Bill Summary for Bill Number HB15-1182

Date: 02/17/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1182

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion p Refer House Bill 15-1182, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection PASS

12:00 PM -- HB 15-1182

Representatives Lois Landgraf and Susan Lontine, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 15-1182, which allows certified nurse aides (CNAs) who are deemed competent by a registered nurse to perform the following tasks:

digital stimulation, insertion of a suppository, or the use of an enema to stimulate a bowel movement;
certain tube-based feedings; and
placement of pre-sorted medication in a patient's mouth if the medication has been boxed or packaged by a registered nurse or pharmacist.

Representative Landgraf shared her experience as the parent of a disabled child and discussed the need for the bill. Committee members received a letter from the Colorado Nurses Association in support of the bill (Attachment C). Representative Landgraf addressed a question about how CNAs will be trained to perform the tasks allowed under the bill.

150217 AttachC.pdf

12:14 PM -- Mr. David Bolin, Executive Director of Accent on Independence, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bolin said many of his clients would benefit from the bill. He also addressed an earlier question from the committee about why CNAs are not currently permitted to perform the tasks allowed under the bill. Mr. Bolin discussed the intimate nature of the services performed by nurses and CNAs. He also expressed his opinion that the bill will result in cost savings because it costs less to use a certified nurse aide than a registered nurse. Mr. Bolin addressed questions from the committee about who would be held accountable if a certified nurse aide did not properly perform one of the tasks allowed under the bill. Discussion ensued on this topic. Mr. Bolin discussed similarities between home health aides and certified nurse aides.

12:34 PM

Mr. Bolin addressed a question about whether and how the scope of duties for nurses and certified nurse aides needs to be spelled out in law.

12:38 PM -- Ms. Ronne Hines, representing the Department of Regulatory Affairs, testified in support of the bill. She addressed an earlier question about whether and how the scope of duties for nurses and certified nurse aides needs to be spelled out in law. She also responded to a question about why certain recent changes were made to the scope of the practice for CNAS. Discussion returned to the question of what duties for registered nurses and certified nurse aides should be outlined in statute.

12:44 PM -- Ms. Kristen Forrestal, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to address a question about how the scope of duties for registered nurses and certified nurse aides is outlined in law. She addressed a comment from the committee about the difference between the definition and use of the term "competence" and the term "delegation" in the bill and in current law. Discussion ensued on this topic.

12:52 PM -- Mr. Ryan Zeiger, representing Personal Assistance Services of Colorado and Colorado Long Term Assistance Providers, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to the need for clear direction about what tasks CNAs are permitted to perform. He also discussed his training as a certified nurse aide. He responded to a question about his experience as a certified nurse aide. He also discussed about how a registered nurse supervises a certified nurse aide when certain tasks are delegated to the certified nurse aide.

01:02 PM -- Mr. Ed Neyra, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He spoke about his experience utilizing home health services.

01:05 PM -- Ms. Carol Meredith, representing the ARC of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, testified in support of the bill. She responded to comments from the committee about the regulation of home health care providers.

01:10 PM

Representative Landgraf distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment D).

150217 AttachD.pdf


BILL:	HB15-1182
TIME:	01:12:10 PM
MOVED:	Landgraf
MOTION:	Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Primavera
		VOTE
	Brown
	Esgar
	Humphrey
	Joshi
	Klingenschmitt
	Landgraf
	Lontine
	Mitsch Bush
	Primavera
	Ransom
	Ryden
	Ginal
	McCann

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

01:13 PM

Members of the committee commented on the merits of the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1182
TIME:	01:18:30 PM
MOVED:	Landgraf
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1182, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED:	Landgraf
		VOTE
	Brown	Yes
	Esgar	No
	Humphrey	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Klingenschmitt	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	Lontine	Yes
	Mitsch Bush	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Ransom	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	McCann	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:20 PM

The meeting adjourned.