House Committee on Health and Environment (05/03/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Date:	05/03/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 04:04 PM	Bradford	X
		Brown	E*
Place:	LSB A	Fields	E*
		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:
SB12-108 SB12-090		Amended, Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations

01:33 PM -- Senate Bill 12-090

Representative Court presented Senate Bill 12-090, concerning restoring coverage for circumcision of males under Medicaid. The bill includes male circumcision as a reimbursable physician service provided in the Medicaid program. It also prohibits the Medical Services Board from limiting the provision of male circumcision. A fact sheet was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).

01:35 PM -- Senator Aguilar testified on the bill. She discussed the medical benefits of circumcision. Senator Aguilar responded to questions about whether private insurers cover circumcision and the costs related to the bill. Representative Joshi discussed the cultural differences concerning the practice of circumcision. Representative Schafer discussed recent reports that medical costs are not rising as previously thought. Representative Court made comments on the bill.

01:50 PM -- Gillian Longley, representing herself, testified against the bill. She discussed the elective nature of circumcision, health statistics related to circumcision, and costs related to circumcision. Ms. Longley responded to questions about what is defined as a medically necessary procedure, hygiene issues related to circumcision, and whether circumcision can cause harm.

01:58 PM -- Scot Anderson, representing himself, testified against the bill. He discussed information contained in the fiscal note, costs related to circumcision, and data related to circumcision and cases of HIV. Mr. Anderson responded to questions related to data on HIV-positive circumcised men.

02:05 PM -- Dr. Mathias Masem, representing himself, testified against the bill. He discussed health statistics related to circumcision. He stated that 17 other states have eliminated Medicaid funding for circumcision.

02:10 PM -- Michael Watkins, representing himself, testified against the bill.

02:14 PM -- Kendra Kabel, representing herself, testified against the bill. She discussed her experience as a parent related to circumcision. She responded to questions from the committee about her experience discussing circumcision with her doctor.

02:18 PM -- Sarah Baldridge, representing herself, testified against the bill. She discussed the lack of recent data on circumcision. Ms. Baldridge responded to a question regarding patient choice related to circumcision.

02:22 PM -- Craig Garrett, representing himself, testified against the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment B) to the committee, which he discussed in his testimony.

02:25 PM -- Jere DeBacker, representing himself, testified against the bill. He discussed historical information about circumcision and information contained in the handout (Attachment C) he provided to the committee. Mr. DeBacker responded to questions about the handout. Mr. DeBacker continued to discuss circumcision.

02:32 PM -- Dr. Jennifer Johnson, representing herself, testified against the bill. She discussed her experiences as a parent and physician related to circumcision. Dr. Johnson responded to questions about whether physicians are recommending circumcision, potential risks related to teen sexual activity and circumcision, and infection rates.

02:42 PM -- Dr. Jeremiah Bartley, Colorado Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics on circumcision and the benefits of circumcision to reduce viruses. He discussed the costs related to circumcision.

02:50 PM

Representative Court and Representative Summers responded to questions about Medicaid funding for circumcision. The committee continued to discuss the funding for the bill. Representative Court provided closing comments on the bill. The committee continued to discuss the bill.

02:57 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

02:58 PM

Senate Bill 12-090 was laid over until end of meeting. The committee took a brief recess.

03:01 PM -- Senate Bill 12-108

Representative Summers allowed Representative Kefalas to chair the meeting during the discussion of Senate Bill 12-108.

03:02 PM

Representative Summers presented Senate Bill 12-108, concerning providing oral health services to pregnant women who are enrolled in Medicaid. The bill requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to provide certain dental benefits to pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid by January 1, 2014. He discussed the background of the bill. He continued to discuss the benefits of the bill and a potential amendment.

03:09 PM

Representative A. Kerr made comments on the bill. The sponsors responded to questions with regard to the costs related to the bill and the health benefits related to dental care.

03:19 PM -- Dr. Jeff Kahl, Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the issues related to poor dental care and Medicaid dental care. He discussed the positive outcomes that could result from the bill. Dr. Kahl responded to questions related to the potential risks poor dental care can have on the fetus or pregnancy outcomes and how the bill is going to be funded.

03:31 PM -- Zach Zaslow, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the caseload of Children's Hospital related to dental care.

03:34 PM -- Hana Low, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. She explained the benefits the bill could provide and how oral disease can be passed from mother to child.

03:36 PM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Association of Dental Hygienists, testified in support of the bill.

03:37 PM -- Jeff Thormodsgaard, Colorado Dental Association, testified on the bill. He discussed how the bill would be funded. Mr. Thormodsgaard responded to questions about the dental benefits provided by bill related to the Medicaid authorization.

03:42 PM -- Kerry White, Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions about the bill with regard to the funding for the bill, the federal match for the program, and when the program would be implemented. Ms. White continued to respond to questions about the fiscal note.

03:48 PM

Representative Summers explained amendment L.007 (Attachment D), which requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to design and implement a limited oral health benefit for pregnant and early postpartum women. Representative A. Kerr and Representative Summers responded to questions about the amendment.


BILL:	SB12-108
TIME:	03:52:26 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.007 (Attachment D). 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

03:53 PM

Representative Summers made final remarks on the bill. Representative A. Kerr discussed the organizations that support the bill. Representative Bradford commented on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-108
TIME:	03:59:41 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-108, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Bradford	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	Yes
	Summers	Yes

YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:01 PM

Representative Kefalas made comments about serving on the committee.

04:01 PM -- Senate Bill 12-090


BILL:	SB12-090
TIME:	04:02:18 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-090 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED:	Peniston
		VOTE
	Bradford	No
	Brown	No
	Fields	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	No
	Massey	No
	McCann	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Acree	No
	Summers	Yes

YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

4:02 PM

Representative Summers explained that it is anticipated that one more bill will be assigned to the committee. The committee adjourned.