House Committee on Health and Human Services (04/13/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/13/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:30 PM to 02:14 PM	Acree	*
		Gerou	X
Place:	LSB A	Green	X
		Kagan	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Kefalas	X
	Representative Riesberg	Kerr J.	X
		Nikkel	X
This Report was prepared by		Primavera	X
	Kelly Stapleton	Swalm	X
		Gagliardi	X
		Riesberg	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1332 HB09-1339 SB09-251		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:31 PM -- House Bill 09-1332

Representative Marostica presented House Bill 09-1332, which is recommended by the Joint Budget Committee. He stated that the bill repeals a section of the statute that requires the Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct cumulative economic analyses of the costs of air quality regulation. Representative Marostica stated that the department is still required to conduct an economic impact analysis for consideration of new or amended regulations.

01:35 PM -- Paul Tourangeau, Director, Air Pollution Control Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, spoke in favor of the bill. He provided a description of the type of economic impact analyses that are currently conducted.

01:35 PM -- Donnah Moody, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, spoke in favor of the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1332
TIME:	01:37:36 PM
MOVED:	Kerr J.
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1332 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Riesberg
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Kagan	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

01:39 PM -- House Bill 09-1339

Representative Green presented House Bill 09-1339, which changes the definition of clinical social work practice to have the same meaning as social work practice. Representative Green explained a situation where a social worker could not be hired by a hospital under the current definition of social worker.

01:42 PM -- Elyse Montgomery, National Association of Social Workers - Colorado chapter, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Montgomery provided a definition of social workers. A fact sheet in support of the bill was provided to the committee (Attachment A).

01:46 PM -- Richard Morales, Section Director, Allied Health Section, Department of Regulatory Agencies, responded to committee questions.

01:53 PM

Representative Green provided concluding remarks to the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1339
TIME:	01:53:59 PM
MOVED:	Green
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1339 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Gagliardi
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Kagan	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

01:55 PM -- Senate Bill 09-251

Representative Riesberg presented Senate Bill 09-251 which permits optometrists and physicians to prescribe and sell drug dispensing contact lenses. Representative Riesberg explained that under current law, optometrists and physicians may prescribe drugs, however, only pharmacies may legally sell drugs. He explained that a new type of contact lenses corrects vision and distributes controlled drug therapy, such as allergy medicine, for example. Representative Riesberg stated that optometrists can dispense eye drops, but cannot send those eye drops home with the patient. He stated that patients who are prescribed drug releasing contact lenses must obtain the product from a pharmacist prior to having the product adjusted by a physician or optometrist. He stated that the bill allows optometrists to dispense these types of contacts.

01:59 PM -- Richard Brown, Colorado Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Brown explained that optometrists can dispense a device for a fee, but the federal government has classified these new contact lenses as a drug. He stated that optometrists cannot dispense a drug under current law. He stated that the bill would allow optometrists to dispense the contacts. Mr. Brown responded to committee questions.

02:07 PM -- Dr. Donna Ellinger, Colorado Optometric Association, spoke in favor of the bill. She stated that the definition of "dispense for a fee" means that the patient can buy a supply of contact lenses from their optometrist. She stated that the bill allows optometrists to dispense the contacts for a fee and that patients will be able to buy a supply of contacts. She concurred with Mr. Brown's testimony. She explained that contact lenses are considered a device by the federal government and that the time release contacts have been defined as a drug. She stated that the bill does not expand the scope of practice for optometrists.

02:12 PM

Representative Riesberg provided concluding remarks to the bill.


BILL:	SB09-251
TIME:	02:13:05 PM
MOVED:	Riesberg
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-251 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Kefalas
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Nikkel	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Not Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:14 PM

The committee adjourned.