House Committee on Health, Insurance & Environment (03/19/2013)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE & ENVIRONMENT

Date:	03/19/2013	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:03 AM to 12:01 PM	Conti	*
		Fields	*
Place:	HCR 0107	Ginal	X
		Humphrey	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Joshi	X
	Representative Schafer	Primavera	X
		Stephens	*
This Report was prepared by		Swalm	X
	Amanda King	Young	X
		Schafer	X
		McCann	*
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB13-014		Referred to Appropriations

11:04 AM -- Senate Bill 13-014

Representative Pettersen presented Senate Bill 13-014 concerning the use of opiate antagonists to treat persons who suffer opiate-related drug overdose events. The bill provides immunity from criminal and civil liability for a person other than a health care provider or a health care facility who acts in good faith to administer an opiate antagonist to another person who is believed to be suffering an opiate-related overdose. The bill also provides immunity from criminal and civil liability, and charges of unprofessional conduct, for licensed prescribers and dispensers of opiate antagonists, by licensing authorities for certain health professionals based on good faith administration of an opiate antagonist. An opiate antagonist blocks the effects of prescription and illicit opioids.

11:07 AM -- Lisa Raville, Harm Reduction Action Center, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Raville responded to questions about how Naloxone, an opiate antagonist, will be accessed. She responded to questions about whether opiate antagonists can be prescribed at this point, who can be prescribed opiate antagonists, and whether the costs of opiate antagonists would be covered by insurance. Representative Pettersen discussed how the bill would allow opiate antagonists to be prescribed. Mr. Raville responded to questions about how the opiate antagonists are administered.

11:14 AM -- Dr. Jane Kennedy, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed opiate-related overdoses and Naloxone. She stated that current laws do not address third-party administration of opiate antagonists to treat people who suffer opiate-related drug overdose events. She referenced a Centers for Disease Control report that stated that over 10,000 overdose reversals had occurred since 2010. Dr. Kennedy responded to questions about the side effects of administering opiate antagonists, how opiate antagonists would be accessed, and whether opiate antagonists are harmful if a person is not experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose. She continued to respond to questions about whether there are circumstances in which opiate antagonists should not be administered. Representative Pettersen discussed the effects opiate antagonists would have on someone who is not using opiates.

11:28 AM -- Dr. Bob Brockmann, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the training that would be provided to laypeople who are prescribed opiate antagonists to treat persons who suffer opiate-related drug overdose events. Dr. Brockmann discussed the locations where people would be able to access Naloxone kits, opiate addiction, and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Dr. Brockmann responded to questions about opiate addiction in Colorado and the opiate antagonist dosage amount.

11:35 AM -- Val Kalnins, Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in support of the bill. He discussed an amendment that was adopted by the Senate and the cost of opiate antagonists. Mr. Kalnins responded to questions about costs related to opiate antagonists. He discussed the Naloxone kit in response to a question from Representative Fields.

11:39 AM -- Ali Maffey, Colorado Department Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. She discussed statistics related to opiate-related drug overdose events. Ms. Maffey stated that the department is not involved in the distribution of opiate antagonists in response to question from Representative Stephens.

11:42 AM -- Shauna Alvillar, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed her brother's overdose death.

11:45 AM -- Gabriela Flora, American Friends Service Committee, testified in support of the bill. She discussed her brother-in-law's opiate addiction and the need to expand access to Naloxone. Ms. Flora responded to a question about whether the opiate antagonists would be available on college campuses.

11:52 AM

Representative Pettersen discussed costs related to the bill and made concluding remarks on the bill. The committee took a brief recess.

11:57 AM

Representative Schafer called the committee back to order.


BILL:	SB13-014
TIME:	11:58:06 AM
MOVED:	Young
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 13-014 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Stephens	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Schafer	Yes
	McCann	Yes

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

12:00 PM

Representative Schafer laid Senate Bill 13-151 over until Thursday, March 21, and adjourned the committee.