Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:04/20/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:34 PM to 03:18 PM
Acree
*
Gerou
X
Place:LSB A
Green
*
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:
HJR09-1017
HJR09-1022
HJR09-1026
Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to Appropriations


01:34 PM -- HJR 09-1017


Representatives Riesberg and Roberts presented House Joint Resolution 09-1017 which establishes a 10-member legislative interim committee to study hospice and palliative care. An article titled "Slowing the Growth of Health Care Costs - Lessons from Regional Variation" was provided to the committee (Attachment A).

09HouseHHS0420AttachA.pdf

01:39 PM --
Jennifer Ballentine, Colorado Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, spoke in favor of the resolution. She stated that a large portion of the population is getting older. She stated there is a serious concern regarding who will provide care for the elderly, and how that care will be paid. Members asked several questions of the witness. Ms. Ballentine stated that hospice exists in all 50 states. There was discussion regarding the funding of the interim committee. Ms. Ballentine stated that they may receive a grant, but they will not know until May. She described palliative care as addressing suffering and symptoms, but stated that it does not address finding a cure for the disease or ailment an elderly person may suffer from. She stated that hospice care typically occurs at the end of one's life.











02:03 PM --
Susan Fox, representing herself, spoke in support of the resolution. She stated that she sits on the board of Colorado Healthcare Ethics Forum. Ms. Fox stated that she supports the study. She pointed to tensions between the various stakeholders such as professional providers, caregivers, and others that address cultural issues. She urged the committee to bring these various stakeholders to the table to produce real recommendations for the elderly population.


02:10 PM

Representative Riesberg provided concluding remarks to the resolution. He stated that Legislative Council met earlier in the day and had not indicated whether the interim committee would be funded. He stated that Legislative Council voted to fund three interim committees, but did not vote on the specific prioritization of the committees. He spoke to amendment L.001, which specifies that Legislative Council Staff and that the Office of Legislative Legal Services assist the interim committee (Attachment B).

09HouseHHS0420AttachB.pdf
BILL:HJR 09-1017
TIME: 02:15:33 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kagan
Kefalas
Kerr J.
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass without Objection













02:17 PM

Representative Roberts provided concluding remarks to the resolution.
BILL:HJR 09-1017
TIME: 02:22:22 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:Moved to refer HJR 09-1017, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Swalm
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
BILL:HJR09-1017
TIME: 02:15:33 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kagan
Kefalas
Kerr J.
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



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


02:54 PM -- House Joint Resolution 09-1026

Representative Acree presented House Joint Resolution 09-1026, which establishes a 7-member legislative interim committee to study waiting lists for Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver programs for children with developmental disabilities. She stated that while this topic has been studied as recently as 2007, there are still over 900 children on waiting lists for services. She stated that funding for the committee will come from gifts, grants,and donations. She stated that the interim committee will create a long-term strategy to address the waiting list for services. Staff provided copies of the recommendations of the 2007 Interim Committee on Long-Term Care Services and Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and a summary of bills related to Persons with Developmental Disabilities from the 2008 session (Attachments C and D respectively).

09HouseHHS0420AttachC.pdf 09HouseHHS0420AttachD.pdf

03:00 PM --
Christy Blakely, Family Voices Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill. She urged the committee to address the issue. She provided a handout to the committee (Attachment E).

09HouseHHS0420AttachE.pdf









03:05 PM --
Lisa Schwartz, representing herself and her daughter, spoke in favor of the resolution. Ms. Schwartz explained that her daughter was born with a rare chromosome disorder. Ms. Schwartz stated that during the 2008 legislative session, money was appropriated to fund services for approximately 620 children on the waiting list. She stated that her child was one of the 620 children that was taken off the waiting list and is currently receiving services. She stated that she and her husband have been and are fiscally responsible individuals. She explained to the committee that in the first month of her daughter's life, they accrued approximately $26,000 in medical bills. She stated that the $26,000 was their portion after the insurance company paid their portion. She encouraged the committee to pass the resolution.

03:10 PM -- Amendment L.001 was distributed to the committee (Attachment F).

09HouseHHS0420AttachF.pdf
BILL:House Joint Resolution 09-1026
TIME: 03:13:32 PM
MOVED:Acree
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kagan
Kefalas
Kerr J.
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection















03:14 PM

Representative Acree provided a wrap-up to the resolution.
BILL:House Joint Resolution 09-1026
TIME: 03:15:32 PM
MOVED:Acree
MOTION:Moved to refer House Joint Resolution 09-1026, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Excused
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


03:17 PM

Representative Riesberg advised the committee to watch the calendar as bills may be coming over from the Senate. He announced that Senate Bill 09-239, Sunset Review of the State Board of Nursing, will be heard on April 23, 2009. The committee adjourned.