Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:02/15/2010
ATTENDANCE
Time:03:32 PM to 04:20 PM
Acree
Apuan
Place:SupCt
Gerou
Kefalas
This Meeting was called to order by
Kerr J.
Representative Riesberg
Primavera
Roberts
This Report was prepared by
Swalm
Kelly Stapleton
Tyler
Gagliardi
Riesberg
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Briefing by the JBC-


03:32 PM -- Briefing by the Joint Budget Committee Concerning Supplemental bills for Fiscal Year 2009-10

Representative Ferrandino spoke to the supplemental bills regarding Fiscal Year 2009-10. He described the supplemental bill concerning the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (DHCPF). He stated that the department has had savings resulting from the furlough days. He explained that the bill increases funds to Medicaid approximately $31.8 million for the increase in the Medicaid caseload. He stated that the increase is a result of a decrease in provider reimbursement rates. Representative Swalm asked why the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) did not reduce salaries and instead used furlough days to shore up the budget. Representative Ferrandino responded that each department was required to take a 1.8 percent reduction to all personnel. He stated that next year a 2.5 percent reduction in personnel services will be implemented through the PERA bill.

03:38 PM

Representative Ferrandino stated that there has already been a 4.5 percent reduction to provider rates and that next year, another 1 percent will be cut, for a total of 5.5 percent reduction to provider rates. He described some of the other cuts that the department has received including a $4.5 million reduction to mental health services. He spoke to the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) which will receive a $15 million reduction. He stated some of those moneys will be recovered through the hospital provider fee.

03:44 PM

Representative Ferrandino commented on the closures of Regional Center in Grand Junction and some of the beds in the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Ft. Logan. He described the supplemental bill concerning the Department of Human Services. He stated that the department has received a $14.5 million reduction in funding and a 72 FTE reduction.






03:58 PM

Representative Ferrandino spoke to the supplemental bill concerning the Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE). He described some of the cuts to the department. Representative Ferrandino stated that the increase to the public health expenditures are as a result of administering the medical marijuana registry. He explained that moneys collected under Amendment 35 are being diverted to the General Fund tocover medical services premiums. He stated that the Tony Grampsas program will receive a $1 million reduction in funding.

04:02 PM

Representative Ferrandino also spoke to other bills in the supplemental package that concern the Health and Human Services committee.
He described the following bills:
HB 10-1319 which transfer $6.5 million from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) to the General Fund. He stated that the LEAP program will be covered by moneys from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
HB 10-1320 which concerns transferring Amendment 35 dollars to DHCPF for medical services premiums.
HB 10-1321 which concerns a reduction in funding for health clinics. There was some discussion among the committee regarding how the reduction in reimbursement rates may affect the number of Medicaid providers.
HB 10-1332 which eliminates the telemedicine program.
HB 10-1323 which concerns the use of tobacco tax money.
HB 10-1324 which concerns per diem rates for nursing home.

04:19 PM

The committee adjourned.