Health Policy Apr : medical debt, mental health licenses, pediatric insurance mandate, facility license

Yet another mental health limited license work-around proposes X revisions:

• add time to licensing terms, and renewals
• empower LARA with discretion to "toll" certain licenses if hardship is proven "to the satisfaction of the department."

At what point do we just admit that limited licensing is a failed experiment?

It extends shortages; it keeps control with the "in" crowd and state government instead of the patient and clinician at the point of care; and in the end, one either qualifies for full licensing (even to a lower standard), or one does not.

Equally disturbing are bills that set up pediatric care for higher costs and shortages through insurance mandates (4% added to each premium per mandate) and facility licensing (restricting market supply). 

Medical debt facts posted in previous senate bill hearings. 

Wednesday, April 15, 2026     9:00 AM

AGENDA

HB 5074 (Rep. Thompson)
Health occupations: mental health care professionals; number of renewals of temporary or limited licenses; modify.

HB 5251 (Rep. VanderWall)
Human services: medical services; coverage for prescribed pediatric extended care; require.

HB 5252 (Rep. Rogers)
Health facilities: licensing; licensing of prescribed pediatric extended care facilities; provide for.

HB 5254 (Rep. Rigas)
Consumer credit: interest rates; maximum interest rate allowed for medical debt; modify.

HB 5255 (Rep. Pohutsky)
Civil procedure: foreclosure; foreclosure or garnishment of wages for medical debt; prohibit.

SB 449 (Sen. Anthony)
Health facilities: hospitals; hospital financial assistance act; enact.

SB 450 (Sen. Lindsey)
Health facilities: hospitals; certain hospital financial assistance policies; make subject to the hospital financial assistance act.

SB 451 (Sen. Anthony)
Consumer credit: credit reports and reporting agencies; collection and reporting of medical debt information; regulate.

OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE