Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Date:03/15/2012
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:34 PM to 03:30 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
Elizabeth Burger
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:
HB12-1242
HB12-1268
SB12-023		Postponed Indefinitely
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


01:35 PM -- House Bill 12-1242

Representative Summers announced that House Bill 12-1294 would be laid over until next Tuesday, March 20.


01:37 PM

Representative Massey introduced House Bill 12-1242. The bill requires the Division of Registrations in the Department of Regulatory Agencies to develop an electronic system to monitor and store in a secure database information related to prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs that are known as methamphetamine precursors. He asked that the bill be postponed indefinitely.
BILL:HB12-1242
TIME: 01:38:39 PM
MOVED:Massey
MOTION:Postpone indefinitely House Bill 12-1242. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Summers
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

01:39 PM -- House Bill 12-1268

Representative Acree introduced House Bill 12-1268. The bill was re-referred to the committee from the Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday, March 14. The committee previously considered witness testimony on the bill on February 23, 2012. She distributed amendment L.003 and a memorandum regarding the fiscal note (Attachments A and B). The bill concerns the transfer of construction plan reviews and inspections of health facilities from the Department of Public Health and Environment to the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Public Safety. Amendment L.003 establishes October 1, 2012, as the date by which the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Public Safety and the Governor are required to submit the application to the federal Department of Health and Human Services that, upon approval, will permit the Department of Public Safety to perform life safety inspections of facilities that provide services to persons covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The amendment delays implementation of the other provisions of the bill to July 1, 2013, and specifies that the bill will take effect only if the federal waiver has been approved.

120315AttachA.pdf120315AttachB.pdf


01:44 PM -- Kirk Mlinek, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to explain the bill's revised fiscal note. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the FTE increase identified in the revised fiscal note. He further discussed the revised fiscal note, the increased expenditures under the bill, and the fiscal impact of amendment L.003.

02:01 PM

Representative Acree responded to questions from the committee regarding whether the Department of Public Safety is in support of the bill. Representative Acree reiterated that the goal of the bill is to streamline the inspection process.

02:05 PM -- Gail Finley, Colorado Hospital Association, responded to questions from Representative Young regarding the appeals process for safety inspections.

02:08 PM -- Kevin Kline, Colorado Department of Public Safety, came to the table to respond to committee questions regarding the current appeals process for inspections of public school buildings. He responded to questions from the committee regarding whether the department's appeals board has the necessary expertise to conduct life safety plan reviews. He responded to committee questions regarding why the Department of Public Safety is opposed to the bill, and discussed the differences between the inspection process for public schools and health care facilities. He stated that the issues identified by the hospitals with the inspection process are related more to the fact that multiple sets of building codes apply to health care facilities rather than the department that houses the inspection process. Ms. Finley agreed that the bill does not completely solve the issues related to multiple building codes, but stated that it does help to address the program. Ms. Finley responded to questions from the committee regarding why the Department of Public Health and Environment cannot be the final authority for issues related to multiple codes.
BILL:HB12-1268
TIME: 02:22:33 PM
MOVED:Acree
MOTION:Adopt prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Kerr J.
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:HB12-1268
TIME: 02:23:55 PM
MOVED:Acree
MOTION:Refer House Bill 12-1268, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bradford
Yes
Brown
Yes
Fields
No
Joshi
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCann
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Young
No
Acree
Yes
Summers
Yes
YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

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.