Transcript Highlights:

• care entities in Texas.
• of private equity on health care and health care consolidation.
• abuse, and public health care services in Texas. shall be administered by the Department of Texas of
• We urge you to protect the health of Texas children and their access to health care by voting against
• use health care.

Bills: HB5141, HB4638, HB2264, HB2035, HB4813, HB4408, HB2684, HB1621, HB2300, HB216, HB3829, HB4466, HB1747, HB2284, HB3614, HB2587, HB3219, HB3318, HB5147, HB4014, HB216

Keywords: lease, state property, public purpose, Travis County, Health and Human Services, pharmaceutical initiative, drug distribution, healthcare services, generic drugs, advanced pharmaceuticals, cost savings, mental health, patient discharge, medical records, health care professionals, substance use, family involvement, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions

Transcript Highlights:

• access to health care.
• by applying these changes to state-regulated health plans.
• I'm with the Texas Association of Community Health Centers.
• Texans care about their neighbors, and Texas is better than House Bill 1586.
• The threat of an investigation caused providers, including mental health care providers, to cease caring

Bills: HB1106, HB3284, HB541, HB713, HB1403, HB1586, HB1942, HB2070, HB2844, HB2851, HB3151, HB3749, HB3940, HB3963, HB4454, HB4466, HB4795, HB5154, HB5394, SB1357, HB1052, HB4099, HB4638, HB5147

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• I am with the Foundation as the Senior Fellow for Health Care, and I have my own practice here locally
• My name is Alec Mendoza and I'm the Senior Policy Associate for Health at Texans Care for Children, testifying
• ... early childhood care and education, consisting of representatives from the Texas Education Agency
• Charles Miller here with Texas 2036, a member of... ...of the Employers for Child Care Task Force here
• But still have that additional regulation where the Texas Medical Board is overseeing that the facility

Bills: HB1106, HB3284, HB541, HB713, HB1403, HB1586, HB1942, HB2070, HB2844, HB2851, HB3151, HB3749, HB3940, HB3963, HB4454, HB4466, HB4795, HB5154, HB5394, SB1357, HB1052, HB4099, HB4638, HB5147

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

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• Currently, Texas does not have laws regulating referrals, referral agencies that help families find senior
• living communities like assisted living or memory care.
• Or a fixed fee based on the cost of rent or care.
• We provide assisted living in Alzheimer's certified care.
• So because they care. OK.

Bills: HB 1531, HB 2667, HB 2809, HB 2865, HB 3589, HB 3151, HB 3748, HB 3750, HB 4419, HB 4643, HB 3597, HB 4129, HB 4130, HB 4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• To explain his bill, House Bill 2667: Currently, Texas does not have laws regulating referrals from agencies
• Per referral or a fixed fee based on the cost of rent or care.
• We provide assisted living and Alzheimer's certified care.
• You can imagine what this means for Texas as a whole.
• Second, current Texas law requires a flat rate.

Bills: HB1531, HB2667, HB2809, HB2865, HB3589, HB3151, HB3748, HB3750, HB4419, HB4643, HB3597, HB4129, HB4130, HB4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

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• Texans rely on highly trained and skilled health care workers to deliver essential medical care.
• Studies show that youth in foster care often have a history of mental health issues.
• On behalf of NAMI Texas, I want to thank you for your commitment to improving mental health care in our
• For Child Care Regulation within the Health and Human Services Commission, so I'm here to answer any
• Federally qualified health centers are anchors for rural Texas.

Bills: HB1531, HB2667, HB2809, HB2865, HB3589, HB3151, HB3748, HB3750, HB4419, HB4643, HB3597, HB4129, HB4130, HB4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• Member Senate Bill 916 relates to consumer protections against certain medical and health care billing
• I'm the CEO of the Texas Association. of Health Plans, and we are testifying in support of Senate Bill
• Community-based care, or CBC, has helped transform foster care in Texas, giving communities greater control
• New, which was a shortage of foster care providers, gaps in medical and behavioral health services.
• We encourage initiatives like those before you today designed to improve health care in rural Texas.

Bills: SB502, SB513, SB622, SB670, SB731, SB732, SB916, SB961, SB1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

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• In 1998, I wrote patient software for the home health care industry that had to coordinate the care of
• employers to provide competitive health care benefits.
• I'm representing Texans for Affordable Health Care.
• Texas for Affordable Health Care is a nonprofit grassroots organization that represents families and
• They're the third-party benefit administrators for ERISA health care plans.

Bills: SB502, SB513, SB622, SB670, SB731, SB732, SB916, SB961, SB1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the Texas Association of Health, uh, Plans came together to support that effort two years ago, and
• employers to provide competitive health care benefits, and we again oppose SB 1122.
• A recent TAB survey found that 85% of businesses find that rising health care costs are unsustainable
• Senate Bill 1122 closes this loophole by clarifying that Texas law applies to all health benefit plans
• care mandate, we're going to say no until and unless we can control the health care crisis in Texas.

Bills: SB 502, SB 513, SB 622, SB 670, SB 731, SB 732, SB 916, SB 961, SB 1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Senior Fellow for Health Care at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which I represent.
• health care system.
• I've been confirmed by the Texas Senate to serve on government health care associations here.
• While CCRCs are licensed by HHSC to provide care, CCRCs are actually regulated by the Texas Department
• While CCRCs are licensed by HHSC to provide care, CCRCs are actually regulated by the Texas Department

Bills: SB331, SB883, SB926, SB1137, SB1138, SB1144, SB1151, SB1236, SB1270, SB1522, SB1869, SB2207, SB2422

Keywords: healthcare, cost disclosure, transparency, administrative penalties, health facility compliance, COVID-19, off-label use, prescription drugs, patient access, medical standards, insurance, physician ranking, incentives, fiduciary duty, health plan issuers, SB 1137, group home, assisted living, residential care, board and care

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is facing one of the nation's worst health care shortages, and it's only projected to get worse
• This bill comes at a pivotal moment in Texas' time where we need... more doctors and health care providers
• Counties in Texas are classified as primary health care professional shortage areas, with another 10
• Therefore, policies... that bring doctors and health care providers into Texas should be considered.
• And sectors, creating the tools needed to grow and support a stronger health care workforce for Texas

Bills: HB 44, HB 2200, HB 1612, HB 2747, HB 2038, HB 3717, HB 1431, HB 3800, HB 3801, HB 3560, HB 3246

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Summary: The meeting of the public health committee focused on the pressing issue of opioid addiction in Texas, with a particular emphasis on House Bill 3717. Chairman Harris detailed the bill's intent to fund a grant program for Ibogaine clinical trials, framing it as a critical response to the ongoing opioid crisis. He shared poignant testimonies highlighting the struggles of families and veterans battling addiction and mental health issues. The conversation underscored the necessity of innovative treatments, like Ibogaine, which showed promising results in studies for reducing symptoms of withdrawal and PTSD.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Alec Mendoza, and I'm the senior policy associate for health with Texans Care for Children
• Uh, currently, many Texas newborns are falling through the cracks and not getting timely health coverage
• any delays in medical care can cause significant health issues for children.
• House Bill 3940 improves access to newborn health coverage and care by providing necessary information
• and the, the health and well-being of LGBTQ youth across Texas.

Bills: HB 2646, HB 3941, HB 5153, HB 5155, HB 5394, HB 1106, HB 426, HB 4529, HB 3984, HB 4273, HB 1097, HB 3940, HB 1941, HB 4377, HB 3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Bills: HB 1106, HB 3284, HB 541, HB 713, HB 1403, HB 1586, HB 1942, HB 2070, HB 2844, HB 2851, HB 3151, HB 3749, HB 3940, HB 3963, HB 4454, HB 4466, HB 4795, HB 5154, HB 5394, SB 1357, HB 1052, HB 4099, HB 4638, HB 5147

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Bills: HB 1106, HB 3284, HB 541, HB 713, HB 1403, HB 1586, HB 1942, HB 2070, HB 2844, HB 2851, HB 3151, HB 3749, HB 3940, HB 3963, HB 4454, HB 4466, HB 4795, HB 5154, HB 5394, SB 1357, HB 1052, HB 4099, HB 4638, HB 5147

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• Feeding Texas is committed to improving the health of our neighbors, but this will inject disarray into
• We met testifying at the Senate on the maha stuff about like the broken health care system.
• Commissioner Long Term Care Regulation.
• and Human Services long-term care regulation.
• By passing 33589, Texas will begin to address a serious gap in our care system.

Bills: HB 2510, HB 3589, HB 4611, HB 4655, HB 4665, HB 4666, HB 4670, HB 4700, HB 4730, HB 4798, HB 4838, HB 5136, HB 5243, HB 5302, HB 5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• . caring for People LLC, but what they discovered was far from caring.
• . care.
• care fraud.
• Michelle Dionne-Vaholic, Associate Commissioner, Long-Term Care Regulation, Health and Human Services
• The bottom line is the taxpayer... ...funded junk food turns into taxpayer-funded health care later on

Bills: HB2510, HB3589, HB4611, HB4655, HB4665, HB4666, HB4670, HB4700, HB4730, HB4798, HB4838, HB5136, HB5243, HB5302, HB5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• By a health care professional with no plan for how this will be accomplished.
• We're both from Texas. We met testifying at the Senate about the broken health care system.
• Michelle Dionne Vahale, with Health and Human Services, Associate Commissioner, Long Term Care Regulation
• Part of Health and Human Services, Long-Term Care Regulation, has the jurisdiction to investigate abuse
• child care in Texas repeatedly.

Bills: HB2510, HB3589, HB4611, HB4655, HB4665, HB4666, HB4670, HB4700, HB4730, HB4798, HB4838, HB5136, HB5243, HB5302, HB5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Good and missing sometimes in our health care world.
• care system until all health care providers, regardless... ...regardless of what type of facility they
• I’m the Senior Fellow for Health Care at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who I represent. ...physician
• While CCRCs are licensed by HHSC to provide care, they are actually regulated by the Texas Department
• For health care services or supplies, that's working well.

Bills: SB331, SB883, SB926, SB1137, SB1138, SB1144, SB1151, SB1236, SB1270, SB1522, SB1869, SB2207, SB2422

Keywords: healthcare, cost disclosure, transparency, administrative penalties, health facility compliance, COVID-19, off-label use, prescription drugs, patient access, medical standards, insurance, physician ranking, incentives, fiduciary duty, health plan issuers, SB 1137, group home, assisted living, residential care, board and care

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm in support of House Bill 3984, so I'm the Senior Fellow for Health Care at the Texas Public Health
• care in Texas, and it does that by creating a seven-member... commission.
• According to Texas Department of health services, the average age of mothers giving birth in Texas is
• Local health entities play a key role in increasing access to health. of care, preventing and controlling
• , dental services, and health care. need.

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Alec Mendoza, and I'm the Senior Policy Associate for Health with Texans Care for Children
• Currently, many Texas newborns are falling through the cracks and not getting timely care. timely health
• Any delays in medical care can cause significant health issues for children.
• House Bill 3940 improves access to newborn health coverage and care by providing necessary information
• The state of Texas alone got an extra $400 million for foster care, raising the budget to $5.1 billion

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health