Date: 02/01/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1167

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed wit
Refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee on Ap		Pass Without Objection
PASS


10:16 AM -- House Bill 06-1167

Representative Cloer, sponsor, presented the bill increasing funding for the CoverColorado Program, the state's insurance program for otherwise uninsurable persons. He answered questions about funding for the program, populations served by the program, and the bill's affect on enrollees' premiums. Representative Lundberg discussed his support for CoverColorado. He stated he disagreed with past budget cuts to the program. Representative Cloer answered questions about his choice of funding methods for the bill. Amendments L.001 and L.002 were distributed to members (Attachment C and D).

The following persons testified.

10:38 AM -- Barbara Brett, Executive Director, CoverColorado, provided an overview of the program. CoverColorado was created in 1990. Enrollees are persons who, because of a pre-existing condition, have been denied coverage by private insurance companies. She discussed premiums and deductibles paid by enrollees. Enrollees' preexisting conditions vary widely. They include acne, allergies, organ failure, and AIDS. Ms. Brett described a recent actuarial report regarding how many more people (up to 1500) the program might cover with an additional $10 million. She distributed and discussed a document describing characteristics of enrollees and program funding sources (Attachment E). She stated CoverColorado enrollees will never qualify for Medicaid regardless of their income or assets. She answered questions about how the program verifies applicants' citizenship.

The following persons testified.

10:49 AM -- Nancy Matthys, citizen, described her family's experience seeking health insurance coverage. She answered questions about her insurance coverage.

10:56 AM -- Omar Matthys, citizen, described his experience as a CoverColorado enrollee. He discussed other government health care coverage programs and CoverColorado premiums. He answered questions about insurance coverage options.

11:03 AM -- RJ Ours, American Cancer Society, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the importance of insurance coverage for persons with serious illnesses. He and Representative Cloer answered questions about chronic conditions which may qualify a person for CoverColorado.

11:13 AM -- Michael Huotari, Colorado Association of Health Plans, distributed a document to members (Attachment F).

11:16 AM -- Betsy Murray, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, spoke in support of the bill. She stated persons with mental illness are often denied individual coverage.

11:18 AM -- Patty Baldwin, citizen, distributed a comparison sheet of individual insurance premiums for non-smoking women (Attachment G). The plans include a $1,000 deductible.

11:22 AM -- Janey Alpert, Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a document to members (Attachment H). She shared personal stories of person who have needed CoverColorado.


11:26 AM

Representative Cloer discussed L.001 and described it as a technical amendment.
BILL:HB06-1167
TIME: 11:27:28 AM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Adopt L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Weissmann
VOTE
Berens
Clapp
Cloer
Green
Lundberg
McGihon
Riesberg
Soper
Stafford
Sullivan
Weissmann
Frangas
Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

11:28 AM

Representative Cloer discussed L.002 and stated he has decided not to offer it at this time. He made concluding remarks and answered questions about the Unclaimed Property Fund. Members commented on the bill and explained their votes.
BILL:HB06-1167
TIME: 11:36:02 AM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The bill passed 10-3.
SECONDED:Stafford
VOTE
Berens
Yes
Clapp
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Green
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
McGihon
No
Riesberg
No
Soper
Yes
Stafford
Yes
Sullivan
Yes
Weissmann
No
Frangas
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



11:38 AM

The committee adjourned.