b'ADVOCACY IN ACTION: 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP-UPLEGISLATIVE WINSThis session showed the impact of physician advocacy: Defeating harmful proposals, advancing important reforms, and staying prepared for the fights ahead. SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED:HB 6871An Act Limiting Out-of-Network Healthcare CostsWould have capped out-of-network charges for inpatient and outpatient hospital services at 240% of theMedicare fee schedule.SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED:SB 1325An Act Permitting Naturopathic Physicians to Prescribe andAdminister B12Would have expanded the scope of practice for naturopathic physicians.SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED:HB 6873An Act Strengthening the Review of Healthcare Entity TransactionsWould have required review of certain physician consolidation and private equity investments*.*Ongoing discussion on the concepts contained in this bill will focus on protecting patients and oversight/ regulation of predatory private equity, while preserving physician autonomy and practice decisions.PASSED: HB 7287 (PA 25-168)An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2027 and Making Appropriations Therefor, and Provisions Related to Revenue and Other Items Implementing the State BudgetIncludes Medicaid rate increases of $15.4 million in FY 2026 and $45 million in FY 2027*. * Specific allocations to physicians are still to be determined.PASSED: SB10 (PA 25-94)An Act Concerning Health Insurance and Patient ProtectionStep Therapy Restrictions: Bars health insurers from requiring step therapy for prescription drugs used totreat multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis; makes permanent the existing prohibition on step therapyfor medications treating schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder by removing thesunset date. Reimbursement for General Anesthesia: Prohibits certain health insurance policies from imposingunilateral arbitrary limitations on reimbursement for general anesthesia.Mental Health Parity Compliance: Requires health carriers to annually certify that their practices complywith mental health and substance use disorder parity laws; authorizes the insurance commissioner toimpose civil penalties and late fees on carriers who fail to comply with mental health parity requirements.PASSED: SB 1450 (PA 25-162)An Act Concerning Recruitment and Retention of the Healthcare WorkforceRequires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to create, within available appropriations, a loan reimburse- ment program for health care providers, with some of the awards targeted to primary care providers and thoseemployed in rural communities or at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)* *Primary care providers include physicians, but it is to be determined what additional medical providers are included in this language.PASSED: HB 6978 (PA 25-96)An Act Concerning the Department of Public Healths RecommendationsRegarding Various Revisions to the Public Health StatutesCreates a Retired Physician License; Starting January 1, 2026, retired physicians can renew their licenses ata reduced fee: 10% of the standard fee or $95, whichever is greater.Physicians with licenses voided due to nonrenewal can apply for reinstatement at the same reduced fee,subject to similar regulations.Thank you to all of our physician advocates!CSMS physicians were involved in every aspect of advocating for our physicians and their patients, including meetingwith legislators and stakeholders, writing, reviewing, and/or delivering testimony, penning op-eds, and participating in media interviews. Your contributions to CSMS advocacy efforts cannot be overstated. Thank you!'