Transcript Highlights:

• So without and hospital service pricing.
• This is like hospital pricing.
• on</c><00:53:54.800><c> your</c> the pricing on the hospital on your the pricing on the hospital on your
• <00:58:46.559><c> venerated</c> hospital pricing as as my venerated hospital pricing as as my venerated
• </c><01:00:47.599><c> pricing</c> started this whole hospital pricing started this whole hospital pricing

Bills: SF0023, SF0057

Keywords: mental health, involuntary hospitalization, examiners, public safety, Wyoming legislature, hospital pricing, healthcare transparency, public health, civil penalties, shoppable services, 916, all

Bills: SF0023, SF0057

Keywords: mental health, involuntary hospitalization, examiners, public safety, Wyoming legislature, hospital pricing, healthcare transparency, public health, civil penalties, shoppable services, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• already seeing that with some of our mid-level specialties, where it's hard to find nursing in our hospitals

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• Hospital applies its own standards.
• And the hospital association's objections.
• Who trains orthopedic surgeons goes to a hospital, and the hospital, when he goes to the credentialing
• hospitals.
• Many hospitals have bollards at their ERs.

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• So if tariffs are already pushing that price up, then requiring businesses to keep up with every new
• So if tariffs are already pushing that price up, then requiring businesses to keep up with every new
• There have been a number of factors that have driven up the price of cars over the last 10 years.
• There have been a number of factors that have driven up the price of cars over the last 10 years.
• Because we don't even make the cars, we're at the mercy of what the manufacturers have to say is the price

Bills: H5036, H5138

Keywords: tariff transparency, consumer disclosure, price transparency, vehicle pricing, Monroney label, auto dealer, car manufacturer, retail pricing, shelf tag, receipt disclosure, online storefront, import duties, trade taxes, Chapter 93A, Attorney General enforcement, consumer protection, federal preemption, customs, supply chain costs, tariff surcharge

Transcript Highlights:

• So what happens is someone who provides medical care or a hospital, a physician, um, anybody in the health
• to 27 and also uh adjusts the maximum charge annually and guarantees that happens based on an index price
• </c> happens based on a index price index. happens based on a index price index.
• Now, 50% of hospitals, for instance, and so on, they might have a contractor that they work with, and
• </c> groups or you know or is it the hospital groups or you know or is it the hospital association<00

Bills: HF3521, HF1807, HF1270, HF2070, HF3136

Keywords: hospital moratorium, hospital construction, bed capacity, hospital expansion, health care facilities, hospital licensing, safety-net hospital, level I trauma center, Ramsey County, Minnesota health law, hospital beds, new hospital exception, certificate of need, inpatient capacity, emergency care, trauma services, health system regulation, state moratorium, hospital modernization, health infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, as you recall, region's hospital.
• </c><00:04:51.360><c> construction</c> exception to the hospital construction exception to the hospital
• </c><00:10:34.959><c> can't</c> regulation that says a hospital can't regulation that says a hospital
• can operate, our safety net hospitals can operate, our safety net hospitals<00:12:36.800><c> can</c>
• . hospital. hospital.

Bills: HF3521, HF1807, HF1270, HF2070, HF3136

Keywords: hospital moratorium, hospital construction, bed capacity, hospital expansion, health care facilities, hospital licensing, safety-net hospital, level I trauma center, Ramsey County, Minnesota health law, hospital beds, new hospital exception, certificate of need, inpatient capacity, emergency care, trauma services, health system regulation, state moratorium, hospital modernization, health infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's straightforward pricing, consumer protection. With that, I move a due pass.
• We've seen over the years, the last 10 years, that our prices have skyrocketed.
• The prices are... ...rocketed. If you look at the scale, it's almost vertical.
• The prices have gone up and up and up, and that's our problem.
• If they say it will cause consumers' prices to go up, it's because they choose it for no other reason

Bills: SB1673, SB1500, SB1447, SB1646, SB2007, SB1275, SB2074

Keywords: prosthetics, health insurance, medical necessity, patient rights, insurance liability, pharmacy benefits manager, healthcare providers, claims processing, reimbursement, insurance regulation, employees insurance, contract awarding, certifications, state procurement, insurance plan, mental health, substance use disorders, utilization review, benefit coverage, pharmacy

Summary: The Senate Business and Insurance Committee met to consider several bills, with the chair emphasizing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and the impact on local and rural pharmacies. Before taking up the bills, the committee announced that Senate Bills 1620 and 1625 would be laid over. The committee also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1673 to exempt certain state-funded flexible benefit plans, and then passed the bill, which creates the Prosthetic Access and Accountability Act of 2026 and requires health plans that already cover prosthetic benefits to administer them without disability-based discrimination. The committee then passed several PBM-related measures. Senate Bill 1500 requires PBMs to reimburse rural pharmacies within 30 calendar days. Senate Bill 1447 adds safeguards to the Oklahoma Employee Insurance Plan by restricting PBM contracts, including disfavoring PBMs involved in recent lawsuits or those affiliated with insurers, retail pharmacy chains, specialty pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, or drug manufacturers. Senate Bill 1646 strengthens utilization review standards for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and Senate Bill 2007 prohibits PBMs from reducing reimbursement after a successful appeal and adds administrative fees when they fail to make required adjustments. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1275, which requires upfront disclosure of all fees for short-term rental bookings such as Airbnb and VRBO, with only tax added at checkout. Finally, the committee passed Senate Bill 2074 after extensive debate; it would require fairer and more transparent PBM reimbursement using a Medicaid-based methodology and a professional dispensing fee, with supporters arguing it would help independent and community pharmacies and opponents raising concerns about consumer costs and legal issues. All bills considered in the meeting were reported out with favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after the chair noted one more meeting would be held the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, pharmacies are able to obtain the best pricing from wholesalers by having their accounts drafted
• We've seen over the years, the last 10 years, that our prices have skyrocketed.
• The prices have gone up and up and up, and that's our problem.
• If they say it will cost consumers' prices to go up, it's because they choose it for no other reason.

Bills: SB1673, SB1500, SB1447, SB1646, SB2007, SB1275, SB2074

Keywords: prosthetics, health insurance, medical necessity, patient rights, insurance liability, pharmacy benefits manager, healthcare providers, claims processing, reimbursement, insurance regulation, employees insurance, contract awarding, certifications, state procurement, insurance plan, mental health, substance use disorders, utilization review, benefit coverage, pharmacy

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, last year, is pushing for federal hospital price transparency laws across the country.
• The bill would require hospitals to follow federal hospital price transparency regulations by posting
• If a patient is billed more than the posted website price, the patient could counterclaim the hospital
• And no matter what the hospital posts as the price, the out-of-pocket is still indeterminate, because
• The rule is intended to show significant variations in hospital pricing.

Bills: HB946, HB1093, SB26, SB29, SB30, SB195, SB219, SB222, SB255, SB314, SCR2, SCR22

Keywords: healthcare transparency, hospital pricing, consumer protection, collection actions, fines, naturopathic medicine, Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine, licensing, healthcare, prescriptive authority, natural therapies, opioid treatment, regulation, addiction recovery, state law, SB 29, Act 732, coroner, autopsy, child death

Bills: HB1845, HB2192, HB2438, HB2529, HB2607, HB2658, HB3348, HB3505, HB3305

Keywords: rural prosecution, salary assistance, staffing grant, legal support, criminal justice, fireworks, permit requirements, sale, county regulations, public safety, hospital district, administration, elections, director qualifications, public contracts, salary supplement, county judges, judicial functions, state law, government compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I heard something about it has to be done in the hospital.
• This bill enhances patient safety in our state's freestanding psychiatric hospitals.
• Hospitals can work in a multitude of healthcare settings, including freestanding psychiatric hospitals
• The pricing on those is about $2,500 to $7,000, which is right around the cremation cost.
• I have a big issue with that because it becomes price manipulation. Are we there today? No.

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:

• There are a variety of types of hospitals. Those types of services are those provided by hospitals.
• There are a variety of types of hospitals. One of those types are critical access hospitals.
• To be a critical access hospital, the hospital must be certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
• Only 6% of hospitals in the country were designated as five-star hospitals last year.
• We proudly support our independent public hospital.

Bills: SB5872, SB5879, SB6047, SB5988, SB5923, SB5832, SB5970, SB5994, SB5949

Keywords: preK promise account, early childhood education, child care, preschool, pre-kindergarten, DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, state treasury, trust fund, investment earnings, gift grants donations, dedicated account, general fund, nonreverting balance, appropriation, treasurer, Washington early learning, school readiness, education assistance program, legislative audit

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on nine bills. Senate Bill 5872 would create the Pre-K Promise Account to receive philanthropic gifts for the ECAP preschool program; supporters including the Ballmer Group, DCYF, and the governor’s office said the account would support a 10-year commitment to expand access by up to 10,000 seats per year, while members asked how the annual funding would flow. Senate Bill 5879 would eliminate two JLARC studies, one on lodging tax revenue use and one on the training benefits program; supporters said the reports were redundant and burdensome, while the Washington Hospitality Association cautioned against losing transparency on lodging tax spending. Senate Bill 6047 would permanently codify and update capital budget administration provisions, including minor works flexibility, lapse rules for projects, and a higher eligible percentage for some early learning grants; testimony focused on technical fixes for capital and early learning projects, including nonprofit co-located developments and a cultural center’s BCF funding issue. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5988, which would authorize the Department of Health to charge fees for accrediting opioid treatment programs; DOH said the fee authority would keep accreditation services available, including for tribal programs, and would replace current funding sources. Senate Bill 5923 would allow Island Hospital in Skagit County to be paid as a critical access hospital once federally certified, which supporters said would improve rural hospital sustainability and Medicaid reimbursement. Senate Bill 5832 would raise the new motor vehicle arbitration fee from $3 to $6 to fund the Attorney General’s Lemon Law program; supporters said the program has a high consumer success rate and returns significant value, while the bill would increase receipts to the arbitration account and require system updates. Two tax-related bills drew substantial testimony. Senate Bill 5970 would make permanent the property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers; AARP supported it as a way to preserve community services for older adults and caregivers. Senate Bill 5994 would preserve timber tax distributions for school districts that recently lost qualifying levies, with forest industry witnesses supporting the school funding fix and noting possible implications for state forest transfer lands. Senate Bill 5949 would narrow the B&O tax exemption for insurance-related businesses so it applies only to the insurer paying the premium tax and would apply retroactively to 2019; the Department of Revenue and supporters said it would restore tax equity and generate about $73 million over four years, while insurers and business groups opposed it, warning of retroactive liability, higher premiums, and possible effects on health, auto, home, and life insurance costs. No votes were taken; each bill was heard and the committee adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• During Minnesota's transition to practice period, CNSs and NPs must work in a hospital or integrated
• During Minnesota's transition-to-practice period, CNSs and NPs must work in a hospital or integrated
• 01:09:49.199><c> a</c> period, CNS's and MPs must work in a period, CNS's and MPs must work in a hospital
• or integrated clinical setting hospital or integrated clinical setting where<01:09:52.400><c> a</c><
• for diabetes and other chronic conditions, hospital stays for—oh, I'm sorry, that's not where I meant

Bills: HF3521, HF3563, HF82, HF2689, HF1794, HF3544, HF3516, HF1752

Keywords: hospital moratorium, hospital construction, bed capacity, hospital expansion, health care facilities, hospital licensing, safety-net hospital, level I trauma center, Ramsey County, Minnesota health law, hospital beds, new hospital exception, certificate of need, inpatient capacity, emergency care, trauma services, health system regulation, state moratorium, hospital modernization, health infrastructure

Bills: SB96, SB97, SB130, HB230, SB154, SB93, SB99, SB96, SB97, SB130, HB230, SB154, SB93, SB99

Keywords: salvage title, salvage certificate of title, rebuilt title, flood vehicle, junk vehicle, total loss, motor vehicle title, vehicle branding, insurance claim, insurance company, Department of Revenue, vehicle inspection, rebuilder, automotive dismantler, parts recycler, secondary metals recycler, junkyard, vehicle identification number, VIN, stolen vehicle

Transcript Highlights:

• These hospitals are commonly referred to as disproportionate share hospitals.
• a critical access hospital.
• purchase price that is at or below a particular ceiling price.
• hospitals are particularly vulnerable to drug price increases.
• critical access hospitals.

Bills: HB2145, HB1828, HB2155, HB2437

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health, 904

Summary: The committee heard staff reports, sponsor testimony, and public testimony on House Bill 2437, which would place the Department of Health’s existing opioid treatment program accreditation role into statute and authorize the department to set fees to cover the cost of administering accreditation. Supporters, including the prime sponsor and DOH, said the bill would preserve a critical service for opioid treatment programs, including many tribal providers, and help avoid reliance on third-party accreditors with more burdensome requirements. No vote was taken on the bill during the portion provided. The committee then held an extended work session on the 340B drug pricing program and later opened public testimony on House Bill 2145, which would prohibit manufacturers, distributors, and third-party logistics providers from restricting 340B drug acquisition or delivery and from conditioning access on claims or utilization data. Staff and outside presenters explained how 340B works, recent litigation over contract pharmacy restrictions, and state trends in 340B-related legislation. Testimony was sharply divided: hospitals, community health centers, tribal representatives, labor groups, and some pharmacies argued the bill protects safety-net care, rural access, and patient services funded by 340B savings; manufacturers, employer groups, and business associations argued the program has grown far beyond its original purpose, lacks transparency, increases costs for employers and taxpayers, and should be reformed federally instead. No action was taken on HB 2145 in the excerpt. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2155, which would bar non-human entities from using nursing titles such as nurse, RN, LPN, or advanced registered nurse practitioner. The prime sponsor and the Washington State Nurses Association said the bill is intended to protect patient safety, transparency, and the integrity of the nursing profession as AI tools become more common in health care. A committee member asked about enforcement and liability if an AI system misrepresented itself as a nurse, and staff said they would follow up with more information. Public testimony on HB 2155 had just begun when the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we do not know how often children's hospitals versus I would say more general hospitals report.
• That's your general. hospitals.
• try to get their kid out of a psych hospital, the hospital either threatened to call CPS or CPS was called
• I think that is almost entirely housed in children's hospitals and not in general adult hospitals.
• It was somebody's hospital over there.

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• is about. 14 Senate Bill 1467 requires the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide hospitals
• Currently, if a child is hospitalized... for any reason.
• And after that, I was in the hospital for a while.
• You send me to every hospital, to see every doctor, every treatment.
• It is only going to be located within a hospital.

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• You're from the Hospital Association? I'm from the Hospital Association.
• Every hospital has a A number that is best for that hospital situation.
• hospital themselves.
• Ken Paxton went after the doctor and the hospitals, and he threatened Texas Children's Hospital.
• She is aware of the price.

Bills: HB44, HB2200, HB1612, HB2747, HB2038, HB3717, HB1431, HB3800, HB3801, HB3560, HB3246, HB44

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, Fortner Walker County Hospital District.
• Walker County Hospital District effectively reorg bill. Any questions? All right, great.

Bills: HB 148, HB 334, HB 554, HB 762, HB 1520, HB 1593, HB 3526, HB 3810, HB 5092, SB 2215, HB 2607

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, HB 554, fireworks, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, retail fireworks permit, Texas Occupations Code, Local Government Code, county commissioners court, drought conditions, Texas A&M Forest Service, fire safety, holiday sales