Bills: SB19

Keywords: SB19, prostate cancer, prostate cancer screening, PSA test, digital rectal exam, preventive screening, health insurance mandate, no cost sharing, copay, deductible, coinsurance, high-risk men, African American men, men over 50, men over 40, family history, genetic marker, health benefit plan, insurer coverage, Alabama insurance code

Bills: SB190, HB515, SB190

Keywords: SB190, prostate cancer, prostate screening, PSA test, digital rectal exam, preventive screening, health insurance mandate, cost-sharing, copay, deductible, coinsurance, high-risk men, African American men, family history, genetic marker, men over 50, men over 40, health benefit plan, insurance coverage, mandated benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• The copay accumulators are not welcome in North Dakota.

Bills: SB2271, HB1216

Keywords: adult residential facilities, care services, Medicaid, payment rates, elderly care, health services, North Dakota, prescription drugs, drug affordability, copay assistance, copayment accumulator, deductible accumulator, out-of-pocket maximum, health insurance, health benefit plan, self-insured health plan, self-funded plan, third-party payment, manufacturer assistance, patient assistance program

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and took up three bills. House Bill 1216, dealing with prescription drug expense co-pay accumulators in health plans, was presented by Rep. Karen Carl’s, who explained it would prevent insurers from refusing to count third-party assistance toward deductibles for patients using high-cost, non-generic drugs. An amendment was offered to clarify effective dates, including a delayed January 1, 2026 start for PERS coverage. PERS testified that the amendment would align with its calendar-year benefit structure and likely reduce the fiscal note. The amendment was adopted 16-0, and the bill was set aside for further discussion later. House Bill 1199, creating a criminal justice data-sharing system and missing persons/missing Indigenous people task force, was introduced with a committee amendment changing the Attorney General reference to the Attorney General or designee. The committee noted the bill includes a $250,000 general fund appropriation for ongoing costs. The amendment passed 16-0, and the amended bill received a do pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with one no vote from Senator Magrum. House Bill 1531, appropriating $75,000 for an irrigation expansion study by the Agriculture Commissioner, was supported as a way to update older economic-impact studies on irrigation and assess opportunities for expansion. Members discussed its relationship to broader study pauses and the history of irrigation development in the state, including Garrison Diversion and remaining authorized acres. The bill passed 16-0. The committee then discussed scheduling for the coming week, noting a heavy bill load and plans for daily morning meetings before adjourning.

Bills: HB300, HB40, SB19, HB283, HB179, HB296, HB300, HB40, SB19, HB283, HB179, HB296

Keywords: HB300, Choctaw County, probate court, probate judge, recording fee, filing fee, deed tax, mortgage tax, deeds, mortgages, property records, recordation, county local act, local legislation, technology upgrades, digitalization of records, recordkeeping, county treasury, special fund, court administration

Bills: HF169, HF195, HF194, HF1756, HF2133

Keywords: HF169, Minnesota insurance, health plan, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, patient assistance program, deductible, health insurer, consumer disclosure, out-of-pocket costs, medical assistance funds, copay assistance, health coverage transparency, chapter 62Q, enrollee, HF195, Fairmont, street reconstruction, bonding bill, capital investment

Bills: SB279, HB478, SB279, HB478

Keywords: Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building, historic preservation, state property, inventory removal, fixtures, furnishings, reuse, recycling, upcycling, surplus property, public assets, legislative chambers, desk sale, chair sale, state auditor

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Edmonds, I can speak to the copay benefit assistance plans.
• It doesn't cap the copay.
• And so they make that; they'll put $20,000 copay coupons available.
• And the copay assistance then is absorbed by the mothership.
• If their copay card is worth $20,000...

Bills: HB591, HB765, HB826, HB870, HB938, HB1151, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1236, HB1241

Keywords: family leave, insurance, paid leave, employment benefits, caregiver support, liability insurance, coverage defenses, direct action, judgment enforcement, legal procedures, insurance referrals, compensation, non-licensed agents, consumer protection, insurance products, HB 870, Act 907, Louisiana insurance, health insurance, prescription drugs

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:30.400> assistance Hampshire the need for copay assistance Hampshire the need for copay
• manufacturer it's real money and copay manufacturer it's real money and copay assistance<00:42:50.079
• Or there's a $300 drug that only has a $200 copay.
• <01:49:51.599> coupon websites about these copay coupon websites about these copay coupon
• <01:50:00.520> assistance and they say the copay assistance and they say the copay assistance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Bills: HB151, HB152, HB138, SB221, SB190, SB69, SB225, SB272

Keywords: fire chaplains, distinctive license plate, firefighter, volunteer service, criminal penalties, sales tax exemption, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, menstrual hygiene products, pregnancy, pregnant defendant, incarceration, jail intake, pregnancy test, bail, pre-incarceration probation, supervised probation, electronic monitoring, electronic supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• Once a referral is required, the copay returns to the specialist copay, keeping with the current practice
• So when you tie something to the primary care copay, in this instance, and other states that have done
• this, have looked at this, and the primary care copay goes up, we try to keep primary care copays really
• So you'll have $5.10 dollars, really cheap copays to primary care.
• They looked at this and they found exactly that, that primary care copays go up, and some states that

Transcript Highlights:

• If a referral is required, the copay returns to the specialist's copay, keeping with the current practice
• at this, the primary care copay goes up.
• have $5, $10 really cheap copays for primary care.
• But when you start to tie things to that, you begin to erode the value of that primary care copay.
• They looked at the... ...and they found exactly that: that primary care copays go up.

Bills: HB854, HB 1052, HB1642, HB2076, HB3042, HB3695, HB3787, HB4062, HB4092, SB213, SB493, SB896, HB5519, HB4635

Keywords: insurance, replacement cost, homeowner's policy, renter's policy, condominium insurance, property damage, claims process, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health benefit plan, insurance coverage, out-of-state services, anxiety, pain management, contraceptive devices, women's health, medical procedures, healthcare, laboratory

Transcript Highlights:

• But my final bill is SB 1199, which would ban the use of copay accumulators in California, joining 20
• Instead, the copay assistance funds are accepted by health plans or PBMs, but not counted toward the
• However, my insurance plan this year, like others in California, does not count that copay assistance
• Thank you. and has a copay accumulator program.
• It will protect patients like me from unethical, harmful copay accumulator policies.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we're going to talk about copays on page 8.
• , copays should be no more than 7% of a family's income.
• And then a copay kicked in. Kicked in. And we eliminated the copay a few years ago for— okay.
• So the system can build in a copay if we wanted to say, let's make a copay for people who make half a
• Let's make a copay for people who make significant money.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we've heard a Tabke 2475 and 2715 copay reductions.
• Um, we've heard a Tabke 2475 and 2715 copay reductions.
• Um, we've heard a Tabke 2475 and 2715 copay reductions.
• Um, we've heard a Tabke 2475 and 2715 copay reductions.
• Um, we've heard a Tabke 2475 and 2715 copay reductions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the previous day’s journal. The chamber received Senate messages announcing a joint convention for the governor’s message and transmitting Senate Files 1251, 3769, and 3868. The House also introduced House Files 4868 through 4933 and adopted committee reports and comparison report motions without objection. The Rules Committee placed several bills on the calendar and required pre-filing of amendments for specified measures. On the calendar, the House passed Senate File 3602, which enacts the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act and expands electronic signing to estate planning documents beyond wills. Supporters said it would help people who are homebound, hospitalized, or in rural areas and reduce uncertainty for banks and hospitals about electronically signed powers of attorney and health care directives. The bill passed 134-0. The House also passed House File 3516, a Board of Dentistry policy bill that updates licensure language, allows retired dentists to serve low-income uninsured patients, and increases the number of dental hygienists a dentist may collaborate with from four to eight; it passed 134-0. The House then passed House File 3528, a technical barbering bill that reduces training and retesting burdens, gives the board more testing flexibility, repeals duplicative rules, clarifies that waxing is not barbering, and makes other fee and registration changes; it passed 134-0. House File 3718, updating veterinary medicine and veterinary technology statutes, was amended to restore board seal language and then passed 134-0 as amended. Supporters said it modernizes definitions and standards, recognizes licensed veterinary technicians, and may help address veterinary shortages, especially in greater Minnesota. Finally, the House passed Senate File 3402, which broadens who may serve as a medical consultant for Community Health Boards to include additional licensed professionals such as DOs, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses; it passed 134-0. The chamber also considered several motions to move bills between committees, including referrals involving veterans, education, health, and psilocybin-related legislation. A motion to suspend the rules for House File 4487 was presented, and the bill was described as providing a one-time $1 billion property tax rebate or credit, but the transcript cuts off during extended debate on that motion before any final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health savings accounts are a way that people put money pre-tax aside so they can spend it on copays,
• And, for example, if I go to a doctor, you have a specialist, it might be a $100 copay or $45 copay..
• I go to a doctor, you have a specialist, it might be a $100 copay or $45 copay.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a hearing with Chair Jamie Murphy and Senate co-chair Senator Feeney presiding. Members asked witnesses to keep testimony to three minutes and noted that written testimony could still be submitted. The committee heard testimony on several health insurance and pharmacy-related bills, including a proposal to allow controlled prescriptions to be transferred between pharmacies within the same chain, legislation affecting health savings account (HSA)-compatible plans and future insurance mandates, a bill on small business health insurance incentives, and H. 1212 on emergency insulin access. Several parents and patients testified in support of emergency insulin access, describing severe diabetes emergencies, diabetic ketoacidosis, prescription delays, and the need for pharmacists to dispense insulin in urgent situations when doctors or insurers are unavailable. A parent also described the burden of repeatedly obtaining new prescriptions for ADHD medication when pharmacies are out of stock. Witnesses supporting the HSA bill argued that state coverage mandates can unintentionally disqualify HSA-qualified plans and that the bill would preserve tax advantages for enrollees while avoiding repeated legislative fixes. A representative of the Retailers Association supported the small business health insurance incentives bill, saying it could help retain small employers in the merged market by allowing carriers to offer financial incentives tied to cooperative purchasing and utilization efforts. One witness, Kathleen Demarest, testified against a co-pay assistance restriction, saying a state rule had unexpectedly cut off her drug assistance before a generic was actually available, leaving her with very high out-of-pocket costs. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions about HSAs, insulin dispensing, and school support for diabetes care. After all scheduled witnesses had testified and no additional testimony was offered, the committee voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's no copays, there's no deductibles or anything else like that.
• So, insurance-driven clinics, for example, um, you come in, you pay your copay, they ask you all kinds
• Uh, so, um, you know, a regular clinic, OK, they take your copay, that's the heart, referral to cardiology
• So we avoid a visit, avoid copays. So on the handout, there's a couple there.
• Well, is there, would, would this clearly satisfy your initial, what, what do you call it, copay for

Transcript Highlights:

• want to see that fail as these programs blossom around the state because people can't afford the copays
• provider orders it and you go into most any institution, they have the ability to charge you a $250 copay
• That's why health plans standardize high-tech radiology services for $100, $200, or $150 copay.
• I'm not sure that everyone's following that, but this would eliminate any copay, about 98%.
• Sometimes copays end up. On these generic drugs: Crestor, rosuvastatin, uh, Zetia.

Transcript Highlights:

• But my final bill is SB 1199, which would ban the use of copay accumulators in California, joining 20
• But when my husband's employer switched plans in January, we discovered that the new plan has a copay
• It will protect patients like me from unethical, harmful copay accumulator policies.
• It will protect patients like me from unethical, harmful copay accumulator policies.
• From a broad perspective, AHIP always believes that copay coupons should not be used by manufacturers

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 331 by Sen. Menjivar, which would require large-group health plans to cover hearing aids for children. The author and supporters described the bill as a long-running effort to address a developmental emergency and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families, while opponents were absent. Testimony from parents, advocates, medical experts, and organizations emphasized the importance of early access to hearing aids; committee members voiced strong support, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The committee then heard SB 608, also by Sen. Menjivar, to expand access to condoms in school-based health centers and related settings and to prevent barriers such as ID checks. Supporters, including students and school health advocates, argued the bill would improve sexual health and reduce stigma, while opponents from family and faith groups argued it would undermine parental authority and normalize early sexual activity. The bill was supported by committee members and moved forward on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Next, SB 971 by Sen. Choi proposed community-based healthy aging partnerships for older adults, with testimony from the California Senior Legislature and supporters from aging and dementia organizations. The measure was described as voluntary and focused on connection, independence, and local collaboration; there was no opposition, and the committee moved it on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 869 by Sen. Weber Pierson, which would require warning icons and statements on chain restaurant menus for beverages with very high added sugar content. Supporters framed it as a transparency and public health measure, while restaurant and beverage industry representatives opposed it unless amended, citing cost and menu-space concerns; the bill was nevertheless moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations after a roll call vote, with some members voting no and the measure placed on call. The committee also considered SB 950 by Sen. Weber Pierson, aimed at ensuring timely coverage of FDA-approved, medically necessary treatments for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on commercial plans. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association and a patient advocate, said the bill would reduce delays and barriers to care, while health plan representatives opposed it over step therapy and utilization-management concerns. Members discussed the limited treatment window and the need for early access, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. In addition, SB 490 by Sen. Umberg would set timelines for DHCS investigations of unlicensed sober living homes and allow counties to assist if the department cannot act in time; supporters from Anaheim and a patient-brokering survivor described serious abuse and oversight gaps, while county behavioral health representatives opposed the county role as an unfunded and potentially liability-creating burden. After discussion, the bill was also moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1037 by Sen. Weber Pierson on health insurance affordability and rate review, with supporters arguing it would tie premium increases more closely to affordability targets and public reporting; the transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements for enrollees who are caregivers, medically frail, or experiencing hardship, reducing copays
• :53.359> hardship, experiencing hardship, experiencing hardship, reducing<00:47:55.400> copays
• $5<00:47:56.880> for<00:47:57.040> most<00:47:57.280> services reducing copays
• completion, exemptions, churn, and copay completion, exemptions, churn, and copay collection<00:
• You know, one of the things I want to say is copays can work, but it takes a lot of reeducation.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to consider the Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 2, a major Medicaid bill. Members first adopted the substitute and then adopted Amendment 9770. The bill was described as a lengthy rewrite aimed at aligning Kentucky Medicaid policy with federal requirements under HR 1, while also preserving program integrity and addressing due process concerns. Senators and staff repeatedly emphasized that the measure was the product of extensive meetings with providers, associations, and work groups. The sponsor’s section-by-section summary highlighted several key changes: delaying and reducing cost-sharing requirements; pushing eligibility redetermination deadlines to the federal date; restoring some flexibility for hardship waivers; allowing self-attestation as a last resort; modifying MCO audit provisions; clarifying non-emergency medical transport GPS costs; expanding waiver attestation authority to nurse practitioners and licensed psychologists; adding qualified aliens to waiver eligibility to comply with federal law; requiring Medicaid data sharing with the oversight board; limiting changes to Medicaid benefits without General Assembly authorization; narrowing the prescription drug exclusion to drugs prescribed primarily for weight loss; and delaying the dental ASO transition until 2029. The substitute also deleted a proposed auditor review requirement and retained an emergency clause. Committee discussion focused heavily on the policy and fiscal implications of the cost-sharing and recertification provisions. Senators raised concerns about whether the co-pays would be effective or simply shift costs to providers, whether the recertification process would burden the Cabinet and cause eligible people to lose coverage, and how the bill would affect people transitioning from Medicaid into work. Supporters said the lower cost-sharing amounts were intended to encourage appropriate use of care, protect providers, and comply with federal law, and they noted that the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board would help shape future changes. A public witness, Maggie Chisholm, gave emotional testimony about her daughter’s experience with a Medicaid waiver and argued that policy delays and administrative disconnects can harm vulnerable families. No final vote on the bill itself was recorded in the excerpt, but the substitute and amendment were adopted and testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Representative And then I see that there was some change around the wording around copays.
• Will the billionaire pay a copay? Mr.
• So yes, billionaires again, if the factor was triggered, they would pay a copay. Thank you, Mr.
• Separately of this, so what's contemplated in this amendment: the copays, whatever money is raised from
• the copays, would likely.

Bills: SB132, SB241

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation