The full committee handled a heavy docket of health, behavioral health and social-services measures, advancing multiple bills in consent blocks and referring several to the Appropriations Committee. Most measures passed unanimously or by large margins; one bill, HB 2282, failed on a 9-9 tie.

Key votes and committee actions

- Behavioral health block: HB 1877, HB 1931 and HB 1937 (barrier screening for peer recovery specialists; regional older-adults facility teams; patient privacy and data-security provisions) were adopted as a block and passed the committee by a vote of 17-0.

- HB 1760 (substitute reported by Delegate Deborah/Delvia Gardner): committee voted 14-3 to report and refer the substitute to Appropriations.

- HB 2093 (adoptees seeking original birth certificates): reported by substitute, passed 18-0.

- Health professions and workforce measures: a multi-bill block (including HB 1646, HB 1861, HB 1898, HB 1904, HB 2307, HB 2040, HB 2489 and related amendments) moved in blocks across the hearing and was reported out by committee votes of 17-0 or 18-0 depending on the block and substitutions; where substitutes were required they were adopted before the roll calls.

- HB 2468 (advanced medication aides cleanup, with a line amendment adding the Board of Pharmacy): the committee accepted Delegate Henson's line amendment and reported the bill as amended on a vote of 18-0.

- HB 1897 (substitute adding DMAS authority to seek federal approvals and allow pre-regulatory implementation for certain reimbursement parity for baccalaureate social workers): reported with substitute on a vote of 18-0.

- A larger health block of Medicaid/state-plan and waiver changes (HB 1762, HB 1900, HB 1927, HB 1975, HB 2102, HB 2160 and HB 2539 on dental coverage for pregnant women) was reported and referred to Appropriations on a unanimous voice or roll call (committee recorded as 18-0 for the grouped referral).

- Telehealth and foster-care transition measures (HB 1596 and HB 1964) were moved as substitutes and referred to Appropriations on a unanimous vote (18-0).

- HB 1929 (mobile app for prenatal/postpartum Medicaid-eligible users) was reported as substituted and referred to Appropriations; the substitute caps expenditure at $580,000 annually (estimated at $10 per member per month) and specifies partnering with an existing application; committee vote 18-0.

- HB 2534 and HB 2754 (crisis stabilization services and pre-release/reentry access to records for correctional populations) were reported as substituted and passed the committee 18-0.

- HB 2282 (Children's Services Act amendments covering nonresidential and residential services funding) failed after the committee split 9-9 following subcommittee debate and a 5-3 subcommittee recommendation for reporting with amendments.

- HB 2344 (federal extension option for early intervention services) was reported and referred to Appropriations on a 17-1 vote.

- HB 2394 (presumptive Medicaid eligibility including long-term services and supports under certain criteria): reported and referred on a vote recorded as 18-0.

- HB 2597 (provisional license denial appeal provisions for assisted-living and similar facilities) was reported with substitute on a vote of 18-0.

- HB 2610 (state pharmacy benefits manager selection/contract): substitute reported and referred to Appropriations on a vote of 17-1.

- HB 2757 (feasibility direction to DMAS on sickle-cell disease Medicaid options/health-home programs): reported on a vote of 18-0.

Many items were taken in consent blocks with subcommittee reports; several substitutes were adopted on the floor before roll calls. Where recorded, the clerk announced roll-call tallies as noted above and the committee proceeded to the next docket item.

What failed

HB 2282, a sweeping bill that would have adjusted the Children's Services Act funding framework for troubled youth and families and included several subcommittee amendments, failed in full committee on a tie vote of 9-9.

Next steps

Bills referred to Appropriations will receive fiscal review; those placed on the uncontested calendar may be scheduled for floor consideration. Several measures that include directives to the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) will require federal approvals or regulatory changes, which committee members and counsel noted during debate.