House Committee on Health and Human Services (04/16/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/16/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	04:04 PM to 05:16 PM	Acree	X
		Gerou	X
Place:	LSB A	Green	X
		Kagan	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Kefalas	E
	Representative Riesberg	Kerr J.	X
		Nikkel	X
This Report was prepared by		Primavera	X
	Kelly Stapleton	Swalm	*
		Gagliardi	X
		Riesberg	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB09-252 HB09-1341		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

04:04 PM -- Senate Bill 09-252

Representative Frangas presented Senate Bill 09-252 which corrects language from Senate Bill 08-090 which changed how mail-order prescription drugs under Medicaid could be reimbursed. Senate Bill 08-090 allowed Medicaid clients to use a mail-order pharmacy if they had third-party insurance and required maintenance medications. The bill, which became law, specified that Medicaid clients were only authorized to use mail-order pharmacies if they required maintenance medications and suffered from a physical hardship, or had third-party insurance that required maintenance medications to be obtained through a mail-order pharmacy. He stated that the Senate Bill 09-252 authorizes a Medicaid client to receive prescription drugs through mail-order pharmacies if the client has third-party insurance that allows maintenance medications to be obtained through mail-order.


BILL:	SB09-252
TIME:	04:09:57 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-252 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Kerr J.
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Nikkel	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:11 PM -- House Bill 09-1341

Representative Pace presented House Bill 09-1341, which continues the licensing and regulation of the psychiatric technicians (LPTs) by the State Board of Nursing until July 1, 2019. A fact sheet in support of the bill was provided to the committee (Attachment A). Representative Pace spoke to amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

04:17 PM -- William Ortiz, Colorado State Hospital, Colorado Psychiatric Technician Association, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Ortiz provided a historical background to the licensing of psychiatric technicians. He stated it is important to continue the licensing of this group of individuals in order to promote the best care for those who suffer from mental illness.

04:23 PM -- Joselyn Gay, Deputy Executive Director, Behavioral Health and Housing, Department of Human Services, spoke in support of the bill. She stated that the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) recommended in its sunset review that psychiatric technicians not be licensed. Ms. Gay stated that while they respect the DORA's recommendations, the Department of Human Services supports the continuation of licensure. She stated she supports licensure because it is one of the most efficient means to ensure quality of care for the particular population these psychiatric technicians serve. She stated that one of the reasons that DORA recommended that psychiatric technicians not be licensed was due to the small number of technicians in the state.

04:47 PM -- Glenna Nickens, Pueblo Regional Center, psychiatric technician, spoke in support of the bill. She described her training to become a psychiatric technician. She stated that being licensed ensures that the people that care for individuals with mental illness provide quality care.

04:56 PM -- Jose Medina, psychiatric technician, Colorado Mental Health Institute of Colorado at Pueblo, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Medina explained his duties at the Colorado Mental Health Institute. He described the population that he treats at the mental institute. He stated that many of the individuals at the institute are there because they committed a crime and were found not guilty by reason of insanity. He described psychiatric technicians' training to de-escalate a potential violent situation.

05:05 PM

Representative Pace spoke to amendment L.001 (Attachment B). He stated that DORA is neutral to the bill and worked with him with on the amendment.


BILL:	HB09-1341
TIME:	05:08:03 PM
MOVED:	Gagliardi
MOTION:	Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kagan
		VOTE
	Acree
	Gerou
	Green
	Kagan
	Kefalas	Excused
	Kerr J.
	Nikkel
	Primavera
	Swalm
	Gagliardi
	Riesberg

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1341
TIME:	05:09:09 PM
MOVED:	Green
MOTION:	Move to refer House Bill 09-1341, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 6-4 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Gagliardi
		VOTE
	Acree	No
	Gerou	No
	Green	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Nikkel	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Swalm	No
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:15 PM

Representative Riesberg spoke to the Chronic Care Collaborative and provided two handouts to the committee (Attachment C). The committee adjourned.