Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee advances nine health bills in executive session

The Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee met in executive session on March 27 and, by voice vote, recommended passage of nine House bills addressing a range of health policy issues, sending several to Ways and Means or Rules for further action.

Why it matters: The bills cover state-level changes to behavioral health crisis response, Medicaid service procurement, data-sharing for price transparency, scope and reimbursement issues for clinicians, and program rules that would affect providers and patients statewide.

The committee, chaired by Senator Cleveland, opened the session to consider only specified substitute and engrossed House bills. Committee counsel Greg Adonasio and staff briefed members on each bill and on technical or striking amendments before the votes.

Votes at a glance

- Substitute House Bill 1186 (sponsored by Rep. Parsley): Expands situations in which medications may be dispensed or delivered from hospitals and health care entities. The committee adopted amendment S2492.1, which prohibits separate billing outside of bundled payments for drugs dispensed under the act, and then recommended the bill pass. Outcome: passed (voice vote; passed subject to signatures).

- Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1291 (cost sharing for maternity services, sponsored by Rep. Rule): Committee adopted a striking amendment clarifying that the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) has rulemaking authority only for section 1 of the act, then recommended the bill pass. Outcome: passed (voice vote).

- Engrossed House…