House Committee on Health and Human Services (04/20/2005)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/20/2005	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:16 AM to 01:26 PM	Berens	X
		Clapp	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Cloer	X
		Green	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Lundberg	X
	Representative Boyd	McGihon	E
		Riesberg	E
This Report was prepared by		Soper	X
	Whitney Gustin	Stafford	X
		Sullivan	X
		Weissmann	X
		Frangas	X
		Boyd	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB05-155 Presentation by the Commission on Family Medicine Presentation by the System of Care Collaborative		Laid Over - -

11:17 AM -- Senate Bill 05-155

Representative Jahn, sponsor, presented the bill allowing certified nurse aides (CNAs) to administer medication to patients. Amendments L.008, L.009, L.010, L.012 L.013, and L.014 were distributed to members (Attachments A through F).

The following persons testified.

11:24 AM -- Kristine Reuss, RN, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill. She discussed her family's experience with medication aides and answered questions about the nursing shortage, safeguards for medication administration by CNAs, the process of administering medication, education levels of nurses, nurse oversight of medication administration, and administration of routine medications.

11:38 AM -- Marion Thornton, RN, citizen, discussed her concerns with the bill's potential unintended consequences, including increased demand for nursing faculty to educate CNAs.

11:42 AM -- Eve Hoygaard, RN, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

11:47 AM -- Danette Reitz, RN, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill. She discussed the type of patients currently cared for in nursing homes and the nursing shortage. She answered questions about differences in pay for CNAs and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

11:53 AM -- Paula Stearns, Colorado Nurses Association, spoke in opposition of the bill. She discussed concerns regarding patient safety and answered questions about nurses' opposition to the bill, similar legislation in other states, and CNAs' work skills.

12:02 PM -- Nisa Levy, NP, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill. She discussed concerns regarding the bill's impact on patient safety. She answered questions about recommended amendments to the bill.

12:08 PM -- Chris Crower, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

12:09 PM -- Neil Hillyard, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill. He discussed employee supervision and liability issues.

12:18 PM -- Janet Snipes, nursing home administrator, discussed pay rates for LPNs and CNAs and the nursing shortage.

12:20 PM -- Beth Irtz, RN, Pinon Management, spoke in support of the bill.

12:22 PM -- Arlene Miles, Colorado Health Care Association, discussed the nursing shortage, legislation regarding medication aides in other states, and career ladders for CNAs. She answered questions about pay rates for LPNs and CNAs, the cost of long-term care, and staffing ratios.

12:31 PM -- Mary Grace Smigiel, Colorado Homes and Services for the Aging, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the education and experience of medication aides. She answered questions about facilities that may benefit from the bill's provisions.

12:38 PM -- Rose McCool, Department of Regulatory Agencies, spoke in support of the bill and discussed laws regarding criminal background checks for health care providers.

12:42 PM

Representative Boyd announced SB 155 would be heard for action only on Monday, April 25.

12:44 PM -- Presentation by the Commission on Family Medicine

Dr. Antonio Prado, spoke regarding the recruitment of physicians to practice family medicine. He stated that family physicians are the primary providers of primary care in the state. A document was distributed to members (Attachment G).

12:48 PM

Dr. Charles Raye discussed medical residencies and the practice of family medicine. Dr. Patrick Sankovitz discussed funding for family medicine residencies. He stated medical residencies are becoming the health care safety nets for uninsured patients. Dr. Austin Bailey discussed U.S. health care spending and outcomes. He stated family physicians improve health incomes such as mortality rates while also reducing costs.

01:01 PM

Other members of the Commission on Family Medicine who were present in the audience introduced themselves. Presenters answered questions about the number of hours worked by medical residences.

01:09 PM -- Presentation by the System of Care Collaborative

Peg Long, Executive Director, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, introduced the presenters of the System of Care (SOC). Margie Grimsley, the Federation For Families for Children's Mental Health, discussed work done by professionals involved with children's and family's issues. Beverly Solomon discussed her family's experience with a dependency and neglect action, her custody of her grandchildren, and her involvement with SOC. A folder or information was distributed to members (Attachment H).

01:16 PM

Brian Mattson, Ph.D., Senior Consultant, Child Welfare League of America, discussed the SOC concept, how such systems were used to respond to the incident at Columbine High School, funding for family and children's services, and challenges of SOC. Ms. Long made concluding remarks, encouraging state departments to utilize SOC concepts and legislators to consider the concept when voting on legislation.

01:25 PM

The committee adjourned.