Final
Consideration of Proposed Legislation

HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE

Votes:
Action Taken:
Moved to forward the bill (Attachment Y) related t
Moved to forward the bill (Attachment Z) that requ		PASS
PASS
03:32 PM -- Consideration of Proposed Legislation

Senator Keller stated that the committee has three proposed bills to discuss. She reminded the committee that at its September 27 they approved a bill to forward to Legislative Council related to hospital acquired infection rates, and that she and Representative McCluskey would be sponsoring that bill.




Michele Hanigsberg, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to discuss the draft bill related to telemedicine in the Department of Corrections (LLS No 06-0218.01) - (Attachment Y). She stated that the bill requires the department to study and report on the state's options for providing medical services to state inmates in correctional facilities through the use of telemedicine. Senator Keller asked if there were any amendments. None were offered.


BILL:Telemedicine in the Department of Corrections
TIME: 03:36:06 PM
MOVED:Keller
MOTION:Moved to forward the bill (Attachment Y) related to telemedicine in the Department of Corrections to the Legislative Council Committee. The committee determined that rather than a safety clause, a referendum clause was appropriate. The motion to forward the draft bill to the Legislative Council passed on a 7-0-3 roll call vote.

It was decided that the bill will start in the Senate, with Senator Tochtrop carrying it as the prime Senate sponsor, and Representative Butcher serving as the prime House sponsor. Representatives Frangas, McCluskey and Todd, and Senators Keller and Mitchell indicated that they wish to co-sponsor the bill. [Note: after the hearing, Senator Tochtrop and Senator Mitchell decided to switch the bills that they are prime sponsoring in the Senate, so Senator Mitchell will now be the prime Senate sponsor on this bill.]
SECONDED:
VOTE
Butcher
Yes
Clapp
Excused
Gordon
Excused
Johnson
Excused
McCluskey
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Todd
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Keller
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


03:38 PM

Ms. Hanigsberg discussed a proposed bill related to telemedicine in home health care (LLS No 06-0219.01) - (Attachment Z). She distributed an amendment (Attachment AA) that clarifies that health care services should include but not be limited to medical equipment, devices and software. There was discussion about whether this would affect dual eligibles under Medicare Part D. Ms. Hanigsberg commented. The committee discussed whether the bill should be limited to telemedicine in home health care or if it should be broadened to cover all health care services. Senator Tochtrop stated that the bill is intended to address just home health care. Senator Mitchell suggested, in order to leave some flexibility, taking the word "home" out of the bill title. Representative Butcher stated that since this is a new program, focusing on home health care this session is important. Senator Tochtrop asked that the bill be kept with a focus on home health care in order to allow a more understandable fiscal note for the bill.


BILL:Telemedicine in Home Health Care
TIME: 03:49:22 PM
MOVED:Keller
MOTION:Moved to forward the bill (Attachment Z) that requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to seek the necessary federal authorization for the reimbursement and provision of home health care services by certified home health care agencies through the use of telemedicine. The amendment to the bill related to what services are included was offered, and there was no opposition to the amendment (Attachment AA).

The motion to forward the bill, as amended, to the Legislative Council Committee was adopted on a 7-0-3 roll call vote.

It was decided that the bill will start in the Senate, with Senator Mitchell carrying it as the prime Senate sponsor, and Representative Todd serving as the prime House sponsor. Representatives Butcher and McCluskey and Senators Keller and Tochtrop indicated that they wish to co-sponsor the bill. [Note: after the hearing, Senator Tochtrop and Senator Mitchell decided to switch the bills that the are prime sponsoring in the Senate, so Senator Tochtrop will now be the prime Senate sponsor on this bill.]
SECONDED:
VOTE
Butcher
Yes
Clapp
Excused
Gordon
Excused
Johnson
Excused
McCluskey
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Todd
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Keller
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS