Date: 04/22/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-130

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-130 to the Committee on ApproPASS



01:37 PM -- SB14-130

Representative Primavera introduced Senate Bill 14-130. The bill increases the personal needs allowance for nursing facility residents from $50 to $75, and on January 1, 2015, the basic minimum amount is increased by the same percentage increase as the nursing facility provider reimbursement rate. She stated that the bill is important for clients of nursing facilities and regional centers. She responded to questions from the committee regarding funding source for the bill.

01:43 PM -- Alex Schatz, Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions from the committee regarding the Nursing Facility Provider Fee and the bill's fiscal note.

01:49 PM -- Amy Ballard, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the current personal needs allowance of $50 is not enough to support her personal needs.

01:51 PM -- Sydney Gardiner, representing herself, testified regarding her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and discussed the personal needs allowance. She spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

01:57 PM -- Anne Meier, State Long-term Care Ombudsman, described the role of the state long-term care ombudsman and spoke in support of the bill. She stated that the personal needs allowance hasn't increased since 1999, and noted that nursing facilities do not provide such things as haircuts, snacks, clothing, or gifts, all of which must be paid from the personal needs allowance. Representative Primavera responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill.

02:01 PM -- Arlene Miles, Colorado Health Care Association, responded to committee questions regarding familial contributions to the cost of care in nursing facilities and how those contributions affect the personal needs allowance. She further responded to questions regarding federal Medicaid matching funds, regulations regard Medicaid reimbursement, and whether family members can buy nursing home residents clothing and gifts.

02:13 PM

Alex Schatz, Legislative Council Staff, returned to the table to respond to committee questions regarding the bill's fiscal note. He confirmed that the federal government will contribute approximately 50 percent of the bill's costs.

02:20 PM

Representative Primavera gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.

BILL:SB14-130
TIME: 02:23:48 PM
MOVED:Primavera
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-130 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED:Young
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Everett
No
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
McCann
Yes
Schafer
Yes
Singer
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Young
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS