Video & Transcript Research : 'interim rates'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Health Committee Meeting - 2026-04-13

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • If you want to improve access, we really need to improve rates.
  • If you want to improve access, we really need to improve rates.
  • If you want to improve access, we really need to improve rates.
  • If you truly want to address access, address the rates, then worry about who's paying them.
  • The emphasis of the plan was to focus on the rates in time for this session so that we could get them
Summary: The committee met at 1:00 p.m., confirmed a quorum, and approved the April 8, 2026 minutes. The first bill heard was House File 4712, which was laid over after the committee adopted a DE2 amendment. Representative Schultz said the bill would create a narrow additional exception to public pool limitations so highly certified swimming instructors could use certain pools for specialized infant, youth, and developmental-disability swim instruction. The only testifier, Tessa Seppelt, described ISR instruction as water-safety and drowning-prevention training for very young children and children with developmental delays, and said access to appropriate facilities is the main barrier. Members raised questions about emergency egress, public safety, and insurance coverage, and the author said he would follow up on those concerns. The committee then took up House File 4801, a bill by Representative Nadeau aimed at health care program integrity. He said it would align commercial and Medicaid partners to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse by changing prior authorization and retrospective review processes, improving data sharing on suspected fraud, addressing conflicting or duplicative services, allowing managed care organizations to verify provider credentials, and making risk corridors in MCO contracts permanent. The Minnesota Council of Health Plans supported the bill, saying it would help detect fraud and improve coordination, while the Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics opposed it, arguing that expanded prior authorization would delay care, increase physician burden, and harm children with chronic conditions. Members debated patient safety, fraud detection, and whether the bill would undermine recent prior-authorization reforms. The bill was laid over. House File 3756, a technical update to the insulin safety net program, was also laid over. Representative Backer said the bill clarifies that a hospital-use intravenous insulin product is not part of the program because it is sold only to health care institutions and infused by practitioners, not dispensed to patients for self-use. The Board of Pharmacy testified that the language was drafted to avoid affecting future legitimate uses, and members asked whether the definition could limit new uses if treatments change. The committee then began House File 4860, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s presentation is completed.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/16/2026 - Senate Finance

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • For the sponsor, does he want the rate to be lower or higher, because the bill makes the rate higher?
  • My quibble clearly is with the interest rate.
  • rates?
  • What is the need for increased interest rates?
  • So with this plan, it's one rate for your first $3,000, another rate for your next up to $10,000, another
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved committee amendments and then heard a series of bills covering consumer lending, health insurance, chiropractic practice, breast cancer screening, insurance claim practices, digital assets, vaccination-based reimbursement, agricultural property inspections, and aviation tax exemptions. Testimony generally split between sponsors and industry or advocacy supporters emphasizing modernization, consumer access, or fairness, and opponents raising concerns about higher costs, tax breaks for wealthy interests, or unclear policy changes. Several bills drew detailed debate over whether they would help consumers or shift costs, and multiple witnesses described personal or industry experiences in support of the health-related measures. SB 1689, which would raise consumer loan thresholds and change interest-rate tiers, was amended but failed on a tied vote after Senator Epstein opposed it as shifting costs to smaller borrowers. SB 1347, requiring coverage for fertility preservation for cancer patients, was amended and passed 4-2 after testimony from the sponsor, a nonprofit representative, and two cancer survivors. SB 1165, eliminating cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams, was amended and passed 5-1. SB 1206, updating rules for public adjusters and contractors after loss events, was amended and passed 5-1. SB 1649, creating a digital assets strategic reserve fund, passed 4-2 despite criticism that it was unnecessary and pro-crypto. SB 1212, barring different reimbursement rates based on vaccination status, passed 4-2. SB 1291, limiting county assessors’ ability to reclassify or inspect agricultural property for four years after a successful appeal, was amended to allow inspections if taxable improvements are made and passed 5-1 over assessor opposition. SB 1516, expanding aviation-related tax exemptions to more aircraft maintenance and repair property, passed 4-1 after supporters framed it as economic development and opponents called it a tax break for private jets. SB 1554, updating chiropractic language from “x-ray” to “diagnostic imaging,” initially failed, was reconsidered after additional questioning, and then passed 3-2 after members said the change mainly codified current practice and reduced liability concerns.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Education Feb 9th, 2026 at 09:04 am

Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • And this bill came from my work in the interim trying to figure out how to address the accidents that
  • And this bill came from my work in the interim trying to figure out how to address the accidents that
  • I don't want to see another news article that shows New Mexico to have the highest rate of pedestrian
  • From the city of Albuquerque over the interim to create this. So thank you. Senator Ramos. Mr.
  • Chairman, Senator, will this help with insurance rates? Mr.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Education Feb 9th, 2026 at 08:33 am

House Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • given yourself enough time to be able to do this, that hopefully we can really study this in the interim
  • So right now, in the interim, I thank you for taking that into consideration.
  • And then during the interim, prior to that, we had talked about issues relating to school boards.
  • We had worked on in the interim.
  • We heard during the interim, we continue to have a teacher shortage.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/03/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Transcript Highlights:
  • APS has eliminated an interim clean energy goal to exit Four Corners Power Plant, and my personal favorite
  • APS has eliminated an interim clean energy goal to exit Four Corners Power Plant. ...APS has eliminated
  • an interim clean energy goal to exit Four Corners Power Plant.
  • whole process, and then our pocketbooks, because whenever nuclear comes online, it means people's rates
  • During the interim and spending time with my constituents, one of the top questions was why do we in
Summary: The committee heard several energy and transportation bills, with testimony largely split between sponsors, industry groups, local governments, and environmental advocates. HB 2428, dealing with county and ADEQ authority to issue voluntary permits certifying emission reduction credits for mobile and non-road sources, drew neutral support from ADEQ and support from Maricopa County; it was amended and passed 10-0 with a due pass recommendation. HB 2145, which expands who may petition on gasoline supplier alternative standards, also passed, 5-4, with no amendment. A lengthy debate followed on HB 2331, as amended, which would require electric utilities to ensure 85% of generating capacity serving retail load comes from “reliable resources” by 2030. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill was needed to preserve affordable, dependable power and prevent overreliance on intermittent renewables, while opponents from the Sierra Club and Rural Arizona Action said it would effectively favor fossil fuels, raise costs, and limit cleaner energy options. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and the sponsor’s amendment, then passed the bill 6-4. HB 2795, which limits county zoning authority over small modular reactors once federal permitting and certification steps are met, drew strong support from nuclear and business advocates and opposition from county, city, and environmental representatives concerned about local control, safety, waste, and preemption; it passed 6-4 after amendment-related discussion. The committee also passed HB 2340, which allows the power plant and transmission line siting committee to evaluate the plant itself when reviewing transmission line applications, by a 5-4 vote. Finally, HB 2400, an emergency measure to suspend the motor vehicle fuel tax in Areas A and C during summer months and replace the lost revenue with state highway funds, prompted testimony about gas prices, boutique fuel requirements, and transportation funding needs; cities and counties opposed the diversion of highway funds, while the sponsor argued it would help consumers facing higher fuel costs. The Griffin amendment was adopted, and the bill passed with a due pass recommendation after debate on affordability versus road funding.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • For example, Vantage scores versus FICO scores; there are two different types. of credit ratings, and
  • Medigap plans at fair and consistent rates.
  • And how many people, I mean how many rates have to be filed each year?
  • And again, I'll work with the bill's author, but we'll also look at this in the interim as well.
  • However, many Texas physicians do not accept Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Health and Human Services May 14th, 2025

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Vantage scores versus FICO scores, as there are two different types of credit ratings.
  • However, many Texas physicians do not accept Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates.
  • Increasing these rates could encourage more providers to participate, improving access to care.
  • However, many Texas physicians do not accept Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates.
  • Increasing these rates could encourage more providers to participate, improving access to care.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Human Services Apr 1st, 2025

Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Additionally, monetary assistance may not exceed 50% of DFPS daily basic foster care reimbursement rate
  • Increased assistance amounts match the Department's minimum daily foster care reimbursement rate, which
  • There is a current push to raise the rate to $17.50. and raising this rate will hopefully assist in filling
  • Most assisted living rates start at $3,500 a month. $1,200 a month.
  • This was a minimum recommendation made by Chief Kidd. included in the interim Senate hearing.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Human Services Apr 1st, 2025

Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • So doing so with artificially lower Medicaid reimbursement rates to unsustainable levels of pharmacy.
  • Increasing these rates could encourage more providers to participate in improving access to care.
  • HB 2402 seeks to address these issues by ensuring Medicaid reimbursement reimbursement rates reflect
  • And typically, the consumer who we represent is the one paying the higher rate.
  • Our interest in this bill is particularly about Medicaid rates, which are chronically underfunded and
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Next to the number of times Netflix, Hulu, and Disney have increased their rates over the past five years
  • permit fees statewide, ignoring the reality that inspection costs vary significantly based on labor rates
  • We're seeing closures at a much more rapid rate, almost back to the pandemic levels, which Thursday is
  • paying, your interest rate, how much you're actually financed, the cost of your financing before they
  • They can show people clearly they have to sign. when you're borrowing X at this rate your monthly payment
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 2/23/26

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
  • can only have these rates reviewed when there's a change of 2.5% or more than the encounter rate.
  • through this traditional path of cost reporting and rate rebasing.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Education Feb 11th, 2026 at 09:06 am

Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm interim president at New Mexico Tech.
  • Neither institution meets that graduation rate, and that graduation rate, by the way, is... ...neither
  • rate also in 2023.
  • Neither institution meets that graduation rate, and that graduation rate, by the way, is neither institution
  • meets that graduation rate.
Bills: SB234, SB210, SB243, SB244, SM16, HB8
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Education Feb 11th, 2026 at 08:39 am

House Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • They have a 95% literacy rate. It's a little easier to read Spanish.
  • The last two years, our overall literacy rate has gone up 10%.
  • The last two years, our overall literacy rate has gone up 10%.
  • But again, I think the work that's been done through the interim... ...is critically important.
  • Timeline and lack of study in the interim.
Bills: SB234, SB210, SB243, SB244, SM16, HB8
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/21/2026 - Senate Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think about the rising rate of breast cancer. Is my vulnerable breast tissue being exposed?
  • We simply cannot do that with our current reimbursement rates.
  • We're working off the same room-and-board rate that we have had since July 1, 2017.
  • We have not had reimbursement rates that cover costs since 2004.
  • We have not had reimbursement rates that cover costs since 2004.
Summary: The committee began with member and staff introductions, then took up a series of health and human services bills. The first group focused on radiation protection in cardiac catheterization and other ionizing-radiation procedure rooms: SB 1120 would require at least half of procedure rooms in covered facilities to have a radiation protection system by July 1, 2027; SB 1118 would create a state grant program for rural hospitals to help pay for those systems; and SB 1121 would prohibit requiring lead aprons in rooms equipped with such systems, while allowing voluntary use with a real-time dosimeter. Physicians, nurses, and a hospital CEO testified that long-term radiation exposure and heavy lead aprons have caused cancer, cataracts, and orthopedic injuries, and that commercially available systems can reduce exposure to near zero. Some members raised questions about cost, vendor involvement, FDA clearance, and whether the bills should be discussed with stakeholders; the Health Systems Alliance of Arizona said it was neutral and wanted further stakeholder meetings. All three bills were adopted by 7-0 votes, with SB 1120 and SB 1121 amended. The committee then heard SB 1001, which would appropriate $1 million to the Department of Economic Security for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program. Blind and low-vision speakers described long waitlists, the need for independent living training, and how services help seniors remain at home rather than enter more costly care. The bill passed 6-0 with one member not voting. Next, SB 1072 proposed ongoing General Fund and Medicaid spending to raise reimbursement rates for home- and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus room-and-board funding and a workforce survey/reporting requirement. Providers testified that the system is underfunded, staff turnover is high, overtime is extensive, and many people wait for services; the bill passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee also approved SB 1125, requiring the Department of Child Safety to annually seek MOUs with tribes and improve tribal access to information about placements and enforcement actions involving licensed group homes, after members asked about the stakeholder process and tribal participation. SB 1123, which removes the requirement that a supervising forensic pathologist be board-certified before delegating autopsy-related tasks to trainees, passed after Maricopa County said the change would help address training delays and workforce shortages. SB 1052, allowing mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy in assisted living facilities under specified safeguards, drew support from the sponsor and an assisted-living operator but also opposition from a member concerned about off-label treatment in nonmedical settings; it passed 5-2. Finally, SB 1112, reducing the number of acquaintance witnesses required in court-ordered treatment proceedings from two to one and allowing a judge to waive the witness requirement in some cases, passed 5-2 after testimony from supporters who said the current rule often blocks treatment for seriously mentally ill people and from opponents who argued it weakens due process. The committee then began SB 1113, which would allow service of court-ordered evaluation and treatment documents by evaluation-agency employees or other court-authorized persons, but the transcript cuts off before action on that bill.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Fiscal Responsibility Committee Mar 19th, 2025

Fiscal Responsibility

Transcript Highlights:
  • What's the recidivism rate for prisoners coming out of our institution that go through the program?
  • ago, I think, that by the end of 2023 going into 2024, it made all the headlines because the truancy rate
  • For one of the programs, they had a 97% completion rate, meaning they served.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/28/2026 - Joint Appropriations

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • , and our current error rate is around 8%.
  • , and our current error rate is around 8%.
  • We have put together proposals and bills to help lower the rate.
  • We have put together proposals and bills to help lower the rate.
  • The 3% error rate in SNAP is definitely a fairy tale.
Summary: The committee met in a special joint appropriations session to review the FY 2027 budget package, including House Bill 4138 and Senate Bill 1831, the general appropriations or “feed” bills. Staff described the budget as including a one-time transfer of state funds, a 5% lump-sum reduction to most agencies’ discretionary general-fund budgets, continued funding for the state health insurance plan and school facilities, and various one-time restorations or reversions of prior appropriations. Members spent much of the meeting clarifying how the 5% reductions would work, noting that formula and mandatory funding such as K-12 basic aid are excluded, while the governor’s executive branch would decide how to implement the cuts within agencies. The chair repeatedly emphasized that the committee was not specifying line-item cuts and that agencies would have discretion over implementation. A large portion of the discussion focused on the practical effects of the budget on universities, public safety, health care, rural programs, and fund sweeps. Arizona Board of Regents and university representatives said the proposed reductions would amount to more than $85 million statewide and could affect programs such as the Arizona Promise Program, Teachers Academy, and tuition freezes, though no specific program cuts were written into the bill. Other testimony raised concerns about fund sweeps from encumbered balances, including university research funds, housing trust funds, utility regulation funds, and ADOT-related accounts, with some members warning about possible impacts on rural infrastructure and federal matching dollars. The committee also discussed the state employee health plan, including a $228 million general-fund infusion and proposed employee premium increases over three years, as well as questions about corrections, forestry and fire management, and rural critical access hospitals. Public testimony was largely opposed to the budget. Speakers from Opportunity Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents, health care, and local government argued that the package would reduce support for education, housing, SNAP, health care access, and rural communities while preserving tax benefits for data centers and wealthy taxpayers. A mayor from Globe described severe flood damage and asked for state help for a flood relief fund, while a motorcycle safety advocate questioned a proposed transfer from the motorcycle safety fund. Committee members debated whether the budget’s effects should be described as speculative or as likely consequences of the broad cuts, and several exchanges became contentious over comparisons to the Great Recession and references to federal tax policy. The meeting ended with continued public testimony and no final vote taken in the portion provided, though leadership had earlier said the committee planned a mass roll-call vote on all the bills at the end.