Transcript Highlights:

• grants</c><00:05:16.400><c> and</c> training and orientation grants and training and orientation grants
• We also have a new reimbursement for family residential services to almost 26%.
• </c> services and nursing home reimbursements services and nursing home reimbursements that<00:13:43.200
• We institute some cost with training.
• </c><00:15:08.560><c> rate</c> supervision, a sleep reimbursement rate supervision, a sleep reimbursement

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We heard previously that would add lactation consultation to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement.
• Well, do we need Part B or is it truly a training problem? So my office and I . . .
• Shame on whoever is... is responsible for the training, we need to get that fixed.
• HHSC then uses UNC or a said reimbursement formula based on UNC to determine the amount it will reimburse
• HB 2402 seeks to address these issues by ensuring Medicaid reimbursement reimbursement rates reflect

Bills: HB741 , HB 1199 , HB2070 , HB2402 , HB2542 , HB2665 , HB2789 , HB3096 , HB3396 , HB3595 , HB3747 , HB4116 , HB4127

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• reimbursement for highly mobile and homeless students.
• Section 2 clarifies the definition of a certified trained Facilitator.
• To report on teacher and staff training by grade level.
• Materials, trainings, and tools in the program's target language.
• This stability benefits schools financially since recruiting and training staff is costly.

Bills: HF1388

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: BARR Center, Building Assets, Reducing Risks, education finance, school funding, grant appropriation, evidence-based program, student achievement, social and emotional learning, school climate, teacher effectiveness, high school graduation, students in poverty, students of color, BIPOC, equity in education, Minnesota Department of Education, urban schools, suburban schools, rural schools, school coaching

Transcript Highlights:

• And from there, I began my training. And with my training, I received a... I began my training.
• We also do ad hoc training.
• ALICE training is an active shooter response training.
• Alice training is an active shooter response training.
• That might be to go deeper in their training or especially to continue on from, Training.

Committees: Joint Education , Joint Education Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While state programs such as Medi-Cal and Family PACT reimburse for clinical care provided by some members
• Title X funds are leveraged for non-reimbursable health services, community outreach and education, youth
• We have also created additional training and technical assistance opportunities via recorded trainings
• Time to receive that reimbursement.
• Is the end of the school year the deadline for them to be reimbursed for those services?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to train everyone.
• We have to train all of our clerks, all of our registrars, and then they in turn train all of the commissioners
• Department of Veterans Affairs for patient and reimbursement care.
• He said he cannot speak to the process or the reimbursement. that the reimbursement and stuff is just
• I can't speak to the process or the reimbursement.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation for the Department of State. House Fiscal Division said the FY27 recommended budget is $128.6 million and 367 positions, with elections making up the largest share. Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the office is implementing Louisiana’s first closed party primary, continuing voter education efforts, and moving toward procurement of a new voting system that would produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot and support risk-limiting audits. Members asked about polling place confusion, machine replacement costs, election commissioner pay, and the cost of educating voters about the new primary system. Landry said polling places are not changing because of the new primary law, the new system is expected to cost about $100 million total, and a bill this session would raise election commissioner pay by $100 per day. Fiscal staff also estimated the closed primary law will add about $31.5 million in costs over five years, mostly from converting local elections to statewide elections and voter outreach. The committee then reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs budget, which was presented at about $105.2 million with a mix of federal, state, self-generated, and interagency funds. The department said most costs are tied to personnel and veterans’ homes, and that the homes are funded largely by federal dollars plus self-generated revenue. Members focused heavily on delays in processing National Guard disability claims and payments to veterans. Representatives said constituents had waited about a year for claims to be resolved, while the department said it had increased staffing and was processing a backlog of more than 400 claims, but still had about $950,000 in approved claims awaiting funding. The department said the payout program is governed by statute and that additional supplemental funding has been requested. Members also discussed veterans’ home care, including how service-connected disability status affects eligibility and costs, and whether chronic wound care and related complications could increase long-term costs. The department said veterans with higher service-connected ratings receive care with federal support, while others pay fees. Several members urged the department to provide clearer timelines and better communication to claimants, and one member suggested a separate oversight hearing to address the disability claim process and any needed statutory changes. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, the bill includes a small but important change to improve reimbursement.
• AB 849 requires a patient to be provided notice that a trained chaperone is...
• If the chaperone in my room had been given proper training, or any training at all, maybe she could have
• As a Legislature, we've underinvested in reimbursements for our constituents.
• One is it ensures our doctors are trained, which was the subject of the B&P hearing.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health bills focused on access to preventive care, behavioral health, hospital services, and patient safety. Early items included AB 554, which would expand and protect access to HIV prevention drugs like PrEP, including injectable forms and coverage protections; supporters said it would shore up access amid federal threats, while insurers opposed it as a costly benefit mandate. AB 577 would limit insurer and PBM practices that steer medications away from physician offices and require more transparency and patient consent; doctors and patient advocates supported it, while health plans and insurers warned it could raise drug costs and disrupt specialty pharmacy networks. AB 546 would require coverage for portable HEPA purifiers for vulnerable enrollees during declared emergencies, especially wildfire smoke events, with support from air quality and public health groups and opposition from insurers concerned about benefit expansion and cost. The committee also heard AB 224, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark plan after a public review process, adding infertility treatment, hearing aids, and durable medical equipment if approved by CMS for the 2027 plan year. DMHC said the state had completed the review and needed legislation to meet federal timing, and the measure drew broad support. AB 1032 would require plans and insurers to reimburse up to 12 additional behavioral health visits for enrollees in wildfire-affected counties for a limited period after an emergency; supporters argued it would fill gaps in trauma care after disasters, while insurers said existing parity and continuity-of-care rules already address the issue and that the bill could create inequities. AB 849 would require trained chaperones for sensitive ultrasound exams and training on how to observe and intervene; it was backed by a survivor and patient advocates, with hospitals and health districts raising staffing concerns. Later, AB 1196 would direct the Department of Public Health to update outdated rules requiring three surgeons for certain heart surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass; supporters said the rule no longer reflects modern practice and strains staffing, while cardiology representatives had no formal opposition but wanted to review amendments. AB 1113 would codify a right to wear a mask for health reasons in public spaces, with support from disability and public health groups. AB 1386 sought to add perinatal care to the list of basic hospital services, prompting testimony about maternity ward closures, workforce shortages, and rural access; the author said the bill would be amended further and that the committee would need to revisit timelines and implementation details. The committee also heard AB 1429, which would address Kaiser’s repeated mental health parity violations and improve access to behavioral health care, though the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill is shown. Several bills were moved with motions and seconds, but many were held for quorum; AB 1196, AB 1113, and AB 1386 were among the measures advanced to a roll call or held on call, and the committee repeatedly noted that final votes would occur when quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• Examples of these community-based placements include group homes and group training homes, companion
• Examples of these community-based placements include group homes and group training homes, companion
• The Department of Social Health the provision of client support, training, and other activities.
• While this state has made efforts to increase reimbursement rates for supported living providers over
• Providers are required to account for every dollar they receive for reimbursement for the instructional

Bills: HB1873 , HB2600 , SB5957

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: child care, Working Connections Child Care, WCCC, graduate students, professional students, higher education, full-time student, affordable child care, subsidized child care, child care subsidy, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, income eligibility, state median income, copayment, copay waiver, family support, workforce participation, working families, special needs child care

Transcript Highlights:

• BCABAs as a recognized mid-level supervisory role within the MassHealth reimbursement framework.
• Recognizing BCABAs as a mid-level supervisory role within the MassHealth reimbursement framework will
• This increase, between the current bcba and rbt slash bt levels to submit for reimbursement which we
• These bills ensure that when policies reshape service delivery and quality expectations, reimbursement
• Reimbursement has not kept pace.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on several health care bills focused primarily on autism services and kidney disease coverage. Committee chairs John Lawn and Cindy Friedman opened by outlining hearing procedures, testimony rules, and filing deadlines, and noted the hearing would be recorded and written testimony accepted. They said the day’s topics included affordability and access to behavioral health services, provider reimbursement, Medicare coverage for vulnerable populations, and MassHealth eligibility asset exemptions. A major portion of the hearing concerned House Bill 4623, which would add board-certified assistant behavior analysts (BCABAs) as a recognized mid-level supervisory role in the MassHealth reimbursement framework to help address long wait lists for autism spectrum disorder services. Representative Lisa Field, actuaries, clinicians, and autism service providers testified that the current two-tier model limits workforce capacity, contributes to long delays, and leaves families waiting months for care. Supporters said the bill could expand access, improve retention, and potentially reduce MassHealth costs, while also helping providers meet growing demand and new administrative requirements. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 4425 and Senate Bill 2737, which would allow Massachusetts residents under 65 with end-stage renal disease to purchase Medigap coverage. Legislators, dialysis advocates, and patients described high out-of-pocket costs under Medicare, barriers to kidney transplant eligibility without secondary insurance, and the financial strain on patients and families. Testifiers said the change would affect about 846 residents, could modestly increase premiums, and might reduce Medicaid spending by preventing asset spend-downs. Senator Gomez and others spoke from personal experience with dialysis and transplant care. Finally, the committee heard testimony on House Bill 4353 and Senate Bill 2587, which would require regular data-driven review of MassHealth ABA reimbursement rates. Providers and association representatives argued that reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation, workforce shortages, accreditation costs, and new 2026 MassHealth policy requirements, and said the bills would improve transparency and ensure rates reflect the true cost of care. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs thanking participants, inviting additional written testimony, and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• . reimbursement. reimbursement.
• But then the reimbursement for the subsequent claims would be each two weeks.
• But then the reimbursement for the subsequent claims would be each two weeks.
• But then the reimbursement for the subsequent claims would be each two weeks.
• the valuebased reimbursed through the valuebased reimbursement<00:48:25.280><c> to</c><00:48:25.520>

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• training of mandating the essential training of mandating the essential training of newly elected County
• on have received County training on have received County training on budgeting Finance Public Works
• for extend the the ability to reimburse for extend the the ability to reimburse for training for folks
• uh like at volunteer training for folks uh like at volunteer training for folks uh like at volunteer
• for students who may be reimbursed for students who may be reimbursed for students who complete the

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then they figure out an amount and order that defendant to reimburse the state.
• He's saying, you have a constitutional right to an attorney, but we're going to make you reimburse the
• Sections 5 and 6 eliminate the ability of the court to request reimbursement of indigent defense costs
• Section 6 eliminates the ability of the court to request reimbursement of indigent defense costs.
• in sacred objects, Training and consulting, we not only will facilitate the return of human remains

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review fiscal aspects of House Bills 1417 and 1425, both part of a broader criminal justice reentry package. HB 1417 would eliminate the $35 public defender application fee and end court-ordered reimbursement of indigent defense costs, while also removing the $55 monthly community supervision fee. Testimony from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the Department of Corrections said the bill would replace lost revenue with general fund appropriations of about $310,000 for indigent defense and $1.5 million for supervision fees, and that the fees are rarely collected and can hinder reentry. Representative Clemene said the bill is intended to reduce barriers to successful community reintegration and improve data and supervision practices. HB 1425 would create and fund front-end diversion, deflection, and pretrial services programs. Supporters described it as allowing prosecutors and local jurisdictions to divert appropriate low-level offenders from prosecution, establish deflection programs for people with behavioral health needs, and expand pretrial services. The bill includes a pilot program in three counties, a $1 million appropriation to DOCR for one FTE and contracts with local providers, $750,000 to DHS for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services cost savings. Committee members asked several questions about how the pilot counties would be chosen, how the consultant study would be procured, and what services the DHS funds would cover. The committee also heard House Bill 1603, which would provide a $500,000 matching grant for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance, with $100,000 available to each of North Dakota’s five tribes if matched. Sponsor testimony said the funds would support a Historical Society NAGPRA compliance committee and help catalog and repatriate human remains and cultural items in coordination with tribes. After questions about the federal mandate and the difficulty of identifying artifacts, the committee voted 4-0 to give HB 1603 a do-pass recommendation, with Senator Meyer assigned to carry it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for reimbursing us is 15%. for reimbursing us is 15%.
• </c> coverage and reimbursement rates. coverage and reimbursement rates.
• So, it's brain training.
• So, it's brain training. movements. So, it's brain training.
• </c> reimbursement rates are fixed. reimbursement rates are fixed.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 562, which would create a home damage mitigation and resilience grant program aimed at helping homeowners make property improvements that could reduce insurance costs and non-renewals. Commissioner DJ Bettencourt of the New Hampshire Insurance Department explained that the program is modeled in part on Alabama’s safer homes program, but tailored for New Hampshire hazards such as floods, microbursts, heavy snow, ice, and falling trees. He said the grants would be limited to primary residences, subject to a means test, capped at $10,000, and intended to help homeowners make targeted improvements such as roof fortification or tree removal that could improve underwriting outcomes and lead to premium discounts. Bettencourt said the program would not use state taxpayer funds and would instead rely on philanthropic donations, possible federal or regional housing-bank funding, and other outside sources. He said the department would not need new staff, and that a current position could be reconfigured to help administer the program part-time. Committee members asked about the funding language, the meaning of “loans” in the bill, whether there were any other states using a similar no-state-funds model, and how many homeowners could be helped. Bettencourt said Rhode Island and Connecticut were moving forward in a similar way, and that the number of beneficiaries would depend on how much money is raised. Members also questioned how the grant program would actually lower premiums, whether savings would apply only to participants or more broadly, and how the IBHS evaluation process would work. Bettencourt and department staff said the direct benefit would be to the homeowner whose property is improved, though neighbors could also benefit in some cases. They explained that IBHS is a building-safety organization that certifies contractors and inspectors and that its standards can qualify homes for insurer discounts. Questions were also raised about confidentiality provisions, first-come-first-served grant awards, rollover of unused applications, and possible tax treatment of donations. The sponsor said those details would be addressed through rulemaking or existing tax rules, and no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am not a nurse, but I am trained in all aspects of Colby's care.
• CNA duties are not a Montana Medicaid-reimbursable PCCA service.
• We also established high-level training requirements and supervision requirements for the service.
• We also established high-level training requirements and supervision requirements for the service.
• could be up to 85 hours worth of training.

Bills: HB2402 , HB2555 , HB2599 , HB2685

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: phthalates, medical equipment, healthcare regulation, intravenous therapy, toxic substances, Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, therapy, psychotherapy, mental health, regulation, professional standards, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights

Transcript Highlights:

• have documented competency and training.
• trauma-informed training, to provide for delivering training, and to provide for related matters.
• There are guidelines for training.
• You are trained in it.
• You are trauma trained. I promise you are.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 611 by Rep. Freeman, which would require pregnancy-related service centers that provide health care services to be licensed or, as amended, to clearly disclose that they are not a licensed medical facility regulated by the Louisiana Department of Health. Rep. Freeman and supporting witnesses argued the bill was prompted by a legislative auditor report and concerns that some centers provide ultrasounds, STI testing, pregnancy tests, and related services without clear medical oversight. The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners’ executive director testified that interpreting ultrasounds and performing certain tests can constitute the practice of medicine, while opponents argued the centers already operate under medical directors and that the disclosure requirement was unconstitutional under the NIFLA case. The committee adopted an amendment, but after debate on the amended bill, a motion to report favorably failed on a roll call vote, and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee then heard House Bill 902 by Rep. Marcelle, which directs the Louisiana Department of Health to develop trauma-informed training. Supporters said the bill grew out of a task force on student behavior, mental health, and discipline, and that educators need a more consistent, evidence-based trauma-informed curriculum than what is currently available online. Some members raised concerns about cost and whether the bill would mandate new school obligations, while a witness from the Louisiana Baptist Convention opposed the measure as mission creep and argued trauma-informed care is too specialized for general teacher training. Other members supported the bill as a way to help educators identify and respond to children facing trauma. The bill was amended with technical changes and then discussed further, but the transcript ends before a final vote on HB 902 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can are not fully reimbursed.
• . reimbursement. reimbursement.
• </c><00:17:46.640><c> in</c> trained clinicians and recruitment in trained clinicians and recruitment
• </c><00:18:10.080><c> from</c> hospital, we train physicians from hospital, we train physicians from
• </c> Chair and members, we're proud to train Chair and members, we're proud to train future<00:18:37.919

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Will they be used for training? Will it get more students in the pipeline?
• learning to help the workforce and be trained on what they need to be trained on.
• How will the reimbursement take place? Mr. Meyer: Yes, yes.
• In statute, it requires the health plans to reimburse for the cost of those audits.
• In statute, it requires the health plans to reimburse for the cost of those audits.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Will they be used for training? Will it get more students in the pipeline?
• learning to help the workforce and be trained on what they need to be trained on.
• How will the reimbursement take place? Mr. Meyer: Yes, yes.
• In statute, it requires the health plans to reimburse for the cost of those audits.
• In statute, it requires the health plans to reimburse for the cost of those audits.

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission met to consider 21 budget amendments, beginning with the Department of Education’s request for $14.751 million in federal grant authority for the Preschool Development Grant. Members asked whether any funds would support VPK or provider payments; the department said the money is for birth-to-kindergarten early learning work, including IT modernization, workforce credentialing, training, and streamlining director certification. The amendment was adopted without objection. The commission then approved amendments for the Department of Veterans Affairs to shift $2.2 million within its trust fund to cover higher nursing home occupancy and reduce staffing agency use, and for the Department of Health to realign about $9.1 million for disability determinations amid a backlog of roughly 140,000 cases. The Agency for Health Care Administration presented multiple Medicaid-related amendments, including $766 million for indirect medical education, $1.9 million for managed care network adequacy audits, $209 million for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and several large supplemental payment programs for KidCare, hospitals, physicians, cancer hospitals, nursing IME, and public hospital payments. Members questioned network adequacy, rural access, and the KidCare surplus and expansion; the KidCare realignment drew debate, with some members objecting because the 2023 eligibility expansion has not been implemented, but the amendment passed on a roll call vote. Other amendments adopted included FDLE’s $16.3 million for counter-UAS detection and mitigation equipment, DJJ’s $1.6 million for Florida Scholars Academy and a Social Services Block Grant realignment, and emergency management pass-throughs for FIFA World Cup security and counter-drone funding to the Miami host committee. The Department of Commerce received $148.4 million for disaster recovery under the CDBG-DR program, with questions about the split between housing, infrastructure, and administrative costs. The Department of State also received $408,377 for arts and culture grant authority. Most amendments were adopted without objection, and the commission adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><01:02:32.920><c> other</c> maybe when you're training other maybe when you're training other clinicians
• </c> jail-based reimbursements jail-based reimbursements for<01:26:37.760><c> med</c><01:26:38.360><c
• ,</c> outpatient therapy reimbursements, outpatient therapy reimbursements, jail-based<01:27:23.960><
• reimbursements.
• It reimburses in a more efficient way.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Why not just trained doctors? History tells us what happens when science outpaces practice.
• The council asked if their whole staff team could be trained in PANS/PANDAS. They said no.
• In order to do this, every one of their staff members must be trained in PANS/PANDAS.
• When we fail to reimburse preventive care, the costs don't disappear.
• However, under the current system, we can only be reimbursed through MassHealth.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with more than 70 people signed up to testify, focusing mainly on health insurance and health care access bills. Early testimony centered on H.1257/S.712, which would require insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment of genetic craniofacial conditions. Supporters included legislators, dentists, and medical experts who said these conditions are not cosmetic, can severely affect eating, speech, pain, and social functioning, and often create major financial hardship because insurers deny coverage. A related dental bill, H.1262/S.676, drew technical testimony from the Life Insurance Association of Massachusetts about implementation issues with the 2022 dental loss-ratio law, while the Massachusetts Dental Society supported H.1306/S.696 on transparency in dental network leasing and opposed H.1262. Representative Gentile also testified for H.4013, which would ban for-profit acute care hospitals and for-profit health insurers in Massachusetts, arguing that profit incentives undermine patient care. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H.1261/S.799, a bill to protect patients from surprise ambulance bills. Municipal fire chiefs, Boston EMS, nonprofit ambulance providers, and the bill’s Senate sponsor said the measure would require insurers to pay ambulance providers directly and promptly, cap patient out-of-pocket costs, and reduce confusion caused by out-of-network billing. Witnesses described ambulance services as essential public health infrastructure and said current billing practices can discourage people from calling 911 or leave municipalities and nonprofits unable to recover costs. Committee members asked about unpaid debt, municipal billing burdens, and how the bill would affect rates and reimbursement. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H.1249/S.805, which would require screening for PANS/PANDAS in medical and clinical settings. Legislators, clinicians, parents, a teen with the condition, and educators described PANS/PANDAS as an infection-triggered inflammatory illness that can present as sudden psychiatric symptoms and is often misdiagnosed as a mental health disorder. Supporters said routine screening at well visits, emergency rooms, and other clinical settings would help identify children earlier, reduce unnecessary psychiatric treatment and hospitalizations, and improve outcomes. Testifiers repeatedly urged favorable action, emphasizing the personal and financial toll on families and the potential for early treatment to prevent long-term harm. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on these bills; no committee action or votes were announced.