Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE

Date:04/01/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:32 AM to 08:32 AM
Aguilar
*
Kefalas
X
Place:RM 271
Landgraf
X
Lundberg
*
This Meeting was called to order by
Martinez Humenik
*
Senator Roberts
Primavera
X
Ryden
X
This Report was prepared by
Sias
X
Amanda King
McCann
*
Roberts
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Opening Remarks and Update from Legislative Council Staff
Continuation of the Presentation by the Office of the State Auditor
Formation of Subcommittee
Presentation from Connect for Health Colorado
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Vote to Form Subcommittee Passed
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only


07:33 AM -- Opening Remarks and Update from Legislative Council Staff

Senator Ellen Roberts called the meeting to order.


07:34 AM

Bill Zepernick, Legislative Council Staff, discussed the survey that is on the committee's website that allows members of the public to provide feedback to the committee concerning the health exchange (Attachment A). Mr. Zepernick answered questions about the public feedback survey. Senator Roberts asked that the form be adjusted to allow anonymous feedback.

150401 AttachA.pdf150401 AttachA.pdf

07:40 AM -- Continuation of the Presentation by the Office of the State Auditor

Jenny Page, Office of the State Auditor, continued her presentation that was begun on March 18, 2015, of the Colorado Health Insurance Benefits Exchange: Connect for Health Colorado Limited Performance Report(Attachment B). A memorandum in response to the questions asked at the March 18, 2015, of the Office of the State Auditor (Attachment C) and a list of the organizations that received federal or private grant funds to provide consumer assistance (Attachment D) were distributed to the committee members. Ms. Page outlined the last finding concerning financial administration and management in the audit, which starts on page 78 of the audit report. She highlighted the problems identified starting on page 83 and 84 of the audit report. She discussed the meals purchased for Connect for Health Colorado staff that were prohibited by federal rules. Ms. Page discussed the lack of centralized purchasing for supplies and equipment. Ms. Page reviewed recommendation 4 on Page 90 of the audit concerning improvements to fiscal management and stated that Connect for Health Colorado agreed to implement this recommendation.

150401 AttachB.pdf150401 AttachB.pdf150401 AttachC.pdf150401 AttachC.pdf150401 AttachD.pdf150401 AttachD.pdf

07:45 AM

Ms. Page stated that a status update from entities that have been audited usually occurs about six months after the audit. She said the committee will be notified once that status update is scheduled. Senator Roberts discussed having a joint meeting with the Legislative Audit Committee during the interim to receive an update from Connect for Health Colorado about its response to the audit findings.

07:46 AM -- Formation of Subcommittee

Senator Roberts discussed forming a subcommittee to assist with the Connect for Health Colorado executive director search that is currently under way.

07:47 AM

Dan Cartin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, discussed the committee's authority to form a subcommittee.

07:48 AM

Kristen Forestall, Office of the Legislative Legal Services, discussed the committee's role in approving the appointment of the executive director and referenced Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure regarding the committee's ability to form a subcommittee. She stated that the subcommittee would be subject to open meeting laws and the Colorado Open Records Act.

07:50 AM

Senator Roberts discussed the statutory requirement of the committee to approve or not approve the executive director of the exchange. She outlined the reasons why she thought the formation of a subcommittee would be helpful. Senator Roberts responded to questions about the role of the subcommittee. Senator Roberts and Representative McCann commented on the subcommittee's role related to providing feedback to the Connect for Health Colorado's board of directors on the compensation package for the executive director.
BILL:Formation of Subcommittee
TIME: 07:56:54 AM
MOVED:Roberts
MOTION:Formation of an advisory subcommittee to assist with the chief executive director search. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Aguilar
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Martinez Humenik
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Sias
Yes
McCann
Yes
Roberts
Yes
YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



07:57 AM

Senator Roberts appointed Representative Ryden, Senator Kefalas, Representative Sias, and Senator Martinez Humenik to the subcommittee.

07:58 AM

Senator Roberts discussed Senate Bill 15-256, concerning the operation of the legislative committee that oversees the Colorado health benefit exchange, which changes the name of the committee and expands the number of committee meetings allowed by statute.

07:59 AM -- Presentation from Connect for Health Colorado

Gary Drews, interim chief executive director of Connect for Health Colorado, introduced himself, and the Connect for Health Colorado (the exchange) board of directors members who were in attendance at the meeting. A handout of Connect for Health Colorado's presentation (Attachment E) was distributed to the committee members.

150401 AttachE.pdf150401 AttachE.pdf

08:01 AM

Sharon O'Hara, chair of the board of directors of Connect for Health Colorado, introduced herself.

08:02 AM

Steve ErkenBrack, Connect for Health Colorado board member, discussed the executive director search that is currently underway. He outlined the skill sets necessary for the chief executive director. He referenced the other leadership positions at Connect for Health Colorado that were vacant during the most recent open enrollment.

08:06 AM

Ms. O'Hara stated that the entire board has been involved in the chief executive director search process.

08:08 AM

Mr. Drews said he would review the audit implementation plan, the first and second open enrollment, and the next steps for the exchange during his presentation. He outlined the following materials that were provided to the committee members: Connect for Health Colorado "Milestones, Measures, and Oversight" timeline (Attachment F), Comprehensive List of Audits and Reviews (Attachment G), Connect for Health Colorado's "State Audit Implementation Plan" (Attachment H), and Financial and A133 Audit Implementation Plan (Attachment I). Additionally, the following handouts were provided to the committee members: a memorandum providing responses to committee member questions from March 18, 2015 (Attachment J), Spark Policy Assistance Network Evaluation (Attachment K), American Institute of Research Colorado Usability Testing Report (Attachment L), Connect for Health Colorado Stakeholder Feedback on Second Open Enrollment Period (Attachment M), fact sheet on the individual marketplace (Attachment N), a handout on 2015 projects, milestones, and timelines (Attachment O), and 2014 Annual Report for Connect for Health Colorado (Attachment P). He referenced Page 6 of the presentation handout (Attachment E) that outlines the various entities involved with the exchange. Mr. Drews discussed the recent and ongoing audits of the exchange. He stated that 27 audits were conducted in the exchange's first two years of existence.

150401 AttachF.pdf150401 AttachF.pdf150401 AttachG.pdf150401 AttachG.pdf150401 AttachH.pdf150401 AttachH.pdf150401 AttachI.pdf150401 AttachI.pdf150401 AttachJ.pdf150401 AttachJ.pdf150401 AttachK.pdf150401 AttachK.pdf150401 AttachL.pdf150401 AttachL.pdf150401 AttachM.pdf150401 AttachM.pdf150401 AttachN.pdf150401 AttachN.pdf150401 AttachO.pdf150401 AttachO.pdf150401 AttachP.pdf150401 AttachP.pdf

08:15 AM

Mr. Drews provided information about the exchange's first and second open enrollment periods as outlined on Pages 10 and 11 of the presentation handout (Attachment E). He discussed the shared eligibility system outlined on Page 12 of the presentation handout (Attachment E). Mr. Drews said it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete the application process for financial assistance. He discussed providing insurance to those people who were previously uninsured. Mr. Drews said the exchange is working on a technical fix, with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and the Office of Information Technology, to the shared eligibility system so that the next open enrollment period is smoother. He highlighted the policies under Medicaid and the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that do not align.

08:22 AM

Mr. Drews discussed the preparations for the third open enrollment period related to improving customer experiences, stabilizing the marketplace, and achieving sustainability.

08:25 AM

Mr. Drews reviewed the key considerations for the future of the exchange, as outlined on Page 19 of the presentation handout (Attachment E). He discussed the broad carrier assessment allowed to be collected by the exchange and the grants received from the Colorado Health Foundation. Mr. Drews provided information about the workload of the call center. He discussed right-sizing the organization.

08:30 AM

Senator Roberts outlined the agendas for the April 15 and April 29 committee meetings.

08:32 AM

The committee adjourned.