Date: 03/16/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-208

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Amend page 4, line 27, strike "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CA
Refer Senate Bill 06-208, as amended, to the Commi		PASS
PASS


02:00 PM -- Senate Bill 06-208

Senator Hanna introduced Senate Bill 06-208. She explained that the bill creates a committee to study health care reform issues. She described the membership of the health care reform committee. She responded to questions from the committee regarding a similar bill that was considered by the legislature in the previous legislative session.

02:03 PM -- Dr. C. Rocky White, representing physicians of the San Luis Valley, testified in support of the bill and stated that the current system of health care financing is unsustainable. He stated that business leaders, health care professionals, and citizens are all asking for changes in the health care system and that the bill represents a first step toward health care reform. He stated that the bill permit allows a number of health care financing systems to be studied. He spoke to efforts that the Colorado Medical Society are undertaking to build consensus among Colorado physicians for health care reform.

02:09 PM -- Michele Lawonn, representing herself, testified regarding her concerns with the bill. She stated that the study should be implemented faster than the timelines provided in the bill. She testified regarding her concerns with the membership of the committee, stating that the committee should contain a representative who is a rehabilitation therapist, a representative of the Division of Insurance, and a representative of the disability community. She responded to comments by Senator Hanna regarding the membership of the committee.

02:15 PM -- Sheila Hicks, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, stated that the coalition has not taken a position on the bill, but asked that one or, ideally, two persons with physical or mental disabilities be members of the committee.

02:17 PM -- Dr. Elinor Christiansen, representing herself, testified regarding high cost of health care and the lack of access to health care treatment. She stated that the system is broken and that the state must find a way to work toward affordable health care.

02:20 PM -- Christine O'Connor, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and in support of universal health care.

02:21 PM -- Paula Stearns, Colorado Nurses Association, testified that the health and business communities are ready for significant and comprehensive changes to the health care system.

02:24 PM -- Michele Swenson, representing herself, testified that the current health care financing system relies on cost-shifting and that the high administrative costs of health care are not currently being addressed.

02:25 PM -- Bob Carlsten, Health Care for All Colorado, testified that many people fall through the cracks of the current system. He stated that the current practice of risk underwriting in health care is untenable and adds administrative costs to the system.

02:28 PM -- Christine O'Connor, returned to the table to encourage the committee to expand the membership of the health care reform committee.


02:28 PM

Senator Hanna gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:SB06-208
TIME: 02:30:12 PM
MOVED:Johnson
MOTION:Amend page 4, line 27, strike "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE" and substitute "ACCESS,". The motion passed 5-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
No
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
No
Hagedorn
Yes
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:SB06-208
TIME: 02:35:45 PM
MOVED:Hanna
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-208, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 6-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
No
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Hagedorn
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:38 PM

The committee recessed briefly.