Panel adopts technical amendment and lays over health-insurance omnibus language including pharmacy, EOB and network updates

Representative Behrman presented an omnibus health-insurance bill (House File 2435) incorporating multiple administration proposals and technical fixes; the committee adopted an author amendment and laid the package over.

Key elements described by the author and administration staff included: allowing insurers to provide electronic explanations of benefits (EOBs) at member preference; aligning network adequacy standards with federal exchange rules by Jan. 1, 2026; prescription-price-transparency and technical updates; and clarifying hospital closure and relocation notice requirements. The amendment also delayed the pharmacy carve-out effective date to July 1, 2026, after staff advised an earlier start date was not operationally feasible.

DHS budget director Elyse Bailey summarized major fiscal adjustments in the amendment, including a corrected approach to an HMO surcharge (revenues invested back into managed-care rates), telehealth sunsets for audio-only visits and timing changes that altered the initial projected savings for the pharmacy carve-out. The Department of Health’s government-relations director described unprecedented recent federal funding reductions to MDH (more than $220 million), layoffs and the resulting strain on core public-health functions — testimony several members highlighted as a budgetary and policy concern.

Outcome: The committee adopted the A1 author amendment and laid House File 2435 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus and for further budget-work conversations.