Bill Summary for Bill Number HB10-1021

Date: 02/03/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1021

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Amend Amendment L.003, line 5, strike "17" and ins Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment D), as amended ( Moved to refer House Bill 10-1021, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection PASS PASS

01:31 PM -- House Bill 10-1021

Representative Frangas and Representative McCann, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 10-1021 concerning required coverages for reproductive services for health insurance policies. This bill, recommended by the Health Care Task Force, requires that individual sickness and accident insurance policies provide the same coverage for maternity care as is currently mandated for all group sickness and accident policies regulated by the state. It also requires all individual and group policies to provide coverage for pregnancy management including, but not limited to, contraceptive counseling, drugs, and devices. The bill does not mandate coverage for abortion procedures or services.

01:36 PM

Representative Frangas offered some statistics on the number of women who have maternity care and the various costs involved to those who do not. He also distributed Amendment L.003 (Attachment D). Representative McCann talked about the importance of maternity care and the types of people that would benefit from coverage.

01:42 PM

Representative Soper asked whether the bill requires maternity coverage on all policies. Representative Frangas said the bill would require insurance companies to offer a policy that includes maternity care. Representative Middleton talked about unplanned pregnancies and at what point a woman can obtain coverage under the bill. Representative McCann explained that under the bill, unplanned pregnancies could not be included. Representative Middleton suggested a possible opt out type of coverage.

01:47 PM -- Toni Panette, representing the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) Pro-Choice, testified in support of the bill. She talked about the importance of birth control and its effect on unintended pregnancies. Ms. Panette also talked about the impacts prenatal care has on pregnancies. She also talked about the costs involved when the baby is premature. Ms. Panette talked about the history of maternity coverage. She listed some statistics on the number of women who have maternity coverage and individual health insurance. Ms. Panette listed the insurers in the state that offer maternity coverage and the stipulations involved. Ms. Panette explained that four of ten pregnancies are covered under Medicaid in Colorado. Representative Stephens asked whether women could wait to buy maternity coverage until the last minute under the bill. Ms. Panette responded.

01:57 PM -- Rachel Klein, representing the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) Pro-Choice, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Klein talked about her experience obtaining coverage in the individual market that includes contraceptives. She also talked about the costs involved in pregnancy riders.

01:59 PM -- Scott Matthews, representing the March of Dimes, testified in support of the bill. He talked about the number of premature births in Colorado and the costs involved, not including ongoing costs. Mr. Matthews talked about the number of unplanned pregnancies. Representative Middleton asked Mr. Matthews to talk about the number of insured and uninsured he deals with at the March of Dimes. Mr. Matthews said he cannot answer that question.

02:04 PM -- Eliza Buyers, representing the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout of her talking points (Attachment E). She talked about the importance of maternity coverage and prenatal care. Ms. Buyers also stated that maternity coverage saves money by improving maternal and child health outcomes.

02:12 PM -- Andrew Ross, M.D., representing the Colorado American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, testified in support of the bill. He talked about policies that do not cover certain contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices, but do cover permanent contraceptive, such as women getting their tubes tied. He also distributed a handout (Attachment F). Dr. Ross also talked about certain conditions that are treated by contraceptives.

02:19 PM -- Rochelle Dworet Cohen, representing Health Care for All Colorado (HCAC) and herself as a physician, testified in support of the bill. She talked about the importance of affordable health insurance.

02:22 PM -- Dr. Tracy Hofeditz, M.D., representing the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill.

02:23 PM -- Sharlene Yabe, representing the Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters, was originally going to testify against the bill, but said the amendments have addressed most of her concerns. However, she said she would like to see a time frame included in the bill for when the coverage can be purchased so women cannot just wait until the last minute to buy pregnancy coverage. She also responded to earlier testimony regarding the types of coverage that are offered in Colorado. Ms. Yabe talked about contraceptive coverage and the reasons some insurers do not offer it. Ms. Yabe also talked about other types of contraceptives that are offered over the counter and as generics.

02:30 PM

Representative Gagliardi asked Ms. Yabe to explain who she was representing. Representative Liston asked about the number of insurance companies that offer individual coverage in Colorado. He also asked what would happen to insurance coverage and the number of companies in Colorado with the additional mandates. Ms. Yabe talked about the number of group insurers that have dropped out of the group market and the increase in costs in the individual market.

02:35 PM -- Marc Reece, representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified against the bill as introduced. He said now with the amendment they will have to re-evaluate their position. Representative McCann asked Mr. Reece if he knew the number of insurers that offer these types of plans. Mr. Reece did not comment.


BILL:	HB10-1021
TIME:	02:37:38 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment D), as amended (see next vote sheet). The motion passed 10-1.
SECONDED:	Balmer
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Bradford	Yes
	Casso	No
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stephens	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Rice	Yes

Not Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB10-1021
TIME:	02:40:03 PM
MOVED:	Balmer
MOTION:	Amend Amendment L.003, line 5, strike "17" and insert "21". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Gagliardi
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Bradford
	Casso
	Kerr A.
	Liston
	Middleton
	Priola
	Soper
	Stephens
	Gagliardi
	Rice

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

02:50 PM

Representative McCann commented on the bill.


BILL:	HB10-1021
TIME:	02:51:15 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 10-1021, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 11-0.
SECONDED:	Balmer
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Bradford	Yes
	Casso	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stephens	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Rice	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS