Bill Summary for Bill Number HB09-1353

Date: 04/30/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1353

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 09-1353 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

03:00 PM -- House Bill 09-1353

Senator Foster introduced House Bill 09-1353. The bill authorizes the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to provide medical benefits under Medicaid and the Children's Basic Health Plan to pregnant woman and children who are legal immigrants without a waiting period, so long as other eligibility criteria are met. Under current law, legal immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Basic Health Plan for five years after the date of entry into the United States. Senator Foster noted that the bill's effective date is July 1, 2010, so the bill does not have a fiscal impact in the current fiscal year. She explained that the bill is the result of the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program at the federal level. Senator Foster responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding the purpose of the five-year waiting period. The committee further discussed the bill and immigration policy.

03:18 PM -- Eva Henry, representing the Colorado Progressive Coalition, testified in support of the bill. She stated that children should not have to wait five years for health care and described the problems associated with lack of access to health care.

03:21 PM -- Tara Trujillo, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign and Cover All Kids 2010 Initiative, testified in support of the bill. She noted that the pregnant women and children who are gaining eligibility as a result of the bill are present in the country legally.

03:23 PM -- Scott Matthews, representing the March of Dimes, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout regarding the bill (Attachment F). He discussed the benefits of providing prenatal care to pregnant women.

03:24 PM -- Kelly Shanahan, representing Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill.

03:26 PM -- Stephen Kopanos, representing Mental Health America of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He stated that mental health is a part of general health care, and that early intervention can result in cost savings.

03:26 PM -- John Bartholomew, representing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, addressed the bill's fiscal note. He explained that in order to implement the bill, the department would need to submit a budget request for funding for the next fiscal year. He responded to questions from Senator Carroll regarding whether the populations affected by the bill are currently receiving services. Mr. Bartholomew further responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding how individuals qualify for public health care programs and whether there is fraud in the enrollment process.

03:34 PM

Senator Foster gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1353
TIME:	03:36:03 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1353 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Mitchell	Absent
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Absent
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

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

03:37 PM

The committee recessed.