Health & Human Services Committee roundup: key bills reported, many unanimously

The Health and Human Services Committee advanced a large set of bills on a range of public-health, regulatory and workforce issues during its full committee meeting. Most measures moved forward with unanimous or near-unanimous support.

Key outcomes (selected bills with committee action and vote tally):

- Senate Bill 8 82 — Licensure for certified anesthesiologist assistants: reported and referred to Appropriations, 17–1. - Senate Bill 10 94 — Expand definition of psychiatric emergency department: passed, 18–0. - Senate Bill 12 79 — Conforming technical changes to a prior measure: reported, 18–0. - Senate Bill 14 61 — Rapid genome sequencing for critically ill children (expands coverage to children 3 years and younger): reported, 18–0. The sponsor and other members said Medicaid already pays for the test and committee discussion indicated no fiscal impact to extending the age to 3 years. - Senate Bill 7 52 — Study group on prescriptive authority for clinical psychologists (board convening): reported, 18–0. - Senate Bill 9 81 — Report on certified community health workers due Nov. 1: reported, 15–4. - Senate Bill 12 53 — Add DPT and doctor of physical therapy to protected…