House Committee on Health, Insurance, & Environment (03/03/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Date:	03/03/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:04 AM to 11:00 AM	Brown	X
		Esgar	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Humphrey	X
		Joshi	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Klingenschmitt	X
	Representative McCann	Landgraf	X
		Lontine	X
This Report was prepared by		Mitsch Bush	X
	Amanda King	Primavera	*
		Ransom	X
		Ryden	X
		Ginal	X
		McCann	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB15-053		Referred to the Committee of the Whole

10:06 AM -- SB 15-053

Representative McCann and Representative Lontine presented Senate Bill 15-053. Under current law, physicians, physicians assistants, advanced nurse practitioners with prescriptive authority (licensed prescribers), and pharmacists (licensed dispensers) are permitted to prescribe or dispense opiate antagonists, commonly referred to as Naloxone, to aid specific individuals experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event. Current law also extends civil and criminal immunity to all licensed prescribers, dispensers, and lay persons who administer opiate antagonists in a good-faith effort to assist an individual who may be experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event. An opiate antagonist reverses the effects of an opiod drug, is not a controlled substance, and is approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a drug overdose.

The reengrossed bill extends this authority by permitting licensed prescribers and licensed dispensers to also prescribe or dispense opiate antagonist drugs either by a direct prescription or a standing order directly to individuals, a friend or family member of an individual who may experience an opiate-related drug overdose, an employee or volunteer of a harm reduction organization, or a first responder. Licensed prescribers and licensed dispensers may prescribe or dispense permitted opiate-antagonist drugs in a good-faith effort. The bill provides related definitions.

Representative McCann explained standing orders. She stated that 12 states currently allow for standing orders for Naloxone. Representative Lontine discussed opiate abuse and Naloxone. A letter of support from the American Academy of Pain Management (Attachment A) was distributed to the committee.

150303 AttachA.pdf

10:13 AM

Representative McCann and Representative Lontine answered questions about Naloxone and the provisions of the bill related to first responders.

10:16 AM -- Dr. Jane Kennedy, Harm Reduction Action Center, testified in support of the bill. She discussed opiate-related deaths, standing orders, and Naloxone. Dr. Kennedy answered questions about the dosing for Naloxone and why it requires a prescription.

10:26 AM -- Ali Maffey, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. She relayed statistics about opiate-related deaths and emergency department visits. Ms. Maffey answered questions about opiate-related deaths.

10:29 AM -- Dr. Kennedy returned to answer questions about the timing of administering Naloxone.

10:30 AM -- Ms. Maffey answered questions about the possibility of making Naloxone an over-the-counter drug.

10:31 AM -- Lisa Raville, Harm Reduction Action Center, testified in support of the bill. She stated that most opiate-related drug overdoses are witnessed. She discussed providing Naloxone via standing orders. Ms. Raville answered questions about opiate-related drug overdoses and whether health insurance covers prescriptions for Naloxone. The committee dialogued with Ms. Raville about Naloxone and the training for administering Naloxone.

10:39 AM -- Danna Richkun, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She relayed her son's experience with opiate-related drug overdoses. Ms. Richkun discussed the importance and safety of Naloxone. Ms. Richkun answered questions about whether there is a need for more public awareness about Naloxone. She responded to questions about preventing drug addiction.

10:48 AM -- Peg Ackerman, County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She discussed how the bill could help rural counties.

10:49 AM -- Chris Gassen, Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the expanded prescribing of opiate antagonists Senate Bill 15-053 provides. Mr. Gassen answered questions about opiate antagonists and Naloxone.

10:55 AM

Representative McCann and Representative Lontine made concluding remarks. Committee members commented on the bill.


BILL:	SB15-053
TIME:	10:58:52 AM
MOVED:	McCann
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 15-053 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Landgraf
		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

11:00 AM

The committee adjourned.