House Committee on Public Health Care & Human Services (04/28/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/28/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 04:12 PM	Conti	X
		Danielson	X
Place:	RM 271	Everett	X
		Ginal	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Joshi	X
	Representative Primavera	Landgraf	X
		Melton	*
This Report was prepared by		Moreno	X
	Elizabeth Burger	Sias	X
		Tyler	X
		Windholz	X
		Singer	X
		Primavera	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB15-011 HB15-1373 SB15-204		Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to Appropriations

01:33 PM -- SB 15-011

Representative Primavera introduced Senate Bill 15-011. The bill continues the Medicaid Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Pilot Program through September 1, 2020, and expands the program to serve additional clients. Under the pilot, Medicaid clients with spinal cord injuries who are eligible for home- and community-based services are allowed to receive complementary or alternative medicines. Under the bill, the existing cap of 67 clients would be raised to at least 100 clients, subject to available appropriations. Representative Primavera distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment A) and responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill. Representative Primavera explained why there was a delay in implementing the original pilot program.

150428 AttachA.pdf

01:44 PM -- Chanda Hinton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She described the benefits of alternative therapies for individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries. She stated that extending the program will allow for more information about the positive outcomes of the program to be gathered.

01:47 PM -- Lowell Frederick, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the services provided through the pilot program have been beneficial to him and have allowed him to obtain a job. He responded to questions from the committee.

01:49 PM -- Micah McClean, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and discussed the benefits he has received from acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy.

01:53 PM -- Melissa McGuire, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

01:56 PM -- CJ Powell, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and regarding the services that he receives through the pilot program. He spoke in support of continuing the program.

01:58 PM -- Chandra Matthews, Access Long-term Solutions, testified in support of the bill and regarding the benefits provided through the pilot program. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the coverage of alternative therapies under Medicaid and whether the program has a waiting list.

02:03 PM -- Anna Aranda, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She testified regarding the benefits that she has received by participating in the pilot program.

02:06 PM -- Ralph Rasiak, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He stated that alternative therapies make a big difference in peoples' lives.

02:07 PM -- Candace Bailey, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, responded to questions from the committee regarding the services available under the program, and noted that the department supports the bill.

02:09 PM -- James Ainsworth, representing himself, testified regarding his participation in the program and his experience as a single parent. He discussed how the program has allowed him to reduce the amount of pain medication he takes. He responded to questions from the committee.

02:14 PM -- Curtis Wolff, representing himself, testified that he is on the waiting list for the program and spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

02:16 PM -- Andre' Lang, representing himself, testified that the therapies he receives through the pilot program are helping him to heal from his spinal cord injury. He spoke in support of the bill.

02:19 PM -- Errick Kriegh, representing himself, testified regarding the benefits of the therapies he receives from the pilot program.

02:21 PM

Representative Primavera gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	SB15-011
TIME:	02:24:31 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 15-011 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Everett	No
	Ginal	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Sias	Yes
	Tyler	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Primavera	Yes

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

02:27 PM -- HB 15-1373

Representative Singer introduced House Bill 15-1373. The bill allows an applicant who has completed the educational requirements for certification as a speech-language pathologist and has passed a national examination to apply for a provisional certification before completing a clinical fellowship. He discussed how the provisional licensure will affect speech-language pathologists who are working in medical settings. He noted that provisional licenses are issued and recognized by other states.

02:32 PM -- Gail Ramsberger, University of Colorado, testified regarding the master's level speech-language pathology program at the university. She spoke regarding the difficulties encountered by students who work in medical settings who do not hold a provisional certification. She discussed the benefits for hospitals to hire clinical fellows.

02:36 PM -- Lesley Lange, representing herself, discussed her personal experience as a master's level student of speech-language pathology, and noted that certain medical settings have not been able to hire her due to the lack of provisional certification in the state. She discussed her career goals, and noted that 43 other states currently have provisional certification available.

02:38 PM -- Allina Robertson, National Student Speech-Language Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ramsberger responded to questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB15-1373
TIME:	02:42:40 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Conti
	Danielson
	Everett
	Ginal
	Joshi
	Landgraf
	Melton
	Moreno
	Sias
	Tyler
	Windholz
	Singer
	Primavera

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

150428 AttachB.pdf


BILL:	HB15-1373
TIME:	02:45:32 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1373, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Melton
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Everett	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Sias	Yes
	Tyler	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Primavera	Yes

Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:48 PM -- SB 15-204

Representative Singer introduced Senate Bill 15-204, concerning the operation of the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman. Representative Singer distributed and discussed amendment L.014 (Attachment C). Amendment L.014 establishes the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman in the Judicial Department. The amendment establishes the Child Protection Ombudsman Board, specifies the membership of the board, and outlines the terms of a memorandum of understanding between the office and the Judicial Department. Representative Singer responded to questions from the committee regarding whether other agencies operate within the Judicial Department in a similar manner as proposed for the ombudsman's office and why final actions of the office are subject to judicial review by the district court for the city and county of Denver. Representative Singer distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment D).

150428 AttachC.pdf

150428 AttachD.pdf

03:10 PM -- Stephanie Villaforte, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill. She stated that current law contains conflicts of interest, and discussed the current duties of the Department of Human Services regarding the operation of the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman.

03:23 PM -- Dorothy Macias, Office of the Child's Representative, testified regarding the bill. She spoke regarding the operation of the Office of the Child's Representative within the Judicial Branch.

03:25 PM -- Tori Black, representing herself, testified regarding her experience as member of the Child Protection Ombudsman Advisory Work Group.

03:33 PM -- Kendall Marlowe, National Association of Counsel for Children, testified regarding the current contract with the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman and in support of the bill. Mr. Marlowe responded to questions from the committee regarding an investigation and the department's response to an investigation of the department by the ombudsman. He commented on how the ombudsman program would work better under the Judicial Department.

03:39 PM -- Carla Bennett, representing the League of Women Voters and the Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Bennett provided a brief history of the Child Protection Ombudsman. She said that the League of Women Voters is in favor of the bill because it is important for the public to have some oversight over the child welfare system. She spoke in support of amendment L.014 and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment E).

150428 AttachE.pdf

03:46 PM -- Dennis Goodwin, Child Protection Ombudsman, responded to questions from the committee regarding whether the office responds to calls from children in the foster care system.

03:50 PM -- Sabrina Byrnes, Associate Child Protection Ombudsman, responded to questions from the committee. Mr. Goodwin and Ms. Byrnes responded to questions from the committee regarding notification about the services provided by the child welfare ombudsman.

03:55 PM -- Jerry Marroney, State Court Administrator, responded to committee questions regarding similar entities that are housed in the Judicial Department. He noted that the Independent Ethics Commission is also housed in the Judicial Department.

03:57 PM -- Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties Inc., clarified that Colorado Counties Inc., does not have a position on the bill. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the organization's opposition to the introduced bill.


BILL:	SB15-204
TIME:	04:01:18 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.015 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Danielson
		VOTE
	Conti
	Danielson
	Everett
	Ginal
	Joshi
	Landgraf
	Melton
	Moreno
	Sias
	Tyler
	Windholz
	Singer
	Primavera

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

150428 AttachF.pdf


BILL:	SB15-204
TIME:	04:02:41 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.017 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Conti
	Danielson
	Everett
	Ginal
	Joshi
	Landgraf
	Melton
	Moreno
	Sias
	Tyler
	Windholz
	Singer
	Primavera

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

150428 AttachG.pdf


BILL:	SB15-204
TIME:	04:03:54 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.018 (Attachment H). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Primavera
		VOTE
	Conti
	Danielson
	Everett
	Ginal
	Joshi
	Landgraf
	Melton
	Moreno
	Sias
	Tyler
	Windholz
	Singer
	Primavera

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

150428 AttachH.pdf


BILL:	SB15-204
TIME:	04:04:35 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.014, as amended (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Conti
	Danielson
	Everett
	Ginal
	Joshi
	Landgraf
	Melton
	Moreno
	Sias
	Tyler
	Windholz
	Singer
	Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB15-204
TIME:	04:05:44 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.016 (Attachment I). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Conti
	Danielson
	Everett
	Ginal
	Joshi
	Landgraf
	Melton
	Moreno
	Sias
	Tyler
	Windholz
	Singer
	Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

150428 AttachI.pdf

04:06 PM

Representative Singer gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	SB15-204
TIME:	04:08:22 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 15-204, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-2.
SECONDED:	Melton
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Everett	No
	Ginal	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Landgraf	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Sias	Yes
	Tyler	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Primavera	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:12 PM

The committee adjourned.