Bill Summary for Bill Number SB13-163

Date: 03/12/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-163

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 13-163 to the Committee of the W	PASS

11:17 AM -- Senate Bill 13-163

Representative Singer presented Senate Bill 13-163 concerning the sunset review of the advisory committee on hearing in newborn infants. The bill continues the advisory committee on hearing in newborn infants indefinitely by repealing the provisions that subject the committee to periodic sunset review. Representative Singer responded to a question from Representative Stephens about whether the program is part of the Child Health Plan Plus.

11:20 AM -- Dr. Stephanie Bourque, Children's Hospital Colorado and Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, testified in support of the bill. She discussed congenital hearing loss. Dr. Bourque responded to questions about whether testing would continue if the advisory committee was to sunset; how, when, and where the testing occurs; and the treatment that occurs if hearing loss is detected. She continued to respond to questions about the advisory committee.

11:29 AM -- Rachel Hutson, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the advisory committee on hearing in newborn infants. Ms. Hutson responded to questions about the collaboration that occurs between audiologists and the advisory committee, and why the bill continues the advisory committee indefinitely. Representative Singer discussed why the bill continues the advisory committee indefinitely. Ms. Hutson responded to a question from Representative Conti about how standards of care are implemented throughout the state.

11:35 AM -- Vicki Thomson, representing herself, testified on the bill. She discussed her involvement with the advisory committee, an incident that occurred when the standards of care were not followed, and the history of newborn hearing testing in Colorado. Ms. Thomson responded to questions about the testing and costs related to the testing. She stated that a newborn hearing screening costs about $35. Ms. Thomson continued to respond to questions from the committee.

11:44 AM -- Brian Tobias, Department of Regulatory Agencies, came to the table to respond to questions about the cost of an advisory committee sunset review and the sunset process.

11:49 AM

Representative Singer provided concluding remarks on the bill. The committee discussed the bill with Representative Singer. Representative McCann recessed the committee.

12:05 PM

Representative McCann called the committee back to order.


BILL:	SB13-163
TIME:	12:05:48 AM
MOVED:	Fields
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 13-163 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-1, with 4 members excused.
SECONDED:	Young
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Excused
	Humphrey	Excused
	Joshi	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Stephens	Excused
	Swalm	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Schafer	Excused
	McCann	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:06 PM

Representative McCann reminded the committee of the joint meeting with the House Public Health Care and Human Services Committee at 1:30 p.m., and adjourned the committee.