Date: 04/20/2009

Final
SUMMARY for HJR09-1022

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Joint Resolution 09-1022 to tPASS



02:24 PM -- House Joint Resolution 09-1022

Representative Frangas presented House Joint Resolution 09-1022 which creates a 13-member task force to study issues relating to home care placement agencies during the 2009 legislative interim. He stated that the task force is required to meet at least three times during the interim and to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by November 15, 2009. Committee members asked questions of the sponsor.

02:31 PM --
Karen Moorehead, Elderlink Home Care, testified that Senate Bill 08-153, which established licensing requirements for home health agencies, imposed minimum requirements on home care placement agencies. She stated that the requirements do not go far enough and are somewhat incomplete. She stated that an interim committee would allow the committee to study the issues and get some education concerning home care placement agencies. She responded to questions from the committee regarding current requirements for home care placement agencies that must register with the Department of Public Health and Environment. Ms. Moorehead testified that she is in favor of establishing an interim committee to address these issues.

02:38 PM --
Rita Lynne, All Generations Home Care, spoke in favor of the resolution. She explained the type of services that home care providers offer to their clients. She spoke to the affordability of home care services. She described a three-year study from the federal government that illustrated that approximately 7,000 home care providers in three different states had a criminal history. She stated that the federal legislation "Patient Safety and Abuse Act" will be introduced shortly to address some of the concerns mentioned.

02:44 PM --
Jonnelle Leimach, Adestein Home Care, spoke in favor of the resolution. She stated that she came to testify based on her personal story dealing with an elderly individual who was sick and needed care. She stressed that the one thing the seniors are concerned about most is not death, but remaining independent. She stated that home care agencies will continue to grow and that the elderly population is deserving of protection.

02:49 PM --
Ginny Brown, Legislative Liaison, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, expressed concern with regard to how the department's resources are required to be used under the language of the resolution. She stated that the resolution mandates that the department participate in the stakeholder meetings. She stated that while the department supports dialogue and discussion of these issues, the department must use its resources wisely at this time.


02:51 PM

Representative Frangas provided a wrap-up to the resolution. He stated that he would be willing to work with the department with regard to resources.
BILL:HJR 09 1022
TIME: 02:51:37 PM
MOVED:Green
MOTION:Moved to refer House Joint Resolution 09-1022 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 8-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Acree
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kagan
No
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
No
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
No
Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS