Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (04/22/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/22/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:48 AM to 11:33 AM	Carroll M.	*
		Lundberg	X
Place:	SCR 356	Mitchell	X
		Morse	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Newell	X
	Senator Boyd	Schultheis	X
		Tochtrop	X
This Report was prepared by		Boyd	X
	Elizabeth Burger
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1175 HB09-1073 HB09-1111 HB09-1020		Postponed Indefinitely Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations

09:48 AM -- House Bill 09-1175

Senator Williams introduced House Bill 09-1175. The committee previously heard witness testimony on the bill on Thursday, April 16, 2009. She distributed amendments L.029, L.034, and L.035 (Attachments A through C). She also distributed a handout concerning the practice rights and training of licensed Colorado health care professionals (Attachment D). Senator Williams explained the amendments.


BILL:	HB09-1175
TIME:	09:54:22 AM
MOVED:	Morse
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.029 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Excused
	Lundberg
	Mitchell
	Morse
	Newell
	Schultheis
	Tochtrop
	Boyd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1175
TIME:	09:56:58 AM
MOVED:	Morse
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.034 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Excused
	Lundberg
	Mitchell
	Morse
	Newell
	Schultheis
	Tochtrop
	Boyd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

09:57 AM

The committee discussed amendment L.035 (Attachment C), the term "naturopathic diagnosis," and the Colorado Medical Society's position on the bill.

09:58 AM

Diana Protopapa, Colorado Medical Society, came to the table to address amendment L.035 (Attachment C). She stated the society does not support the amendment, but supports the current definition of naturopathic medicine contained in the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1175
TIME:	10:01:05 AM
MOVED:	Morse
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.035 (Attachment C). The motion was withdrawn.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Excused
	Lundberg
	Mitchell
	Morse
	Newell
	Schultheis
	Tochtrop
	Boyd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Withdrawn

10:01 AM

Senator Morse withdrew his motion to adopt amendment L.035 (Attachment C). The committee further discussed the amendment, and Senator Mitchell moved the amendment.


BILL:	HB09-1175
TIME:	10:02:22 AM
MOVED:	Mitchell
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.035 (Attachment C). The motion passed on a 4-3 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Excused
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	No
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	No
	Boyd	No

Not Final YES: 4 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB09-1175
TIME:	10:08:41 AM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1175, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a 2-5 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Excused
	Lundberg	No
	Mitchell	No
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	No
	Boyd	No

Not Final YES: 2 NO: 5 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB09-1175
TIME:	10:11:51 AM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Reverse the previous roll call vote and postpone indefinitely House Bill 09-1175. The motion passed on a 5-2 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Excused
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	No
	Newell	No
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:12 AM -- House Bill 09-1073

Senator Boyd and Senator Kopp introduced House Bill 09-1073. The bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to study and report to the Health and Human Service Committees of the General Assembly on the ability and feasibility of using electronic prescriptions in Medicaid. Amendment L.002 was distributed to the committee (Attachment E). The amendment authorizes the department to accept gifts, grants, and donations to fund the study, and specifies that General Fund moneys may not be used to implement the bill. Senator Kopp commented on the use of electronic prescribing in the health care system. Senator Lundberg asked why a study of the use of an electronic prescription drug system was necessary. Senator Kopp and Senator Boyd responded to Senator Lundberg's questions. The committee discussed whether the bill should be amended to authorize that an electronic prescribing system be implemented, rather than authorizing a study of a system. Senator Boyd asked that the committee not amend the bill now, and stated that the sponsors would look at the issue prior to the bill's hearing in the Appropriations Committee. The committee further discussed the issue.


BILL:	HB09-1073
TIME:	10:37:09 AM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1073 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 6-1 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Excused
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:43 AM -- House Bill 09-1111

Senator Boyd and Senator Schwartz introduced House Bill 09-1111. The bill creates the Primary Care Office within the Department of Public Health and Environment to assess and address unmet health care needs across the state. The duties of the office include: assessing local communities for health care shortages and applying for federal shortage designations; administering and providing technical assistance to individuals who qualify for federal visa waiver programs; and administering the State Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program. Senator Schwartz commented that the bill may assist in recruiting Spanish-speaking doctors to serve in rural areas of the state, and responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding the intent of the bill. Amendment L.009 (Attachment F) and a letter of support for the bill (Attachment G) were distributed to the committee.

10:51 AM -- Dr. Ned Calonge, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. He testified that there is a current shortage of about 200 primary care physicians in the state, and stated that the department has assisted in the placement of physicians in rural areas. He discussed the need for primary care physicians in certain areas of the state, and stated that the bill represents a partial solution to the program. He described the waiver program to allow foreign physicians to practice in areas where there is a shortage of physicians. He discussed the reasons why the department is seeking to administer the State Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, which is currently administered by Colorado Invest. He described the funding sources for the bill, and the economic impact of the bill on rural areas in the state. Dr. Calonge responded to questions from Senator Mitchell regarding the economic impact of the bill and from Senator Schultheis regarding the funding sources for the bill, specifically the AIDS and HIV Prevention Fund. Dr. Calonge further emphasized that the bill will draw down federal moneys to support increased access to health care. Dr. Calonge responded to questions from Senator Morse regarding the primary care physician shortage.

11:15 AM -- Ross Brooks, Colorado Community Health Network, testified in support of the bill. He stated that loan repayment programs are an attractive tool to encourage physicians to practice in rural areas. He responded to previous comments from Senator Mitchell regarding county contributions to physician loan repayment programs. He further responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding the bill's interaction with the Commission on Family Medicine.

11:19 AM

Senator Boyd gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1111
TIME:	11:19:50 AM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.009 (Attachment E). The motion passed on a 6-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Not Final YES: 6 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB09-1111
TIME:	11:20:31 AM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1111, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Mitchell	No
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:22 AM -- House Bill 09-1020

Senator Spence introduced House Bill 09-1020. The bill codifies a project in the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to allow reenrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Basic Health Plan to be conducted either over the telephone or through the internet.

11:24 AM -- Sue Williamson, Deputy Director for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, described the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) realignment project. She stated that the bill provides an efficient and streamlined process to maintain the enrollment of children in public health programs.

11:27 AM -- Chris Underwood, Division Director for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, described the amendments made to the bill in the House of Representatives.

11:27 AM -- Tara Trujillo, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the bill represents an easier way to obtain the information necessary to reenroll children.

11:28 AM -- A.W. Schnellbacher, representing AARP, testified in support of the bill. He stated the bill will help streamline the reenrollment process for seniors who are the primary caregivers for children.

11:29 AM -- Stephanie Benintendi, representing the Children's Hospital, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout concerning the bill (Attachment H).

11:30 AM -- Stacey Moody, 2010 All Kids Covered, testified in support of the bill, and described the other states that are utilizing phone and internet eligibility renewals for public health programs.


BILL:	HB09-1020
TIME:	11:31:56 AM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1020 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 6-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:33 AM

The committee recessed.