Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (04/23/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/23/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:35 PM to 02:47 PM	Carroll M.	X
		Lundberg	*
Place:	SCR 353	Mitchell	*
		Morse	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Newell	X
	Senator Boyd	Schultheis	X
		Tochtrop	X
This Report was prepared by		Boyd	X
	Elizabeth Burger
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Conf 09-CoverColorado Board of Directors Conf 09-Colorado Children's Trust Fund Board HB09-1332 HB09-1047 HB09-1339		Favorably Refer to the Full Senate Favorably Refer to the Full Senate Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:36 PM

Dr. Christine Gilroy and Jayne Howard, Governor's appointees to the CoverColorado Board of Directors discussed their backgrounds and interest in serving on the board. Copies of their appointment letters and resumes were distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Ms. Howard responded to questions from Senator Tochtrop regarding the premiums charged to participants in the CoverColorado program.

Attachment A can be viewed at State Archives.


BILL:	Conf 09-CoverColorado Board of Directors
TIME:	01:42:06 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Refer the appointments of Dr. Christine Gilroy and Jayne Howard to the CoverColorado Board of Directors to the full Senate. The motion passed on an 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:43 PM

Jesse Wolff, Governor's appointee to the Colorado Children's Trust Fund Board, discussed his background and interest in serving on the board. Copies of his resume and appointment letter were distributed to the committee (Attachment B).

Attachment B can be viewed at State Archives.


BILL:	Conf 09-Colorado Children's Trust Fund Board
TIME:	01:45:33 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Refer the appointment of Jesse Wolff to the Colorado Children's Trust Fund Board to the full Senate. The motion passed on a 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:48 PM -- House Bill 09-1332

Senator White introduced House Bill 09-1332. The bill repeals the requirement for the Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct cumulative economic analyses of the costs of air quality regulations. A handout concerning the bill was distributed to the committee (Attachment C).

01:49 PM -- Paul Tourangeau, Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. He testified that the requirement is duplicative and costly.


BILL:	HB09-1332
TIME:	01:49:59 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1332 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:50 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

01:53 PM -- House Bill 09-1047

The committee reconvened. Senator Williams introduced House Bill 09-1047. The bill establishes a pilot program to allow Medicaid clients with spinal cord injuries who are eligible for home- and community-based services to receive complementary or alternative therapies. Alternative therapies are limited to chiropractic care, massage, and acupuncture performed by licensed or certified providers. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing must apply for a federal waiver in order to implement the bill. She discussed the funding for the bill, stating that private organizations have committed to providing funds to cover the costs of submitting the waiver. She asked that an amendment be offered to remove the bill's appropriation. She responded to questions from Senator Boyd regarding funding for the bill, stating that the bill specifies that the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing does not have to submit the waiver until sufficient funds are obtained.

01:59 PM -- Artie Guerrero, representing himself, testified regarding his injuries, and stated that alternative therapies provide valuable therapy to persons with spinal cord injuries. He stated that the use of alternative therapies saves the state and federal government money by preventing other injuries and illnesses from developing. He responded to questions from Senator Carroll regarding how disabled individuals currently obtain needed treatments.

02:06 PM -- Chanda Hinton, representing herself, testified regarding the treatments she has received for her spinal cord injury over the years. She spoke in support of the bill.

02:12 PM -- Melissa Hernandez, representing herself, testified regarding her injuries and the alternative treatments that could benefit her recovery. She stated that providing alternative treatments to individuals with spinal cord injuries will reduce costs to Medicaid if the treatments reduce the need for pain medication. She responded to questions from Senator Newell regarding mental health treatment. She responded to additional questions from Senator Mitchell.

02:30 PM -- Mr. Guerrero responded to additional questions from Senator Carroll regarding the number of individuals in Colorado with spinal cord injuries.

02:32 PM

Senator Williams gave concluding comments regarding the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1047
TIME:	02:34:31 PM
MOVED:	Carroll M.
MOTION:	Amend page 6, strike lines 6 through 14. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.
	Lundberg
	Mitchell
	Morse
	Newell
	Schultheis
	Tochtrop
	Boyd

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


BILL:	HB09-1047
TIME:	02:37:48 PM
MOVED:	Carroll M.
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1047, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:38 PM -- House Bill 09-1339

Senator Boyd introduced House Bill 09-1339. The bill defines "clinical social work practice" to mean the same as "social work practice." She stated that the goal of the bill is to allow social workers in all settings to be licensed.

02:40 PM -- Renee Rivera, Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers, Colorado Chapter, described the practice of social workers. She stated that there are many clinical social workers in a variety of settings, and the bill will allow clinical social workers in all settings to be licensed. She responded to questions from Senator Schultheis regarding how the bill affects employers.

02:45 PM

Senator Boyd gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1339
TIME:	02:46:00 PM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1339 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:46 PM

The committee recessed.