House Committee Increases Funding for 'Live Healthy' Initiative

On Tuesday, the House Health Care Appropriations Committee unanimously passed HB 1549, sponsored by Majority Leader Michael Grant. The "Live Healthy" initiative is a priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and seeks to recruit and retain a highly skilled health care workforce, increase access to preventive services and primary care, and incentivize more providers to serve the poor. While the House and Senate versions of Live Healthy are similar, they are not identical due, in part, to the fact that the Senate provides higher funding to implement these initiatives. During debate on the bill, the Committee adopted an amendment to increase the House’s funding and bring it into alignment with the Senate. The Committee, however, did not discuss other differences between the House and Senate bills. 
The Senate version, SB 7016, unanimously passed the full Senate on January 18. Both chambers must ultimately negotiate and resolve the remaining differences between the two bills prior to the end of the legislative session on March 8.