House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor (03/31/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Date:	03/31/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	12:02 PM to 01:50 PM	Balmer	X
		Bradford	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Gagliardi	X
		Liston	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Priola	X
	Representative Rice	Ryden	X
		Scanlan	X
This Report was prepared by		Soper	X
	Christie Lee	Stephens	*
		Casso	X
		Rice	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB09-067 HB09-1204		Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

12:03 PM -- Senate Bill 09-067

Representative Gagliardi, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-067 concerning the authority for the operation of the Colorado Credit Reserve Program. Representative Marostica, also a prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-067, was presenting a bill in the Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee. The bill authorizes the Colorado Economic Development Commission to contract with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for the operation of a program to increase the availability of credit to small businesses in Colorado. It also provides $2.5 million in FY 2009-10 from the state General Fund for this purpose. Representative Gagliardi responded to questions from the committee.

12:09 PM -- Matthew Cheroutes, representing the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Economic Trade, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cheroutes responded to questions from the committee.

12:12 PM -- Tony Gagliardi, representing the National Federation of Independent Businesses, testified in support of the bill. He talked about the difficulty businesses are having obtaining credit from banks since they began tightening up on loan requirements. Mr. Gagliardi said the bill will help small businesses and microloans under $25,000.

12:16 PM -- Jenifer Saltzman, representing the Colorado Bankers Association, testified in support of the bill. She said the bill enables banks to make loans to marginal borrowers. Ms. Saltzman was asked to explain what she meant by "marginal". She explained that marginal is referring to borrowers who would have qualified a year or so ago for a loan but do not now because the lending standards have been tightened. Representative Ryden asked Ms. Saltzman to explain how banks would work with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to provide these loans.

12:20 PM -- Steve Johnson, representing the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, testified in support of the bill. He further explained the use of the term "marginal". He mentioned that this type of program has been around in 20 other states. Mr. Johnson responded to an earlier question of why the 1993 program is no longer around and how the banks will work with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.


BILL:	SB09-067
TIME:	12:24:58 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-067 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 11-0.
SECONDED:	Priola
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Bradford	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stephens	Yes
	Casso	Yes
	Rice	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:26 PM -- House Bill 09-1204

Representative Massey, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1204 concerning health insurance coverage for preventive health care services, and, in connection therewith, expanding required coverage for certain preventive health care services that receive high recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force and the National Commission on Prevention Priorities. Representative Massey distributed Amendment L.004 and a preamended version of the bill (Attachments A and B, respectfully).

This bill expands the required coverage for preventive health care services provided under individual and small group health insurance policies according to recommendations by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. These services include:

alcohol misuse screening and behavioral counseling interventions;
cervical cancer screening with pap smear every 3 years;
cholesterol screening every 5 years for men age 35 and older and women age 45 and older;
colorectal cancer screening for adults between 50 and 75 years of age;
childhood immunizations;
annual influenza vaccination for adults age 50 and over;
one pneumococcal vaccination for adults age 65 and older; and
tobacco use screening and cessation programs.

Copayments and coinsurance may apply, but must not exceed 10 percent of the cost of the preventive health care service.

12:31 PM -- Dr. Betsy Thompson, representing herself as a primary care physician and the Chief Medical Officer of San Luis Valley HMO, testified in support of the bill. She talked about studies that have shown that people will forego obtaining preventative services just because they have to pay a small fee. Dr. Thompson talked about the preventative services mandated by the bill and the process the United States Preventive Services Task Force and the National Commission on Prevention Priorities use to prioritize services. Dr. Thompson responded to questions from the committee.

12:43 PM -- Cindy Palmer, CEO of San Luis Valley HMO, testified in support of the bill. She talked about the criteria Dr. Thompson was given to come up with the prevented services listed in the bill. Ms. Palmer said the cost impact is minimal and that the most expensive service, colorectal cancer screening, was already passed last year. Ms. Palmer responded to questions from the committee about the scope of the bill. Ms. Palmer said it covers all individual and group plans, but does not cover self-funded plans. There was a discussion about the added services and the effect they will have on the cost of premiums.

12:54 PM -- Blaine Olsen, M.D., representing the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill. He said he agrees with Dr. Thompson's previous testimony and talked about people who put off tests, such as colonoscopies, due to the costs. Dr. Olsen talked about the benefits of early detection and the cost savings in the long run. He talked about the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. Representative Ryden asked if Dr. Olsen was confident that the extra cost to the insurance companies would not be taken out of the physician reimbursements.

12:59 PM -- Dr. Kerry Broderick, a Denver Health doctor, representing her patients, testified in support of the bill and talked about the importance of screening for alcohol use.

01:02 PM -- Dana Dzwonkowski, representing the American Cancer Society, testified in support of the bill and talked about patient protection laws. She also discussed the costs associated with cancer and how the costs increase as the cancer progresses.

01:08 PM -- Vanessa Hanneman, representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in support of the bill and the amendment that was distributed. Ms. Hanneman said they like that the bill references national guidelines and distributed a handout (Attachment C). She also referenced the 2008 Health Matters report that can be found on-line at: http://www.cbghealth.org/publications/2008Health_Matters_LowRes.pdf.

01:18 PM -- Kelly Shanahan, representing the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill and talked about discussions that took place last year that did not lead to legislation, but lead to interested parties coming together and ultimately, this bill.

01:20 PM -- Carmelita Muniz, representing the Colorado Association of Alcohol and Drug Service Providers, testified in support of the bill.

01:22 PM -- Susan Cox, representing Kaiser Permanente, said that they do not have a position on the bill. She talked about the costs associated with preventative services and said they do support preventative care because it deals with quality of care. Representative Liston asked about the impact of House Bill 08-1410, which requires that health insurance plans include coverage for colorectal cancer prevention services. Representative Massey said he plans on meeting with the Colorado Insurance Commissioner to discuss the implementation of this bill and House Bill 08-1410.


BILL:	HB09-1204
TIME:	01:28:11 PM
MOVED:	Soper
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Liston
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Bradford
	Gagliardi
	Liston
	Priola
	Ryden
	Scanlan
	Soper
	Stephens
	Casso
	Rice

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

01:33 PM

The committee recessed and moved into House Committee Room 0109.

01:40 PM

The committee came back to order and the drafter of the bill was asked to come to the table and respond to some questions about Amendment L.004. Christy Chase, drafter of the bill, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB09-1204
TIME:	01:47:00 PM
MOVED:	Soper
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1204, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 11-0.
SECONDED:	Liston
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Bradford	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stephens	Yes
	Casso	Yes
	Rice	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:50 PM

The committee adjourned.