Transcript Highlights:

• We believe this legislation offers a crucial opportunity to improve health care access to seniors in
• We are those low-income fixed seniors.
• Could be a reason that you're denied coverage.
• So, Madam Chair and Senator, there are circumstances where coverage is absolutely not available to seniors
• There was an $8 million start of health care center.

Bills: SB21, SB42, SB81, SB101, SB139

Keywords: SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation, senior health coverage, elderly, retiree, Medicare beneficiaries, preexisting conditions, underwriting restrictions, premium discrimination, New Mexico insurance law, superintendent of insurance, health care coverage, policy portability, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Remember that these are seniors.
• Covering needed health care, Senate Bill 21 addresses a provision in current law that keeps some seniors
• We've made a lot of investments in behavioral health and mental health.
• provide coverage across New Mexico.
• The Health...

Bills: SB101, SB21, HM52, HB132, SB14, SB20

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Cost and Coverage Program at UT Health Science Center in Houston.
• So first, small businesses want to provide health care and health care coverage for their employees.
• the potential benefit is to providing those coverage to the health care.
• In doing so, we have but we can help preserve employer-sponsored health coverage, which is very important
• of health?

Bills: HB138, HB335, HB388, HB138

Keywords: health impact analysis, cost analysis, coverage mandates, health insurance, legislative analysis, health care data, education, funding, classroom resources, teacher support, student outcomes, health benefits, provider dentists, payment reimbursement, insurance code, noncontracting, dental care, reimbursement, health benefit plans, noncontracting providers

Transcript Highlights:

• Charles Miller, Director of Health and Economic Mobility, you show voting for the bill.
• benefit plan. issuers or administrators, and expenses for enrollees, health plans, and policy makers
• of benefits questionnaire that will be made available to health care providers.
• Abel Longoria, and I represent Hospitality Health 24-hour emergency rooms.
• This bill offers a simple solution to what has unfortunately proven to be a barrier to health care coverage

Bills: HB138, HB335, HB388, HB138

Keywords: health impact analysis, cost analysis, coverage mandates, health insurance, legislative analysis, health care data, education, funding, classroom resources, teacher support, student outcomes, health benefits, provider dentists, payment reimbursement, insurance code, noncontracting, dental care, reimbursement, health benefit plans, noncontracting providers

Transcript Highlights:

• benefit plan to provide. coverage for biomarker testing.
• Since it would be on the health insurance plan, right?
• My name is Christopher Hamilton, CEO of Texas Health Action.
• These prior authorizations aren't adding to health outcomes; they aren't improving people's health outcomes
• issues of health care.

Bills: HB813, HB1680, HB3569, HB4074, HB4635, HB5178, SB527, SB1307, SB1822

Keywords: autism, health insurance, coverage, medical treatment, health benefit plan, HIV prevention, prescription drug, prior authorization, health benefits, insurance coverage, insurance, contract termination, property and casualty, insurance agents, discrimination, appraiser, umpire, licensing requirements, continuing education, admin penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• Substitute Senate Bill 6183 requires health plans, including health plans offered to public and school
• Substitute Senate Bill 6183 requires health plans, including health plans offered to public and school
• This amendment prohibits health carriers from requesting refunds from health care providers on claims
• payments. ...health carriers from requesting refunds from health care providers on claims payments unless
• with health carriers.

Bills: SB5915, SB6025, SJM8002

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Transcript Highlights:

• So I wanted to make sure that seniors' voices were involved in all of the health care debates that are
• We want improved health care; provide for dental, provide for all the health care needs that seniors
• Health plans offered by carriers, health plans offered through PEB and SEB, and Medicaid coverage offered
• Health plans offered by carriers, health plans offered through Peb and Seb, and Medicaid coverage offered
• As additional background regarding health carriers, health carriers may not retrospectively deny coverage

Bills: SB5915, SB5988, SB6025, SJM8002

Keywords: SB 5915, health technology assessment, HTA, clinical committee, medical technology review, coverage determination, state-purchased health care, Washington health care, RCW, evidence-based medicine, cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, Medicare coverage, national coverage determination, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, public comment, medical necessity, rare disease, life-threatening disease

Transcript Highlights:

• coverage of traditional health care practices under Medicaid by July 1, 2026.
• coverage of traditional health care practices under Medicaid by July 1, 2026.
• mental health coverage.
• mental health coverage.
• By using data and promoting honest markets selling mental health coverage.

Bills: HB2555, HB2658, HB2683, HB2685, HB2168, HB2196, HB2545

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, mental health, insurance coverage, transparency, consumer protection, efficiency, health carriers, providers relations, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights, overdose prevention, data sharing, public health

Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee held public hearings on four bills. HB 2555 would require the Health Care Authority to apply by July 1, 2026, for a Medicaid waiver to cover traditional health care practices at tribal and urban Indian facilities. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, tribal health leaders, and the Health Care Authority, said the bill would recognize traditional medicine, expand access, and potentially reduce downstream costs, while HCA noted the timeline may be difficult and that reimbursement issues, especially for urban Indian organizations, are still being worked out. HB 2685 would codify tribal data sovereignty principles, require state agencies to handle tribal data consistently with those principles, direct disease reporting to tribal health jurisdictions, and exempt certain tribal data from public disclosure. Tribal leaders supported the bill as a way to improve access to data and better tell the story behind it, while the Washington Coalition for Open Government opposed the broad public records exemption and HCA said the bill may be overbroad, especially regarding data sets that include tribal members and undefined ownership interests. HB 2658 would require health carriers to report standardized coverage and access data, especially for behavioral health, and the Insurance Commissioner would post the data publicly and maintain a dashboard. Supporters said it would expose gaps between promised and actual behavioral health coverage, while opponents argued it duplicates recent parity reforms, could be misread, and adds administrative burden. HB 2683 would shorten carrier credentialing timelines from 90 days to 30 days and require carriers to post billing and coverage information more openly. Supporters said it would help providers join networks faster and improve transparency for patients, while opponents raised concerns about safety checks, privacy, and implementation burden. After public hearing, the committee took executive action on three bills: it adopted two amendments and passed HB 2168, which concerns overdose mapping data, by a 16-1 vote; it rejected an amendment to HB 2196 but then passed the bill, which requires coverage for PANDAS/PANS treatments, by a 15-2 vote; and it passed HB 2545, allowing elective percutaneous coronary interventions at ambulatory surgical facilities, by a 13-4 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Between 2016 and 2018, at least two dozen senior women were murdered in Dallas-area senior living facilities
• Well, when we look at the number of health plans, you're looking at about 30 health plans that would
• Providers per health plan. That's a lot of data.
• Department of Health and Human Services,...
• Health accountability.

Bills: SB227, SB269, SB407, SB463, SB527, SB547, SB1283, SB1380, SB1383, SB1511, SB1640, SB1784, SB2069

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Human Services will come to order. Members, we'll pick up right where we had.
• However, some medical health insurers do not want to cover the anesthesia.
• Coverage of general anesthesia until a health emergency arises just prolongs the suffering.
• Health insurance for necessary general anesthesia for these dental procedures.
• Qualified anesthesia providers are included in that coverage as well.

Bills: SB227, SB269, SB407, SB463, SB527, SB547, SB1283, SB1380, SB1383, SB1511, SB1640, SB1784, SB2069

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will come to order.
• However, some medical health insurers do not want to cover the anesthesia necessary to safely care for
• In fact, currently Medicaid, CHIP, Tricare, and 30 other states require this coverage.
• Denying coverage of general anesthesia until a health emergency arises just prolongs the suffering of
• Um, that already requires coverage for general anesthesia.

Bills: SB 227, SB 269, SB 407, SB 463, SB 527, SB 547, SB 1283, SB 1380, SB 1383, SB 1511, SB 1640, SB 1784, SB 2069

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Transcript Highlights:

• Between 2016 and 2018, at least two dozen senior women were murdered in Dallas-area senior living facilities
• Between 2016 and 2018, at least two dozen senior women were murdered in Dallas, area senior living for
• two dozen senior women were murdered in Dallas area senior living facilities by serial killer Billy
• Well, when we look at the number of health plans, you're looking at about 30 health plans that would
• UT Health Science Center in Houston, shortened to UT Health, is the receiver of that data?

Bills: SB227, SB269, SB407, SB463, SB527, SB547, SB1283, SB1380, SB1383, SB1511, SB1640, SB1784, SB2069

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met with several members initially absent, then later established a quorum. The committee heard multiple bills, with most testimony focusing on access to care, insurance practices, senior safety, and health care worker protections. Several bills were laid out with committee substitutes, and public testimony was limited to two minutes per witness. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with no final votes taken in the portion provided. Senate Bill 2069 would create a work group to study the feasibility of a statewide acute psychiatric bed registry; the substitute shifts appointment authority to the Health and Human Services Commissioner and extends reporting and sunset dates. Senate Bill 463 would expand workplace violence protections to additional hospice, home and community support, intermediate care, and state-supported living center settings. Senate Bill 1283 would require background checks and transparency measures for senior retirement communities after testimony about the Dallas-area serial killings of elderly residents. Senate Bill 1784 would require 60 days’ written notice before medical debt is sent to collections. Senate Bill 527 would require medical insurance coverage for general anesthesia for medically necessary pediatric dental procedures for children under 13 with qualifying conditions; pediatric dentists testified that denials delay needed care. A major portion of the meeting centered on prior authorization. Senate Bill 1380 would eliminate prior authorization for a broad list of services, including emergency, primary, mental health, substance use, chemotherapy, preventive, pediatric hospice, and certain chronic-condition care. Physicians and hospice advocates supported the bill, describing delays, administrative burden, and patient harm, while health plans opposed blanket exemptions and argued prior authorization helps prevent unnecessary care and control costs. Relatedly, Senate Bill 547 would require insurers to report gold-card prior authorization exemptions to TDI and create a centralized database and annual report; TMA supported better tracking, while health plans warned of duplicative reporting and administrative cost. Senate Bill 407 would require health care facilities to honor conscience- and religion-based vaccine exemptions for employees, with testimony from a physician and vaccine-choice advocate supporting the bill. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1383, which would regulate senior living referral agencies, allow more flexible compensation structures, and add disclosure and consumer protections; an out-of-state referral company and A Place for Mom supported it. Senate Bill 1511 would allow freestanding emergency centers to provide outpatient services in addition to emergency care, with consumer protections such as estimates, limits on facility fees, and restrictions on balance billing. The chair repeatedly announced that bills were being left pending after testimony, and no final committee action or recorded votes were taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• coverage for their kids.
• The bill includes anti-gag clause protections for health coverages that normally are not subject to state
• We don't want a health care system. where children can be taken advantage of by health care providers
• Now he has serious health issues.
• Nora Cox, Texas Health Alliance.

Bills: SB95, SB268, SB493, SB619, SB660, SB922, SB984, SB1098, SB1188, SB1307, SB1332, SB1822

Keywords: immunization, written informed consent, civil liability, health care provider, vaccine compensation, administrative penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, gag clause, prescription drug pricing, out-of-pocket cost, cash price, pharmacist, pharmacy, prescription drug benefit

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid provides health care coverage, like Tara Cole-Corsette, for 4.3 million lower income and disabled
• There was extreme heat and many of our seniors living in senior living apartments.
• Department of Health. The U.S.
• But if we're protecting seniors, I think you need to look at seniors throughout the state of Texas.
• care and coverage when they're eligible.

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:

• The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will reconvene.
• We got a fiscal note for what it would cost to apply to your own coverage and the coverage of state employees
• through the Employees Retirement System (ERS) and the coverage for state teachers.
• I'm representing Texans for Affordable Health Care.
• 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:

• The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will reconvene, come to order, and members don't need
• Especially mental health services.
• What it would cost to apply to your own coverage and the coverage of state employees through ERS and
• the coverage for state teachers.
• It will save the employer money in providing health.

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:

• coverage parity that exists.
• plan regulated by the state of Texas could not offer mental health or substance abuse coverage limits
• People have less, you know, less physical health issues and. when they actually get the coverage they
• Their mental health, serious mental health... illnesses can be dealt with efficiently and quickly, which
• capital have less mental health coverage. virgin protections than we offer in the commercial market

Bills: HB201, HB272, HB618, HB 1094, HB 1142, HB201, HB272

Keywords: financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, prosecution, illegal possession, state law, HB 618, Texas insurance code, IVF, in vitro fertilization, fertility treatment, infertility coverage, government employee health benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• For new business to say, if you want to buy this coverage, we would like for you to also buy this coverage
• David's. ...health care here in Austin. I'm here to testify in strong support of HB2076.
• And I'm not saying that they're denying coverage, right?
• These programs only alert health plans which lab claims filed are within policy coverage or not.
• plans and thus lower costs for health plans.

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:

• doctor to join their practice, the new doctor must go through a lengthy credentialing process with health
• If the provider is ultimately denied credentials, the provider's practice is required to pay the health

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:

• Not all mental health, just seriously mentally ill.
• periods for our health insurance coverage.
• periods for our health insurance coverage.
• Abortions are health care.
• New Mexicans deserve consistent, reliable health care access and coverage, and for that reason, we support

Bills: SB20, SB21, SB166, SB177, SB181, SB189, SM6

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder