Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-056

Date: 03/23/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-056

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.005 (Attachmen Moved to refer amended Senate Bill 09-056 to the C	Pass Without Objection PASS

03:19 PM -- Senate Bill 09-056

The committee reconvened. Representative Riesberg presented Senate Bill 09-056 which requires an outside, independent group to conduct a feasibility study concerning operations of the Trinidad State Nursing Home by August 1, 2009. Representative Riesberg explained that the Trinidad State Nursing Home has been operating at a $4 million loss since 1999. He stated there are several concerns regarding the deficit. Representative Riesberg explained to the committee that because the Trinidad State Nursing Home and the four other state-operated veteran homes are a cash-funded "enterprise", the Trinidad State Nursing Home deficit is draining resources from the other state-owned veteran homes. Representative Riesberg stated that the facility is need of about $8.5 million worth of repair. He stated that Senate Bill 09-056 will enable the state to transfer the facility to a private or public nursing home operator. A fact sheet in support of the bill, a financial sheet on the Trinidad State Nursing Home since 1996, and an outline of the legislative history of the nursing home was provided to the committee (Attachment B). There was discussion regarding the funding of the Trinidad State Nursing Home.

03:40 PM -- Bill Hanna, Director, Office of Policy and Legislative Initiatives, Department of Human Services, spoke in support of the bill. He concurred with what the sponsor of the bill relayed to the committee. Mr. Hanna stated that the department is concerned with the employees who are employed at the nursing home. He spoke to the feasibility study and what the department hopes to accomplish. He stated that the department would like to see a public/private collaboration regarding the operations of the state nursing home.

03:49 PM -- James Vigil, Las Animas County Commissioner, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Vigil stated that the nursing home is not a "toxic asset", and that there is some viability to it. Representative Green mentioned that most of the clients living in the state nursing home are not private paying clients, indicating that a majority of the clients are Medicaid clients. Mr. Vigil stated that approximately 15 percent of the clients at the Trinidad State Nursing Home are private paying clients. Mr. Vigil spoke to the significant impact on the loss of employment for the town of Trinidad if the state nursing home were to close. He stated that it would be the equivalent of Denver losing United Airlines as an employer.

04:00 PM -- Thomas Murphy, Las Animas Health Care District, testified in support of the bill. He stated that several stakeholders in the community have been meeting in order to solve the problem in the long run. He stated that the feasibility study will help address the issue immediately.

04:04 PM -- Vicki Manely, Office Director, State and Veteran Nursing Homes, Department of Human Services, spoke in support of the bill. She provided information regarding the population of the state nursing home. She stated that one suggestion she heard from committee members to transfer the nursing home, and make it a veterans hospital would most likely not work. She stated that the nursing home would have to qualify as a veterans home. One of the requirements for a hospital to be designated as a veterans home is to show a need for it in a particular area. She stated there are three other veterans homes in the area, which would most likely disqualify Trinidad from getting this designation. Ms. Manely spoke to what might happen if the bill were to pass. Ms. Manley responded to committee questions.

04:23 PM -- Jeff Jerebker, President, Pinon Management, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Jerebker concurred with previous testimony.

04:24 PM -- Virginia Bedford, Chair, State Board for State and Veteran Nursing Homes, spoke in support of the bill.

04:27 PM -- George Thomas, United Veterans Committee of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

04:31 PM

Representative Riesberg provided concluding remarks to the bill.


BILL:	SB09-056
TIME:	04:37:31 PM
MOVED:	Riesberg
MOTION:	Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.005 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Acree
	Fischer
	Gerou
	Green
	Kefalas
	Kerr J.
	Nikkel
	Primavera
	Swalm
	Gagliardi
	Riesberg

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


BILL:	SB09-056
TIME:	04:38:23 PM
MOVED:	Riesberg
MOTION:	Moved to refer amended Senate Bill 09-056 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Nikkel
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Fischer	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Nikkel	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

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

04:40 PM

The committee adjourned.