Committee advances seven health bills; key votes recorded

The House Health Care & Wellness Committee on the day recorded votes to move seven bills out of committee, from an overhaul of an all‑payers claims database to changes in how Medicaid behavioral‑health contracts are planned.

The measures reported out included House Bill 13 82 (all‑payers claims database modernization), House Bill 14 22 (drug take‑back program fee and operations), House Bill 14 27 (peer specialist billing expansion), House Bill 14 32 (mental‑health parity and utilization review requirements), House Bill 15 83 (Medicaid waiver to cover traditional health practices), House Bill 17 84 (certified medical assistant order activation), and House Bill 18 13 (behavioral‑health procurement transition planning).

Why it matters: The items touch core health‑system functions — price transparency, behavioral‑health delivery, workforce scope, and access to traditional and culturally specific care — and several include technical changes that will affect procurement, contracts and insurer requirements if enacted.

Key outcomes and notable debate

- House Bill 13 82 — All‑payers claims database modernization: Reported out with a due‑pass recommendation, 12 ayes, 7 nays. The bill removes a federal‑policy conflict by aligning state rules with federal guidance, eliminates a prior restriction on…