House Committee on Health, Insurance, & Environment (02/11/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Date:	02/11/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:17 AM to 12:44 PM	Fields	X
		Ginal	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Humphrey	X
		Joshi	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Landgraf	X
	Representative McCann	McNulty	X
		Primavera	X
This Report was prepared by		Singer	*
	Amanda King	Swalm	*
		Schafer	X
		McCann	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB14-1108		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

11:18 AM -- HB 14-1108

Representative Primavera presented House Bill 14-1108. She distributed a handout and Amendment L.002 (Attachments A and B). The bill prohibits insurance companies that provide individual and small group health insurance policies from imposing a copayment, coinsurance, or office visit deductible amount for physical rehabilitation services that is greater than the amount charged for a visit to the patient's primary care physician. In addition, the copayment, coinsurance, or office visit deductible cannot exceed 20 percent of the amount paid by the insurance company to physical rehabilitation service providers. Finally, the bill requires insurance companies to clearly state the availability of physical rehabilitation services coverage and all related limitations, conditions, and exclusions under their health coverage plans.

140211 AttachA.pdf

140211 AttachB.pdf

11:23 AM

Representative Primavera responded to questions about the modalities covered by the bill, whether other states have enacted a 20 percent limitation for patient costs for physical therapy, and the average cost of a physical therapy visit.

11:29 AM -- Marc Reece, representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition to the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment C). He discussed cost-sharing, how the bill could increase premiums, and potential information technology cost increases to insurance carriers. Mr. Reece discussed the federal Affordable Care Act. Mr. Reece responded to questions about whether physical rehabilitation and physical therapy are required to be covered under the federal Affordable Care Act. In response to questions, he discussed deductibles, the 20/80 cost sharing proposed by the bill, and whether premiums could decrease due to the bill. Mr. Reece responded to questions about the sensitivity of young people to premium increases, the reconciliation process for medical services overpayments, and whether the state is required to pay for additional mandated coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act.

140211 AttachC.pdf

11:53 AM -- Dr. Tim Noteboom, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed copayments for physical therapy, the history of the physical therapy profession in Colorado, and the schools that offer physical therapy programs in Colorado. Dr. Noteboom stated that Colorado allows direct access for physical therapy, meaning a referral by a physician is not necessary for physical therapy services.

11:56 AM -- Dr. Audrey Waldron, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the specialist designation for physical therapists and the patient costs for physical therapy.

11:59 AM -- Dr. Tim Flynn, representing himself, testified in support of the bill, and provided a handout (Attachment D). He discussed how physical therapy can reduce medical costs. Representative Ginal commented about physical therapy. Dr. Flynn stated that a patient can directly access physical therapy services without a physician's referral in response to a question.

140211 AttachD.pdf

12:03 PM -- Greg McCall, representing the Colorado Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the reimbursement checks physical therapists receive from insurance carriers, the costs to patients for physical therapy, and the issues that arise when a patient attends physical therapy less frequently than recommended by his or her physical therapist. He responded to questions about Medicare and Medicaid coverage for physical therapy and the reimbursement checks physical therapists receive from insurance companies.

12:11 PM -- Stefan van Duursen, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment E). He discussed why some of his patients have ceased physical therapy and the costs associated with physical therapy to both patients and health insurance companies. Mr. van Duursen responded to questions about deductibles and the charges to patients by physical therapists.

140211 AttachE.pdf

12:20 PM -- Scott Richardson, representing the Acupuncture Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment F). He discussed the cost of acupuncture.

140211 AttachF.pdf

12:24 PM -- Pamela DiPasquale, representing the Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the types of patients that access occupational therapy.

12:27 PM -- Vineta Campau, representing the Colorado Chiropractic Association, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the co-payments for certain therapies and whether the insurance plans offered in the health benefit exchange cover chiropractic services.

12:31 PM -- Jean Robinson, representing Colorado Coalition of Massage Therapists, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	HB14-1108
TIME:	12:33:41 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Schafer
		VOTE
	Fields
	Ginal
	Humphrey
	Joshi
	Landgraf
	McNulty
	Primavera
	Singer
	Swalm
	Schafer
	McCann

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

12:34 PM

Representative Primavera made concluding remarks on the bill. She distributed a letter of support from Brian Forman (Attachment G). The committee discussed the bill.

140211 AttachG.pdf


BILL:	HB14-1108
TIME:	12:42:29 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1108, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Humphrey	No
	Joshi	No
	Landgraf	Yes
	McNulty	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Swalm	No
	Schafer	Yes
	McCann	No

Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:44 PM

The committee adjourned.