Bill Summary for Bill Number HB05-1015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB05-1015

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes:

Action Taken:

Refer the bill to the Committee on Appropriations.

PASS

01:42 PM -- House Bill 05-1015

Representative Romanoff, sponsor, presented the bill adding substance abuse treatment as a benefit under the state's Medicaid program. He stated 47 other states already offer such coverage.

The following persons testified.

01:45 PM -- Jeanne Nicholson, Colorado Counties, Inc., spoke in support of the bill. She answered questions about the impact of substance abuse on families.

01:49 PM -- Janet Wood, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD), Department of Human Services (DHS), spoke in support of the bill and distributed a document to members (Attachment A). She described the Special Connections program, the Medicaid substance abuse treatment program for pregnant women. She discussed cost-savings associated with substance abuse programs and answered questions about recidivism.

01:54 PM -- George Epp, County Sheriffs of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. He stated 70 percent of persons incarcerated in county jails have problems with drugs and/or alcohol. He discussed the current lack of substance abuse treatment programs and answered questions regarding incarceration.

01:58 PM -- Tom Brewster, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the benefits associated with substance abuse treatment programs.

02:01 PM -- Bill Wendt, Cignal Behavioral Health Network, spoke in support of the bill.

02:02 PM -- Adam Brickner, Denver Human Services, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a document to members (Attachment B).

02:05 PM -- David Winfrey, National Association of Social Workers, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed his work with the Medicaid mental health program.

02:08 PM -- Lisa Esgar, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, discussed the bill's fiscal note, including its provisions regarding costs and caseloads.

02:11 PM -- Susan Williams, Arapahoe House, discussed her experience with substance abuse.

02:18 PM -- Tonya Wheeler, Advocates for Recovery, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a document to members (Attachment C).

02:21 PM -- Cheryl Lang, citizen, discussed her work in substance abuse treatment.

02:25 PM -- Janice Greenwood, Miracles Program, discussed her experience with substance abuse.

02:26 PM -- Rita Jones, citizen, discussed her experience with substance addicts.

02:28 PM -- Priscilla Hugly, citizen, discussed her experience with substance abuse.

02:31 PM

Representative Romanoff made concluding remarks. He discussed the state's ranking in substance abuse and treatment. He answered questions about the proposed program's cost-effectiveness. A folder from the Colorado Association of Alcohol and Drug Service Providers was distributed to members (Attachment D).

02:37 PM

Members commented on the bill.


BILL:	HB05-1015
TIME:	02:38:18 PM
MOVED:	Weissmann
MOTION:	Refer the bill to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 10-1.
SECONDED:	Riesberg
		VOTE
	Berens	Yes
	Clapp	No
	Cloer	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Lundberg	Excused
	McGihon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stafford	Yes
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Boyd	Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS