House Committee on Health and Environment (01/24/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Date:	01/24/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:04 AM to 05:46 PM	Bradford	X
		Brown	X
Place:	LSB A	Fields	X
		Joshi	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Kefalas	X
	Representative Summers	Kerr J.	X
		Massey	X
This Report was prepared by		McCann	X
	Amanda King	Peniston	X
		Schafer S.	X
		Young	X
		Acree	X
		Summers	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Budget Recommendation for DHS Budget Recommendations for HCPF Budget Recommendations for DPH&E Sunset Review - Comm for Indiv Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Sunset Review for the Regulation of Hemodialysis Technicians Sunset Review for the Colorado Board of Pharmacy HB12-1054 HB12-1052		Made Recommendations Concerning Department Budget Made Recommendations Concerning Department Budget Made Recommendations Concerning Department Budget Recommend the Commission be Allowed to Sunset Recommend that a Bill be Drafted Recommend that a Bill be Drafted Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Economic and Business Development

10:06 AM -- Budget Recommendation for DHS

Representative Summers provided an overview of the SMART Act process under House Bill 11-1119.

Julia Martinez,, legislative liaison for the Department of Human Services (DHS) introduced Will Kugel, budget director for (DHS), and Jay Morein, director of the Office of Performance and Strategic Outcomes within DHS. Mr. Kugel and Mr. Morein reviewed the items contained in the Colorado Department of Human Services Summary of FY 2012-13 Funding Requests (Attachment A). Mr. Kugel responded to questions from the committee about issues concerning wait lists, waivers, dual enrollment, and the proposed electronic health record and pharmacy system feasibility study. Mr. Morein responded to questions about the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) budget request.

10:27 AM

Mr. Kugel continued explaining the DHS budget request items. Mr. Kugel and the committee dialogued about the building and grounds cash fund adjustment. Mr. Kugel and Mr. Morein responded to questions about the child support enforcement program budget request and the legal auxiliary services budget request.


BILL:	Budget Recommendation for DHS
TIME:	10:37:16 AM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved to approve the budget recommendations as presented by the Department of Human Services. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Acree
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Excused
	Acree	Yes
	Summers	Yes

YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:39 AM -- Budget Recommendations for HCPF

Carrie Cortiglio, legislative liaison for Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), introduced herself and John Bartholomew, budget director for HCPF. Mr. Bartholomew provided the committee with the HCPF Schedule 10, Schedule 11, and Schedule 12 (Attachment B) and provided an overview of the items contained in the documents. Mr. Bartholomew responded to questions about budget request R-5 concerning Medicaid fee-for-service reform and the request for additional FTE for this budget item, budget request R-4 concerning the Medicare Modernization Act state contribution payment and its relationship to federal funding, budget request R-12 concerning the hospital provider fee administrative true-up, the nonpriorized funding request overlap with the Department of Human Services budget, the difference between prioritized and nonprioritized items, and budget request R-13 concerning the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) Electronic Document Management System.

10:54 AM

The committee continued to dialogue with Mr. Bartholomew about the HCPF budget requests, and specifically regarding the budget request related to the hospital provider fee.


BILL:	Budget Recommendations for HCPF
TIME:	11:00:03 AM
MOVED:	Fields
MOTION:	Moved to accept the budget recommendation as presented by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:	Kefalas
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	Yes
	Summers	Yes

YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:01 AM -- Budget Recommendations for DPH&E

Eliza Park, legislative liaison for the Department of Public Health and Environment (DPH&E) and Kim Fear, budget director for DPH&E, introduced themselves to the committee. Ms. Park and Ms. Fear explained the Funding Request for the 2012-13 Budget Cycle documents that were distributed to the committee (Attachments A- H). Ms. Parks and Ms. Fear responded to questions regarding the school-based health centers, including the criteria used to decide to reduce program funding in order to reduce the General Fund budget of DPH&E. Ms. Fear responded to questions about the R-2 Preventative Health Funding budget request and explained the availability of other funds for the programs contained in the budget request, such as the Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Ms. Fear responded to questions about the R-1 Solid Waste Program Increase budget request.


BILL:	Budget Recommendations for DPH&E
TIME:	11:13:29 AM
MOVED:	McCann
MOTION:	Moved to approve the budget recommendations presented by the Department of Public Health and Environment and recommend to the JBC that if the March revenue projections are better than expected that the school-based health centers funding be restored. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Massey
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Excused
	Young	Yes
	Acree	Yes
	Summers	Yes

YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:17 AM

Representative Summers reviewed some of the information contained in the 2012 Legislative Session House Health and Environment Committee Sunset Reviews Memo (Attachment I) in anticipation of the sunset reviews the committee would be hearing later in the day.

11:18 AM

The committee recessed.

01:35 PM

Representative Summer called the committee back to order.

01:36 PM -- Sunset Review of the Colorado Commission for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Representative Summers provided an overview of the sunset process.

01:39 PM -- Brian Tobias, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), provided a general overview of the sunset process, included explaining the two different sunset statutes. He explained that section 24-34-104, C.R.S., provides for a full treatment review of a program that is set to repeal and explained the steps DORA takes during the sunset review pursuant to section 24-34-104, C.R.S. Mr. Tobias explained that section 2-3-1203, C.R.S., provides for the sunset review of advisory committees and the lack of criteria for this type of review.

Mr. Tobias provided an overview of the Colorado Commission for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (commission), including the responsibilities and duties of the commission. The committee was provided a copy of the 2011 Sunset Review: Colorado Commission for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (Attachment J) and LLS 12-0283 - Concerning the continuation of the Colorado commission for individuals who are blind or visually disabled (Attachment K). Mr. Tobias explained that the commission is funded through the Colorado Disabled Telephone Users Fund and that the commission spent approximately $98,000 in FY 2010-11. He explained the proposals of the commission contained in the sunset report and the status of those proposals. He stated that DORA is recommending to continue the commission for five years. Mr. Tobais responded to questions from the committee about why the commission is considered an advisory committee, the input of stakeholders had during the sunset review, and how many meetings the commission held in 2011.

01:51 PM -- Jean McAllister, administrator for the commission, introduced herself. She stated she was appearing before the committee in a neutral capacity. She said the commission has had four full meeting in the last year. She referred the committee to the Colorado Commission for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Annual Report 2011 contained in the packet provided to the committee (Attachment L). The committee was also provided a packet of letters concerning the commission (Attachment M). Ms. McAllister addressed questions about the similarities the commission has with the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the level of involvement at the commission meetings by members of the blind community, and the awareness of the commission about any dissatisfaction in the blind community regarding the effectiveness of the commission.

01:58 PM -- Dr. Nalin Mehta, chair of the commission, described the various advocacy and stakeholder groups in the blind community. He explained the progress the commission has made during his service on the commission to bring the various stakeholder groups together and to disseminate information. He stated his support for continuing the commission. Dr. Mehta responded to questions about the challenges that commission has had in bringing the stakeholders together. He responded to questions about the expenditures of the commission. He expressed his concerns about what could happen if one stakeholder group took over the work of the commission.

02:10 PM -- Jean McAllister returned to the table to explain the items included in the commission's personal services budget, which includes staff, braille documents for the commissioners, interpretative services, and travel expenses. She stated the commission is assigned one FTE in response to a question from Representative Joshi.
02:11 PM -- Penn Street, commission member, stated her support for continuing the commission. She explained improvements that have been made to state's employment website to allow individuals who are blind or visually impaired to apply for jobs. She stated that the unemployment rate for the blind community is about 70 percent. Ms. Street responded to questions about the commission's vote to continue the commission. She described her experience of voting on her own, which she explained was facilitated by the efforts of the commission. Ms. Street responded to a question about the wide range of interested persons covered by the commission membership. Ms. Street responded to questions about the efforts of the commission to improve the state's website. She responded to questions about the accomplishments and goals of the commission, including describing the efforts to facilitate employment of individuals who are blind and visually impaired and how the commission evaluates its impact.

02:24 PM -- Julie Hunter, representing the Colorado Parents of Blind Children, which she explained is a division of the National Federation of the Blind, stated she is a former member of the commission. She expressed her support for allowing the commission to sunset. She expressed her concerns about the budget and the progress of the commission. Ms. Hunter responded to questions about the long-term impact of allowing the commission to sunset, whether the work of the commission is redundant, whether the Americans with Disabilities Act requires website accessibility, and whether technology could be used allow commissioners to telecommute to meetings.

02:33 PM -- Kevan Worley, former commission member, explained his service on the commission, as the well as the reasons that caused him to resign from the commission. He explained the need for services for the blind and visually impaired. He expressed concerns about the commission's budget, the difficulties incorporating public testimony into the commission's meetings, and the accomplishments of the commission. Mr. Worley responded to questions about the accomplishments of the commission and whether the community has the capacity to carry out the mission of the commission if the commission is allowed to sunset.

Representative Bradford expressed concerns about the geographic representation of the membership of the commission.

02:46 PM -- Scott LaBarre, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, explained his role in creating the commission. He stated he is a member of the commission. He expressed his concerns about structure and funding of the commission. He expressed his concerns about the accomplishments the commission claims to have achieved, specifically related to voting and website accessibility. He explained how the funding for the commission could be otherwise utilized to secure additional federal funding for services.

02:54 PM -- Chris Foster, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, expressed the opinion that the commission should be allowed to sunset and the appropriations should be used elsewhere. He responded to questions about whether any groups support the continuation of the commission, if the commission is allowed to sunset whether there would be gaps in services and information, and how website designs can meet the needs of the blind or visually impaired.

Representative Fields expressed her concerns about how communication with the Governor will occur if the commission is not continued.

The committee dialogued about what would occur if the commission is allowed to sunset, with regard to a wind-up period for the commission and potential future legislation.

Kristen Forrestal, Office of Legislative Legal Services, clarified that because the commission is an advisory board it would not have a year wind-up period. She responded to questions about whether legislation is needed to allow the commission to sunset.


BILL:	Sunset Review of the Colorado Commission for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
TIME:	03:02:31 PM
MOVED:	Kerr J.
MOTION:	Moved to allow the Colorado Commission of the Blind and Visually Impaired to sunset. The motion passed on a vote of 9-1.
SECONDED:	Brown
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	No
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	Excused
	Summers	Yes

YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:03 PM

The committee took a brief recess.
03:17 PM

The committee came back to order.

03:18 PM -- Sunset Review for the Regulation of Hemodialysis Technicians

Ellen Graham, DORA, gave an overview of the hemodialysis technicians profession and the process for becoming certified as a hemodialysis technician. The committee was provided copies of the 2011 Sunset Review: Hemodialysis Technicians (Attachment N) and LLS 12-0242 - Concerning the continuation of the regulation of hemodialysis technicians, and, in connection therewith, implementing the sunset review recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies (Attachment O). Ms. Graham explained that there is also a federal certification requirement for hemodialysis technicians. She stated this was the first sunset review of the regulation of hemodialysis technicians. She reviewed the three recommendations contained in the sunset report, which include the continuation of the regulation of hemodialysis technicians for seven years, clarifying that DPH&E verify the credentials of hemodialysis technicians as part of the survey/inspection process for dialysis treatment clinics, and revising the statutory provision regarding who may supervise hemodialysis technicians. She responded to questions about the federal requirement concerning hemodialysis technicians, how many other states have similar laws, and turnover rates and quality of care in the profession.

Representative Bradford commented on home dialysis caregivers.

03:31 PM -- Chris Schwab, representing himself, stated that his daughter has kidney disease. He expressed his support for continuing the regulation of hemodialysis technicians. He responded to the comments about home dialysis caregivers.

Representative Brown asked about the cost of the program. Representative Summers reviewed information contained in the sunset report related to the program expenditures. Representative Joshi explained his experience operating dialysis treatment clinics. The committee dialogued about the costs to dialysis treatment clinics for the regulation of hemodialysis technicians. Ms. Graham responded to questions about the dialysis treatment clinic licensing fees. The committee continued to dialogue with Ms. Graham about the relationship between the state statutes and federal regulations, home dialysis caregivers, and what would happen if the regulation of hemodialysis technicians was allowed to sunset.

The committee continued to dialogue about the regulation of hemodialysis technicians, including reviewing the language in the bill draft of LLS 12-0242 (Attachment O).


BILL:	Sunset Review for the Regulation of Hemodialysis Technicians
TIME:	03:47:18 PM
MOVED:	McCann
MOTION:	Moved to approve bill draft LLS 12-0242 (Attachment O) for introduction. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:	Schafer S.
		VOTE
	Bradford	No
	Brown	No
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	No
	Massey	Excused
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	No
	Summers	Yes

YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Representative McCann will be the sponsor of the bill. Representatives Kefalas and Young will be co-sponsors of the bill.

03:59 PM -- Sunset Review for the Colorado Board of Pharmacy

Saul Larsen, DORA, provided an overview of the sunset report for the State Board of Pharmacy, including explaining the 13 recommendations contained in the report. The committee was provided a copy of the 2011 Sunset Review: Colorado State Board of Pharmacy (Attachment P) and LLS 12-0234 - Concerning continuation of the state board of pharmacy, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations contained in the sunset review and report of the board (Attachment Q). Mr. Larsen responded to questions from the committee about veterinary medicine practices related to the oversight of the board of pharmacy.

04:18 PM -- Bill DeMoss, Mountain Vet Supply, Inc., expressed his support of recommendation #6 - concerning exempting veterinary prescription drugs from the pedigree requirement. He expressed his concerns about recommendation #7 - concerning permitting licensed veterinarians to call in an order of a drug intended for veterinary use, specifically related to the follow-up procedures. Representative Summers explained that there may be amendments to address that concern. Mr. DeMoss explained the need for representation of someone with livestock or agricultural experience on the board of pharmacy. He explained the request for a differential license for distribution of veterinary drugs, which is not included in the report.

04:23 PM -- Val Kalnins, Colorado Pharmacists Society, and Tim Mead, Long Term Care/Pharmerica, provided testimony on the sunset report for the board of pharmacy. Mr. Kalnins referenced the fact sheet provided to the committee (Attachment R). The committee was also given a copy of the members of the Colorado Pharmacy Coalition (Attachment S). Mr. Kalnins and Mr. Mead discussed recommendation #4 - concerning expanding the current definition of "other outlet" registration to allow ambulatory surgical centers and medical clinics operated by hospitals, as well as long-term facilities, to register as "other outlets." The committee dialogued with Mr. Mead about what facilities should be included in the "other outlets"catergory or in a new category of "specialized prescription drug outlets." Mr. Kalnins stated the Colorado Pharmacists Society's support of recommendations 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 and conditional support of recommendations 3, 4, 5, 11, and 13 contained in the sunset report for the State Board of Pharmacy.

04:33 PM -- Brad Young, Rx Plus Pharmacies, explained one recommendation that was not included in the sunset report concerning reorganizing the statutes that regulate pharmacists to appear with the other health care professions, rather than with general professions. The committee continued to dialogue with Mr. Young about where the statutes regulating pharmacists appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. Mr. Young stated Rx Plus Pharmacies' support of Mr. Kalnins comments.

04:40 PM -- Catherine Jarvis, Associate Dean of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Marianne McCollum, Interim Dean of the Regis University School of Pharmacy, stated their support of amendment L.004 (Attachment T) concerning pharmacy interns. Ms. Jarvis and Ms. McCollum responded to questions about the supervision of pharmacy interns.


BILL:	Sunset Review for the Colorado Board of Pharmacy
TIME:	04:46:05 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment T). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Brown
		VOTE
	Bradford
	Brown
	Fields
	Joshi
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Massey
	McCann
	Peniston
	Schafer S.
	Young
	Acree
	Summers

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

04:48 PM

Representative Summers explained amendment L.002 (Attachment U) concerning calling in prescription orders in a veterinary situation and the responsibility for follow-up within 72 hours of when an oral prescription order is issued. Representative Kefalas asked who would enforce the requirement. Representative Summers responded that the State Board of Veterinary Medicine would be responsible for enforcement of the requirement.


BILL:	Sunset Review for the Colorado Board of Pharmacy
TIME:	04:49:15 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment U). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kefalas
		VOTE
	Bradford
	Brown
	Fields
	Joshi
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Massey
	McCann
	Peniston
	Schafer S.
	Young
	Acree
	Summers

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

04:50 PM

Representative Summers explained another amendment concerning the "other outlets" category, but stated he wanted to wait address the issue at a later time.

Representative Kefalas discussed a conceptual amendment to expand the membership of the state pharmacy board. The committee dialogued about the conceptual amendment.

Christy Chase, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained that an amendment could be drafted to include additional members on the board of pharmacy, but additional clarification would be needed. She stated the board currently consists of seven members.


BILL:	Sunset Review for the Colorado Board of Pharmacy
TIME:	04:51:32 PM
MOVED:	Kefalas
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment to add 2 members on the pharmacy board who have expertise in veterinary medicine and agriculture livestock issues. The motion was withdrawn.
SECONDED:	Brown
		VOTE
	Bradford
	Brown
	Fields
	Joshi
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Massey
	McCann
	Peniston
	Schafer S.
	Young
	Acree
	Summers

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Withdrawn

04:56 PM

Representative Kefalas discussed moving the pharmacy statutes into the portion of the Colorado Revised Statutes that contain the other health care statutes.

Christy Chase, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained the impact of relocating the statutes that regulate pharmacists.


BILL:	Sunset Review for the Colorado Board of Pharmacy
TIME:	04:58:08 PM
MOVED:	Kefalas
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment to relocate the statutes pertaining to the State Board of Pharmacy to the area of the statutes related to other health care professionals. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Brown
		VOTE
	Bradford
	Brown
	Fields
	Joshi
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Massey
	McCann
	Peniston
	Schafer S.
	Young
	Acree
	Summers

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	Sunset Review for the Colorado Board of Pharmacy
TIME:	04:58:59 PM
MOVED:	Kerr J.
MOTION:	Moved to approve bill draft LLS 12-0234 (Attachment Q), as amended, for introduction. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Fields
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	Yes
	Summers	Yes

YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Representative Summers will be the sponsor of the bill. Representatives Kefalas, Acree, Young, Fields, Schafer, Joshi, McCann, and Brown will be co-sponsors.

04:59 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

05:07 PM

The committee came back to order.

05:08 PM -- House Bill 12-1054

Representative Fields presented House Bill 12-1054, which allows the HCPF to issue rules to simplify the procurement process for programs over which it has regulatory authority, including, but not limited to Medicaid, the Children's Health Plan Plus (CHP+), and the Colorado Indigent Care Program. Under the bill, a provider that has already completed a department-approved application will no longer be required to complete a secondary provider agreement and state contract for the sole purpose of complying with state fiscal rules. The committee was provided a fact sheet about the bill (Attachment V).

05:08 PM -- Chris Underwood, HCPF, explained that current statute requires providers under certain programs to complete contracts with HCPF. This has been interpreted that these providers need to complete both a participation agreement and a state contract. He said the bill would clarify that certain providers would not need state contracts.

05:11 PM -- Janet Stephens, Colorado Hospital Association, stated the association's support of the bill. She explained the administrative simplification the bill provides for hospitals.

05:13 PM

Representative Fields explained amendment L.001 (Attachment W) that provides clarification to ensure that HCPF is meeting all the necessary financial rules.


BILL:	HB12-1054
TIME:	05:13:24 PM
MOVED:	Fields
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment W). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Summers
		VOTE
	Bradford
	Brown
	Fields
	Joshi
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Massey
	McCann
	Peniston
	Schafer S.
	Young
	Acree
	Summers

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB12-1054
TIME:	05:13:59 PM
MOVED:	Fields
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 12-1054, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Schafer S.
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	Yes
	Summers	Yes

YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:16 PM -- House Bill 12-1052

Representative Summers provided an overview of House Bill 12-1052, concerning the collection of health care work force data from health care professionals. The bill requires DORA to collect health care workforce data from certain health care professionals when receiving their initial or renewal license applications beginning on or before July 1, 2013. The bill specifies which health care professionals are affected and what data elements are to be reported. The data collected is not required to be validated and there is no penalty for noncompliance. DORA is authorized to accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations to implement the data collection system. Representative Summers explained how the data would be analyzed and utilized. Representative Summers responded to questions from the committee about the impact on health care providers and the relationship the data will have to federal shortage areas data.

05:25 PM -- Stephen Holloway, DPH&E, explained the role of the Primary Care Office. He reviewed the information distributed to the committee (Attachment X). The committee and Mr. Holloway dialogued about the data availability, the fees that would be assessed, the information contained in the fiscal note, privacy issues related to the data that would be collected, if the data reporting would be mandatory, and what support exists for the bill.

05:32 PM -- Alicia Haywood, Colorado Rural Health Center, explained the role of the Colorado Rural Health Center. She expressed the organization's support of House Bill 12-1052. Ms. Haywood responded to questions about the funding for the program. The committee was provided a fact sheet (Attachment Y) and a letter of support from the Colorado Health Foundation (Attachment Z).

05:37 PM -- Fran Ricker, Colorado Nurses Association, explained the support of the association for House Bill 12-1052 and the need for the data that would be collected through the implementation of House Bill 12-1052. Ms. Ricker responded to questions about if the institutions of higher education have been contacted about the bill.

05:42 PM

Representative Summers provided wrap-up on the bill. Representative Summers responded to questions about the data that would be collected and the fiscal note.


BILL:	HB12-1052
TIME:	05:45:23 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 12-1052 to the Committee on Economic and Business Development. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Kefalas
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	Yes
	Summers	Yes

YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:46 PM

The committee adjourned.