’s initial corrective action work plan lacked detail, but the revised plan was accepted and will be tracked through quarterly reporting and possible additional enforcement if Kaiser fails to comply. The second panel featured testimony from a Kaiser enrollee, a behavioral health policy expert, a Kaiser therapist, and the NUHW president. The enrollee described serious delays and inadequate treatment for his daughter after a suicide attempt, while the therapist and union leader said Kaiser’s behavioral health system is understaffed, relies too heavily on short appointments, group therapy, and webinars, and treats behavioral health as less important than medical-surgical care. They argued Kaiser’s one-appointment-at-a-time scheduling rule and limited treatment time violate parity requirements and harm continuity of care. Several members criticized Kaiser for not appearing at the hearing and said the testimony underscored the need for stronger oversight, clearer metrics, and faster remedies for patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• required to do in order to hold an Access ID.
• Number one, an increase in services for those needing treatment.
• Number one, an increase in services for those needing treatment.
• In some cases, people are ordered into treatment through a Title 36 civil commitment process, which is
• We have a major problem right now with people designated SMI, even on court-ordered treatment, but their

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee first approved the February 4 minutes, then heard Senate Bill 1086, which would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse non-contracting providers for certain lab services when a member was referred by a contracting provider and would bar prior authorization for diagnostic services. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address unpaid claims and improve access, while Access testified neutral but warned the prior-authorization ban could increase utilization and create a fiscal impact. The committee adopted the Warner amendment limiting non-contracting reimbursement rates to no more than contracting rates, then passed SB 1086 as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1611, an emergency measure to require Access to contract with an administrative services organization for the American Indian Health Plan, while keeping Access ultimately responsible for administration. The chair’s amendment expanded ASO duties to include provider support, quality improvement, and data analytics, removed Access claims-payment authority, added tribal observers to the selection committee, and exempted IHS and tribal-facility services. The sponsor and tribal witnesses described the bill as a response to fraud, provider nonpayment, and harm to Native communities, while Access raised concerns about the fast timeline, tribal consultation requirements, possible duplication of program-integrity functions, and fiscal uncertainty. After debate over the emergency clause and tribal consultation, the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1611 as amended on a 5-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct Access to seek federal approval for a Medicaid home- and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness. Supporters said the bill would create a long-term community-care option for the sickest SMI members, reduce cycling through hospitals, jails, and homelessness, and potentially save state general fund dollars; family members and advocates testified in support. Access was neutral and said it was finalizing a fiscal estimate. The Angus amendment narrowed eligibility to long-term SMI, reduced the enrollment cap from 500 to 250, changed reporting to semiannual, and removed priority-order language; the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1630 as amended unanimously. Later, the committee passed Senate Bill 1193, which protects emergency medical care technicians’ personal identifying information from sale or disclosure by the Department of Health Services, after adopting a clarifying amendment expanding the protected information and addressing commercial requests. It then heard Senate Bill 1318, which repeals the state’s separate dense-breast notification requirement so Arizona law aligns with the FDA’s newer mammography notice standard; the sponsor and DHS said the change would reduce confusion from duplicate, slightly different notices, and the bill was moving forward with discussion of possible future amendment language.