Date: 03/16/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-074

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Postpone Senate Bill 15-074 indefinitely. The moti
Refer Senate Bill 15-074 to the Committee of the W		PASS
FAIL



01:27 PM -- SB15-074

Representative Joshi, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-074. The reengrossed bill creates the Transparency in Health Care Price Act. The act requires certain health care professionals and health care facilities, as defined by the bill, to make a single document available to the public that lists the direct-pay prices for the 11 most common health care services provided . Health care professionals and facilities must update the document at least annually and provide the document on request and electronically if a website exists. Under the bill, health care professionals and facilities are not required to submit their direct pay prices to any government agency for review, unless otherwise specified by existing law. The bill does not provide any agency with the authority to approve, disapprove, limit, or change the direct pay prices disclosed by health care professionals or facilities. The bill also prohibits any health insurers or health systems from penalizing a person who pays directly for health care services.

Representative Joshi responded to questions from the committee about the mechanics of the bill.

01:33 PM -- Dr. Brent Keeler, representing the Colorado Medical Society, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Keeler commented that the bill creates confusion rather than transparency. He indicated that patients simply want to know how much they owe for their care, even if it is not one of the most common services. He responded to questions from the committee.

01:46 PM -- Frank Francone, representing the Centennial Institute, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Francone distributed a letter from a doctor in Arizona in support of the bill (Attachment A). He explained reasons why Dr. Keeler's testimony was inaccurate. He responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseState0316AttachA.pdf15HouseState0316AttachA.pdf

01:55 PM -- Dr. Murray Willis, representing the Colorado Society of Anesthesiologists, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Willis indicated that the bill is likely to confuse patients and insurance companies and that price estimates can be provided upon request. He responded to questions from the committee about billing codes.


02:08 PM

Representative Joshi wrapped up his presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.
BILL:SB15-074
TIME: 02:15:37 PM
MOVED:Neville P.
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-074 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 5-6.
SECONDED:Humphrey
VOTE
Foote
No
Humphrey
Yes
Lontine
No
Neville P.
Yes
Primavera
No
Tate
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Tyler
No
Willett
Yes
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:SB15-074
TIME: 02:16:04 PM
MOVED:Salazar
MOTION:Postpone Senate Bill 15-074 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
No
Lontine
Yes
Neville P.
No
Primavera
Yes
Tate
No
Thurlow
No
Tyler
Yes
Willett
No
Salazar
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS