Date: 04/24/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-141

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer the bill to the Committee on Finance. The bPASS


02:09 PM -- Senate Bill 06-141

Representative Riesberg, sponsor, presented the bill establishing the "Health Care Transparency Act," requiring hospitals and ambulatory care centers to annually report financial, resource, patient, and staffing information. He stated 50 percent of hospitals' budgets are from the state and federal governments. He described current hospital reporting practices and stated hospital costs account for the greatest health care expense. He discussed the state's nursing shortage and nurses' unwillingness to work in hospitals. Representative Riesberg stated the information required by the bill will help the state regulate hospitals and ambulatory care centers at appropriated levels. He answered questions about how the bill might impact the quality and cost of health care.

The following persons testified:

02:25 PM -- Herman Schreivocal, Lincoln Community Hospital, spoke in opposition to the bill and described currently required federal cost reports. He stated he does not see how the bill will improve quality of care.

02:28 PM -- Peter Freytag, Colorado Hospital Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. He described a number of reports and a web site currently published by the association. The reports are all voluntary and available to the public. He described the numerous reporting requirements under the bill. Mr. Freytag answered questions about hospital costs associated with the bill's reporting requirements.

 02:36 PM -- Pamela Spehn, Jennifer Jenkins, and Mitch Ackerman, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Nurse Alliance of Colorado, came to the table to testify in favor of the bill together. Ms. Jenkins discussed problems associated with nurse understaffing, including increased medical errors. Ms. Spehn discussed nurse-patient ratio issues. She stated hospitals typically site costs when responding to nurse understaffing complaints. She stated that appropriate staffing levels save money by reducing medical errors and improving nurse retention. Mr. Ackerman discussed Colorado's uninsurance rates and insurance costs. He stated Colorado has the most profitable hospital environment. He described a study of the affects of nurse staffing levels. Ms. Jenkins answered questions about SEIU's goals. A notebook was distributed to members (Attachment A).

02:48 PM -- Linda Hayes, Nurse Alliance, spoke in support of the bill. She described hospitals' responses to requests for additional nurses. She described reasons why nurses do not walk out from their jobs due to unfavorable working conditions.

02:54 PM -- Carrie Curtiss, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, spoke in support of the bill. She stated the bill will give patients information necessary to make good health care decisions. She stated transparency is good for patients and the health care system. She answered questions about the adequacy of current voluntary hospital reporting practices.

03:00 PM -- Patricia Geiger, citizen, discussed her experience seeking charge information from hospitals. She described personal risks associated with hospitalization.


03:03 PM

Committee members discussed the bill, and Representative Riesberg made concluding remarks.
BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 03:06:39 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:Refer the bill to the Committee on Finance. The bill passed 7-6.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Berens
No
Cloer
No
Green
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
Kerr J.
No
Lundberg
No
Riesberg
Yes
Soper
Yes
Stafford
No
Sullivan
No
Weissmann
Yes
Frangas
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS