House Committee on Health, Insurance, & Environment (05/02/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Date:	05/02/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:05 PM to 03:02 PM	Fields	*
		Ginal	*
Place:	HCR 0112	Humphrey	X
		Joshi	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Landgraf	X
	Representative McCann	McNulty	*
		Primavera	X
This Report was prepared by		Singer	X
	Amanda King	Swalm	X
		Schafer	X
		McCann	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB14-201 SB14-211 SB14-180		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to Appropriations

02:07 PM -- SB14-201

Representative Singer presented Senate Bill 14-201. The bill creates a new advisory work group to examine the operations of the Office of Child Protection Ombudsman Program and make recommendations concerning increased autonomy, accountability, and effective utilization of the program. The work group is to consist of no more than 15 members, with members appointed by legislative leadership, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Governor. The bill specifies the specific groups and stakeholders to be appointed as nonvoting members. The work group must convene by August 1, 2014, and submit its written plan by December 1, 2014. All work group members serve without compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

02:09 PM -- Reggie Bicha, representing the Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the creation of the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman and the bill. He stated that an audit of the office is currently being conducted. Mr. Bicha responded to questions about when the office would be contacted, what the work group might recommend for the office, and the interplay between the child abuse hotline and the office. Representative Singer responded to questions about who would staff the work group.

02:19 PM -- Adoree Blair, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed her interaction with the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman and the role of counties in the child welfare system. She stated that office needs to be autonomous.

02:22 PM -- Jim Blair, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the design of the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman. He stated the office needs to have significant autonomy, independence, and authority.

02:26 PM -- Shari Shink, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman and how the bill will promote confidence in the community.

02:29 PM -- Carla Bennett, representing League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She stated that she was involved in the original work group creating the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman and that the office needs more independence and autonomy. She discussed Colorado's office versus other state models.

02:32 PM -- Pat Ratliff, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill. She suggested including a representative from the county child welfare directors to the work group. Ms. Ratliff responded to questions about the possible involvement of county child welfare directors in the subcommittees authorized by the bill and the timeline for the report required by the bill.

02:36 PM

Representative Singer provided concluding remarks on the bill.


BILL:	SB14-201
TIME:	02:38:28 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-201 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Fields
		VOTE
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Schafer	Yes
	McCann	Yes

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

02:39 PM -- SB14-211

Representative Waller and Representative Hullinghorst presented Senate Bill 14-211. The bill establishes the Alzheimer's Disease Treatment and Research Center within the University of Colorado School of Medicine to create programs for the care and treatment of persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The university must use existing staff and facilities to establish the center.

02:42 PM -- Dr. Huntington Potter, representing the University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He discussed establishing an Alzheimer's disease center in Colorado. Dr. Potter responded to questions about whether the center would address prevention efforts and the incidents of Alzheimer's disease in Colorado as compared to other states. He discussed Down syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis as they relate to Alzheimer's disease.

02:50 PM


BILL:	SB14-211
TIME:	02:50:54 PM
MOVED:	Landgraf
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-211 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	McNulty	Excused
	Primavera	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Schafer	Yes
	McCann	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:51 PM -- SB14-180

Representative Swalm presented Senate Bill 14-180. The bill transfers the Dental Assistance Program for Seniors, also known as the Old Age Pension (OAP) Dental Program, from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) as of July 1, 2015. In HCPF, the program is renamed as the Colorado Dental Health Care Program for Low-income Seniors. The eligibility criteria of the dental program are modified to align with other dental benefits for seniors and to target services to economically disadvantaged seniors as defined in rule.

Under the redesigned program, HCPF provides funds to qualified grantees, including area agencies on aging, community organizations, local public health agencies, federally qualified health centers, and private dental practices. HCPF is required to award grants to qualified grantees on or after July 1, 2015, and to establish rates for dental services under the program. Grantees are required to provide outreach, identify eligible seniors and dental care providers, and pay claims for services. The bill limits the administrative costs of grantees to 7 percent of the grant amounts. The Senior Dental Advisory Committee, consisting of 11 members, is created to advise HCPF on program operations, covered services, and fees.

02:54 PM -- Jennifer Miles, representing Oral Health Colorado and the Colorado Community Health Network, testified in support of the bill and discussed the stakeholder process for the bill.

02:55 PM -- MaryKathryn Hurd, representing HCPF, testified in support of the bill. She stated HCPF is happy to take on administration of the OAP Dental Program.

02:56 PM -- Jeff Thormodsgaard, representing the Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill. He discussed amendment L.021 (Attachment A).

140502AttachA.pdf

02:58 PM

Ms. Hurd responded to questions about how the bill will streamline and align oral health services for seniors.


BILL:	SB14-180
TIME:	03:00:31 PM
MOVED:	Swalm
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.021 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	McNulty
		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

03:00 PM

The committee discussed the bill.


BILL:	SB14-180
TIME:	03:01:57 PM
MOVED:	Swalm
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-180, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	McNulty
		VOTE
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Schafer	Yes
	McCann	Yes

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

03:02 PM

Representative Swalm commented on the bill. Representative McCann adjourned the committee.