Date: 01/26/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1047

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachmen
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1047 to the Committee		Pass Without Objection
PASS



05:34 PM -- House Bill 09-1047

Representative Todd presented House Bill 09-1047 which would establish a pilot program allowing Medicaid clients with spinal cord injuries who are eligible for Home- and Community-based Services (HCBS) to receive complementary or alternative therapies. Representative Todd stated that the bill was passed last year, but was vetoed by the Governor because the cost of the waiver could not be funded. She stated that the bill is similar to last year's bill, but that the HCBS waiver could be covered by private funding or donations. Representative Todd stated that ideally funds would come from the state, but stated that she is working on getting a foundation to contribute funds. Committee members asked several questions to the sponsor.

05:52 PM -- Arthur Guerrero, Vietnam veteran, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Guerrero stated that he's been supporting alternative therapies for over forty years. He spoke to the lack of blood circulation that causes serious problems for individuals living in spinal cord injuries. He stated that he goes to massage therapy which helps considerably with blood circulation. He stated it is a lot less expensive to treat spinal cord injuries through alternative therapies versus being treated at the emergency room.

06:01 PM -- Chanda Hinton, self, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hinton stated she was shot in the neck when she was nine years old. She stated that she sat in a wheel chair without any use of alternative therapies until she was 21. She stated that she was admitted into the hospital weighting 59 pounds. At that time, she stated she was introduced to alternative therapies and it saved her life. She stated that the Chain the Pain Foundation has stated they would partner with the state in order to help get the pilot program off the ground. She also stated that a pilot program in Florida has been operating for some time and they are planning on implementing it as a waiver based program.

06:11 PM -- Leo Boyle, Colorado Acupuncture Association, testified in support of the bill.


06:16 PM

Representative Todd provided a wrap-up to the bill. She pointed to the Veterans Administration, who has implemented alternative therapies into its program, as proof that alternative therapies are viable and efficient.
BILL:HB09-1047
TIME: 06:18:53 PM
MOVED:Kefalas
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
09HouseHHS0126AttachF.pdf
SECONDED:Primavera
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kefalas
Kerr J.
McGihon
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB09-1047
TIME: 06:22:26 PM
MOVED:Kefalas
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1047 to the Committee on Appropriations. Representative Todd clarified that any state match would come from gifts, grants, and donations. She further noted that if no gifts, grants, or donations are received that the pilot program would not go forward. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:McGihon
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Excused
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS