STAFF SUMMARY OF FIRST MEETING OF

FIRST CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB05-1101

Date:04/20/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:08:34 AM to 08:55 AM
Boyd
X
Hanna
*
Place:HCR 0111
Sullivan
X
Johnson
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Shaffer
X
Representative McGihon
McGihon
X
This Report was prepared by
Todd Jorgensen


08:36 AM

Representative McGihon discussed draft conference committee report CLHB 1101.001 (Attachment A). She expressed concern that the report does not address the problem created by the Senate amendment. The Senate amendment added language attempting to clarify that the policy holder may decide whether or not to add the additional coverage for the dependent child. Representative McGihon told the committee that the Senate amendment language allows the possibility for a small business policy holder to make the decision on coverage rather than the parent. Committee report CLHB 1101.001 strikes "policy-holder" and substitutes "parent or guardian." Representative McGihon feels that the language in the draft committee report is still problematic because it removes responsibility for payment from the policy holder.

Senator Shaffer added that the concept is simple when the individual is the policy holder but that it can become more complicated when a small business is policy holder. The intent is for the parent to choose whether or not to add the child, not for the policy holder, who may in some cases be the small business. Representative McGihon offered that she was told the current language could present a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) if the policy holder makes a decision regarding the coverage. Senator Hanna questioned whether this indeed presented concerns regarding HIPAA. Representative McGihon explained that the potential violation is not regarding who makes the payment, but that the business is making the decision on whether or not the group has the policy coverage for the child.


















08:45 AM

The conference committee discussion continued. Representative McGihon discussed her intentions under the original version of the bill. She then offered language for a conceptual amendment that would express the concerns discussed this morning by the conference committee.
BILL:HB05-1101
TIME: 08:51:14 AM
MOVED:McGihon
MOTION:Moved that the conference committee report be revised to amend the rerevised bill by striking on page 2, line 11 "policy-holder" and by substituting language that will convey the intent that the parent will decide whether or not their coverage includes the child and the policy-holder is responsible for payment.
SECONDED:Sullivan
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Sullivan
Yes
Johnson
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


08:55 AM

Adjourned.