Date: 03/15/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-023

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 12-023 to the Committee of the WPASS



02:27 PM -- Senate Bill 12-023

Representative Summers and Representative A. Kerr introduced Senate Bill 12-023. The bill modifies outreach and enrollment policies for the Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). The bill allows a person enrolled in a managed care organization under Medicaid, such as an Accountable Care Collaborative, to terminate such enrollment and opt to receive services through a PACE organization. It adds services provided by a PACE organization to the list of long-term health care programs that Single Entry Point (SEP) agencies serve and requires SEPs to inform eligible persons about the benefits of PACE as an alternative to enrollment in a managed care or similar organization. Representative A. Kerr discussed the bill's fiscal note. Representative Summers responded to committee questions regarding the interaction of the PACE program and the Medicaid program. Representative A. Kerr responded to questions from the committee regarding the differences in the per capita costs of the PACE program and the costs of home- and community-based services through Medicaid. Representative A. Kerr further responded to questions from the committee regarding the counseling that is available to individuals seeking long-term care services. The committee discussed the bill's fiscal note, and the bill's potential to save costs over time.

02:45 PM -- Dr. Mary Tuuk, Total Long-term Care, described the history of the PACE program and stated that Colorado's program began in 1991. She discussed the complex medical needs of PACE clients. She described the PACE program, and how the program coordinates care between a number of health care providers. The program also coordinates transportation, and provides medications directly to the clients. She discussed how the program reduces nursing home and emergency room utilization. She responded to questions from the committee regarding whether the PACE program covers nursing home care, and Dr. Tuuk responded that the program does cover nursing home services, if necessary.

02:55 PM -- Beverly Dahan, Total Long-term Care, described her organization's experience as a provider of PACE services in Colorado. She stated the program currently serves 1,900 clients throughout Colorado. She further described the population served by PACE programs, stating that the program serves clients who are in need of nursing-home-like services at a much reduced cost. She noted that the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's efforts to establish Accountable Care Collaborative proposes to passively enroll clients into the collaborative, and while the department states that it values the PACE program, her goal is to ensure that the current enrollment in the PACE program is maintained. She stated that the goal of the bill is not to grow enrollment in the program.

03:01 PM -- Pam Cook, Senior Community Care, described her experience as a PACE program provider. Currently, her program serves 229 clients, and covers approximately 4,000 square miles. She stated that the primary referral sources for the program are hospitals and family physicians. She discussed the readmission rates of PACE program clients compared to the rates for Medicaid fee-for-service clients.

03:07 PM -- Fofi Mendez, Total Community Options, testified on behalf of former Representative Don Marostica. She noted that the PACE programs are a cost-effective alternative to Medicaid, and stated that PACE coordinates all of the clients medical and long-term care needs. She discussed the cost savings associated with PACE programs and noted that PACE program are particularly cost-effective at the end of a person's life.

03:11 PM

Representative Summers noted that the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is in support of the bill. Ms. Mendez returned to the table to discuss amendments to the bill made in the Senate.


03:16 PM -- Kerry White, Legislative Council Staff, responded to committee questions regarding the bill's fiscal note. She addressed the differences in the per-capita costs for nursing home services, home and community-based services, and PACE services. Representative A. Kerr commented on the costs of and services offered in various long-term care settings.

BILL:SB12-023
TIME: 03:24:08 PM
MOVED:Summers
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 12-023 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Massey
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
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




03:30 PM

The committee adjourned.