Legislative Days 18-21 (of 40)
Tort Reform passes Senate
Bill allowing PAs to perform artificial insemination passed committee
Tort Reform passes Senate
This week, legislators worked in session Tuesday through Friday, legislative days 18-21. Next week, legislators will be in session Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Tuesday is a designated ‘committee day.’ Given we are now over half way through the session, and crossover day is right around the corner (March 6th), we expect the intensity and pace to dramatically increase. For the rest of the session, one day per week will be a designated committee day, providing an opportunity for legislators/staffers/ and advocates to focus on getting legislation out of committees.
Committee/Floor Action
PA Specific
HB329 allowing PAs and APRNs to perform artificial insemination so long as the physician is on site, passed committee.
Tort Reform
On Friday, the Governor’s omnibus tort reform bill, SB 68, carried by Senator John F. Kennedy, passed the Senate with a vote of 33-21. The bill passed with one amendment related to the phantom damages portion of the bill. This bill will be read and referred to a House committee on Monday morning.
New Bills
Medicaid
SB186 (Esteves) allows for medicaid to pay for assisted living and personal care home expenses.
Insurance
SB192 (Esteves) directs the DOI to develop a health insurance affordability that would 1. creates state premium subsidies; 2. a program of cost sharing reductions for certain individuals; and 3. a state funded plan for those under 250% FPL.
SB205 (Watson) requires insurers to provide healthcare coverage for PANDAS and PANS in accordance with nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines.
Hospital
HB471 requires licensed general hospitals to, within 24 hours after birth, make available a water safety education video to parents.
Health Generally
HB506 requires Medicaid to cover prescriptions and counseling for tobacco cessation for without any cost sharing including deductibles.
HB522 (Gullett) prohibits providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due to their vaccine status.
HR304 (Au) creates a study committee on the costs and effects of smoking.
SB220 (Brass) updates the medical cannabis statutes including expanding the individuals who would qualify for a medical cannabis card.
Pharmacy
SB 195 (Hufstetler) authorizes pharmacists to dispense and administer pre-exposure HIV related prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis without a prescription from a licensed practitioner.
General
SB224 (Harrell) provides for the establishment of a voluntary do not sell list for firearms. The bill makes it a felony for a retailer to sell firearms to someone on the list. Further, there are provisions for healthcare providers and probate judges to submit the form for the individual wishing to be placed on the list.