Date: 03/12/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1151

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Postpone House Bill 15-1151 indefinitely. The motiPASS



01:31 PM -- HB 15-1151

Representative Rankin presented House Bill 15-1151. The bill, which was recommended by the Joint Budget Committee, specifies that, as of July 1, 2015, payments to Medicaid providers be at least 60 percent of the rate for the equivalent service under Medicare. If there is no equivalent Medicare rate, the payment should be at least 60 percent of the average fair market rate. Representative Rankin requested that the bill be postponed indefinitely because another bill will be coming forth to address the issue.

01:37 PM

Representative Young discussed postponing the bill indefinitely. Representative McCann made comments about the need to address the Medicaid provider reimbursement rates (provider rates). Representative Young and Representative Rankin commented on addressing provider rates and involving stakeholders in the rate setting process.

01:42 PM -- Tim Dienst, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He provided two handouts (Attachments A and B) to the committee. He stated that the bill will provide relief to EMS providers. He asked to be involved in the drafting of the new bill.

150312 AttachA.pdf150312 AttachA.pdf150312 AttachB.pdf150312 AttachB.pdf

01:44 PM -- Chief Ray Jennings, EMS Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the financial impacts that provider rates have on EMS providers. Chief Jennings answered questions about why the provider rates for EMS providers are so low. In response to a question, he discussed how the cost to operate an EMS agency has increased over time. Committee members dialogued with Chief Jennings about the costs of operating an EMS agency.

01:55 PM -- Tim Dorn, American Medical Response Ambulance Co., testified in support of the bill. He discussed the cost of readiness for ambulances and indexing off of Medicare provider rates for Medicaid reimbursement rates.

02:01 PM -- Chief Ira "Jerry" Rhodes, International Association of Fire Chiefs, testified in support of the bill. He discussed how agencies adjust to lost income and volunteer agencies. Chief Rhodes answered questions about how changes to automobile insurance statutes impacted payments received by EMS agencies.
BILL:HB15-1151
TIME: 02:09:36 PM
MOVED:McCann
MOTION:Postpone House Bill 15-1151 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Ginal
VOTE
Brown
Yes
Esgar
Yes
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: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS