Faye Thompson — Said dipping into reserves is like kicking the can down the road and that reserves are meant for certain conditions.
Megan Egbert — Moved to approve the minutes from February 2, 2026.
Megan Egbert — Asked for clarification on the number of hospitals in strong financial position and the threshold used.
Josh Wheeler — Identified as the presenter of RS 33180.
Josh Wheeler — Introduced RS 33180 and described its purpose.
Josh Wheeler — Asked for a motion to introduce the bill.
Josh Wheeler — Responded to the question and said he appreciated it.
Josh Wheeler — Explained that the bill is intended to reduce burden on providers, especially small and rural providers.
Josh Wheeler — Said the bill was not intended to limit submissions to physicians and that the language may need review.
Josh Wheeler — Acknowledged the concern and indicated the language may be changed.
Josh Wheeler — Said he agreed with some governor budget recommendations but not others, and supported trimming optional Medicaid services.
Josh Wheeler — Identified optional Medicaid services he believes could be trimmed and recommended using state reserves to reduce the need for cuts.
Josh Wheeler — Argued for using reserves instead of cutting programs and referenced the RESHAB program as another area for review.
Josh Wheeler — Said he has the numbers and that the proposed changes would save a few million dollars.
Josh Wheeler — Said optional programs should not be prioritized and that cuts should be more strategic and less disproportionate.
Josh Wheeler — Said he wants to guide JFAC toward smaller, more targeted cuts and reduce the provider rate cut from 4% if possible.
Josh Wheeler — Argued that Medicaid costs cannot be reduced much without changing eligibility, and suggested trimming benefits instead.
Josh Wheeler — Referenced approvingly for the point that cuts should not be made without understanding impacts.
Josh Wheeler — Representative Wheeler is mentioned alongside Representative Furman and others as having suggested efficiencies and improvements.
Ben Fuhriman — Mentioned in a joking exchange about who would present the bill.
Ben Fuhriman — Representative Fuhriman thanked the chair and asked whether it would be appropriate to send additional details by email before the end of the day, indicating a follow-up on the discussion and possible partial cuts in different areas.
Jordan Redman — Recognized the motion and moved to introduce RS 33180.
Jordan Redman — Was recognized to begin discussing budget ideas.
Jordan Redman — Reported discussions with Representative Healy and the Director of Medicaid about possible hospital rate reductions.
Jordan Redman — Explained that critical access hospitals would be exempt and that Rural Health Transformation funding might offset costs.
Jordan Redman — Was asked to explain the threshold for hospitals in strong financial position.
Jordan Redman — Explained that the department was asked to identify hospitals in strong financial positions and provide data points on their payer mix and profitability.
Jordan Redman — Asked Representative Wheeler for the dollar amount associated with the proposed cuts.
Jordan Redman — Representative Redman thanked the chair and continued a discussion about Medicaid and provider reimbursement, arguing that cuts can harm patients and drive providers out. He emphasized that Medicaid was intended to serve vulnerable groups such as children, pediatrics, and people with disabilities, and said reimbursement reductions are too severe. He also supported moving forward with managed care efficiently and using triggers or levers to preserve services.
Robert Beiswenger — Raised a question about whether posting information online contradicts reducing administrative burden.
Robert Beiswenger — Representative Beiswenger discussed possible changes to Medicaid expansion eligibility and oversight under a new federal bill, including adding work-history or work requirements and increasing auditing to ensure funds are properly tracked.
Dori Healey — Was recognized to ask a question.
Dori Healey — Asked whether only physicians may submit prior authorizations in peer-to-peer discussions.
Dori Healey — Raised the question about physician-only submissions.
Dori Healey — Commented that the language should be looked at because prior authorizations are often handled through peer-to-peer review.
Dori Healey — Explained that limiting review to physicians could cause denials for patients if providers do not have a physician available.
Dori Healey — Co-participated in meetings with the Director of Medicaid on hospital budget options.
Dori Healey — Agreed with the proposed approach to offset costs using Rural Health Transformation funding.
Dori Healey — Representative Healy responded to the budget and Medicaid therapy discussion by clarifying that therapies were not cut but would require prior authorization after a set number of visits, noting that 20 visits is a common threshold in private insurance and arguing that Medicaid should follow a similar practice. He also said he has ideas for making the administrative process more efficient and is willing to show others how it can be done.
Melissa Wintrow — Was addressed as part of the discussion about hospital financial positions.
David Leavitt — Representative Leavitt raised concerns about the impact of program cuts on people with disabilities and referenced House Bill 138 as a prior effort related to federal spending. He then continued the discussion by arguing that Medicaid expansion costs have grown significantly and said his recommendation would be to follow the DOGE Task Force’s advice for a full repeal of Medicaid expansion.
David Leavitt — Likely intended reference is Representative Furman? Transcript says Representative Furman alluded to other areas; kept as spoken and marked uncertain.
David Leavitt — Referenced for suggesting revisiting House Bill 138 from last year.
David Leavitt — Referenced as having said the committee needs a better process for handling prior authorization and administration.
Ilana Rubel — Representative Rubel argued against additional cuts to Health and Welfare and Medicaid-related services, saying the department has already endured many rounds of cutbacks and has little left to reduce. She referenced testimony and video from the Medicaid community to stress that vulnerable families would be harmed, especially by eliminating so-called optional services, and said she would prefer using reserves or restoring revenue rather than cutting mental health and behavioral health services.
John Woude — Addressed as Mr. Chairman.
John Woude — Addressed as Mr. Chairman in the discussion of getting numbers ready for the Health and Welfare budget presentation.
John Woude — Addressed as Mr. Chairman while discussing provider rates and proportional cuts.