Date: 04/25/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-207

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 13-207 to the Committee on ApproPASS


05:25 PM -- Senate Bill 13-207

Representative Levy presented Senate Bill 13-207 concerning the performance of auricular acudetox by trained mental health professionals. The bill allows certain mental health professionals, which are governed by six regulatory boards in the Department of Regulatory Agencies, to perform auricular acudetox under their current scope of practice if they have completed specific training. Auricular acudetox is defined as the subcutaneous insertion of sterile, disposable acupuncture needles on five specific locations of a person's ear. Mental health professionals who perform auricular acudetox may not use the title "acupuncturist" or otherwise claim to be qualified to perform acupuncture beyond the specific procedure allowed by the bill.

Representative Levy discussed how the bill would expand access to the treatment. She stated 17 other states have adopted similar legislation and the position of various professional organizations on the bill. Representative Levy responded to questions about whether the treatment is evidence based and the training for the treatment.


05:29 PM -- Dr. Libby Stuyt, National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the use of the treatment for trauma care and the utilization of the treatment during the Waldo Canyon Fire. Dr. Stuyt responded to questions about the treatment.


05:34 PM -- Ann Merrill, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed her desire to be able to provide the treatment as a behavioral health nurse.


05:36 PM -- Jonathan Phillips, Arapahoe House, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the utilization of the treatment for the clients of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Mr. Phillips responded to questions about the training he would need to be able to provide the treatment. He discussed the costs related to the treatment.


05:41 PM -- Leo Boyle, Acupuncture Association of Colorado, testified on the bill. He stated that his organization has worked with the bill sponsors to address its concerns. Mr. Boyle responded to questions about the training requirements for performing the treatment.


05:43 PM -- Dino Ioannides, Department of Regulatory Agencies, came to the table to respond to a question about whether private insurance and Medicaid cover the cost of the treatment.


05:44 PM

Representative Levy provided concluding remarks. Representative Joshi commented on the bill.


BILL:SB13-207
TIME: 05:45:22 PM
MOVED:McCann
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 13-207 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:Swalm
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Fields
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Humphrey
No
Joshi
No
Primavera
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Young
Yes
Schafer
Yes
McCann
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS