House Insurance Committee reports bill to require in‑network coverage for school‑based care

The House Insurance Committee voted 14 to 12 to report House Bill 1445, which would prohibit health insurers from excluding in‑network coverage for certain medically necessary health care services provided in school settings, members said at a committee meeting (date not specified).

The bill’s scope, as read to the committee, covers telemedicine services, in‑person mental health care, in‑person behavioral health care and in‑person speech therapy when those services are medically necessary and provided in a school setting. “House Bill 14 45 prohibits a health insurance policy from excluding in network coverage for certain medically necessary health care services on the basis that the services are provided in a school setting. Specific services captured by the bill include telemedicine services, in person mental health care, in person behavioral health care, and in person speech therapy. Health insurers are not required to cover services that must be provided by a school entity under state or federal law,” Joan, a staff member, told the committee.

A Republican member told the committee that, despite understanding the bill’s intent, Republicans would oppose it because of continuing concerns raised by stakeholders. “I do understand, the intent, but because of the concerns that continue to be raised by many stakeholders, Republicans will be a no on the bill,” the Republican member said.

Committee officers recorded no negative Democratic votes by designation; the chair announced that all Democrats voted in the affirmative and that the bill was “reported as committed by a vote of 14 to 12.” The transcript does not record a formal motion mover or seconder, any amendments, or any formal direction to staff beyond the reporting of the bill.

The committee convened with a quorum present and discussed the single bill briefly. The bill text presented to the committee includes an explicit exclusion: insurers are not required to cover services that a school is already required to provide under state or federal law. The transcript does not specify which school‑provided services, if any, would fall under that exception, nor does it list next steps beyond the committee reporting the bill.

The meeting record does not list a date for further action or a recorded committee referral beyond the notation that the bill was reported as committed.