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H_HHS_2024A 05/02/2024 06:49:06 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date 05/02/2024
Attendance
Bradfield X
Bradley X
Brown X
English *
Hamrick X
Hernandez *
Lieder *
McCormick *
Ortiz X
Weinberg *
Wilson X
Young X
Daugherty X
Time 06:49:06 PM to 10:53:06 PM
Place Old State Library
This Meeting was called to order by Daugherty
This Report was prepared by Eliyah Chadioun
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB24-054 Referred to House Appropriations
SB24-080 Referred to House Appropriations
SB24-116 Referred to House Appropriations
SB24-059 Postponed Indefinitely
SB24-124 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB24-007 Referred to House Appropriations
SB24-040 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB24-209 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

SB24-054 - Referred to House Appropriations
06:49:47 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representative Brown and Mabrey, introduced Senate Bill 24-054
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill requires state-regulated
insurance plans to cover lifestyle therapy, bariatric surgery, and U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved anti-obesity medication for
the treatment of chronic obesity and pre-diabetes. The bill states coverage
restrictions cannot be more restrictive than restrictions placed on treatments
for other conditions. The bill requires the Department of Regulatory Agencies
to determine whether a state defrayal is necessary for the new coverage
requirements. The requirements apply to plans issued or renewed after:
a determination that a state defrayal is not necessary is confirmed by
the federal Department of Health and Human Services or confirmation has
been requested and HHS has not responded within 365 days. Likewise, the
bill requires Medicaid, operated by Department of Health Care Policy and
Financing (HCPF), to cover lifestyle therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved
anti-obesity medication for the treatment of chronic obesity and pre-diabetes
no later than January 2025. HCPF must notify members in writing about the
availability of treatment and report on the conditions as part of the SMART
Act. The requirements apply after federal authorization is granted. The
bill requires HCPF to meet these requirements within existing appropriations.
06:55:03 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
06:59:57 PM  
Mr. Patrick Boyle,
representing Pharmacy Care Management Association, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Ms. Saskia Young,
representing Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Ms. Christine
Fallabel, representing The American Diabetes Association, testified in
support of the bill.



Dr. Linda Shapiro
Manning, representing Obesity Action Coalition, testified in support of
the bill.
07:10:55 PM  
Dr. Jaime Moore,
representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the
bill.



Dr. Carolynn Francavilla,
representing Obesity Medicine Association, testified in support of the
bill.
07:15:40 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
07:21:03 PM  
Ms. Bethany Braunstein,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Adam Gilden,
representing Anschutz Health and Wellness Center - University of Colorado,
testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Rebecca Andrick,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Abby Bleistein,
representing Colorado Obesity Society, testified in support of the bill.
07:31:12 PM  
Michael Conway, representing
Division of Insurance, was available to answer committee questions.



Bettina Schneider,
representing Colorado Health Care Policy and Financing Department, was
available to answer committee questions.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment A).
07:31:26 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
07:36:10 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representative Brown and Mabrey, provided closing comments on
Senate Bill 24-054.


07:42:49 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-054 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Brown
Seconded Young
Bradfield No
Bradley No
Brown Yes
English Yes
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez Yes
Lieder Yes
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Yes
Weinberg No
Wilson No
Young Yes
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-080 - Referred to House Appropriations
07:42:56 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Young and Marvin, introduced Senate Bill 24-080
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill requires health
insurance carriers to comply with federal price transparency laws, provide
consumer access to accurate health care coverage price information, and
report federal pharmacy and drug cost information to the Division of Insurance
in the Department of Regulatory Agencies. Beginning in July 2024, carriers
must create a digital tool for enrolled people that provides real-time
responses to questions related to carrier prices. Beginning in July 2025,
carriers must publicly publish and update price transparency information
every six months, and submit federal pharmacy benefit and drug cost information
to the division on an annual basis.
07:47:43 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
07:48:36 PM  
Michael Conway, representing
Division of Insurance, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Bethany Pray,
representing Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of
the bill.
07:52:29 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
07:58:18 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Young and Marvin, provided closing comments on
Senate Bill 24-080.
07:59:41 PM  
Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.


08:02:00 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-080 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Young
Seconded Lieder
Bradfield No
Bradley No
Brown Yes
English Yes
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez Yes
Lieder Yes
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Excused
Weinberg No
Wilson No
Young Yes
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 4   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-116 - Referred to House Appropriations
08:02:11 PM  
The primary bill
sponsor, Representative Jodeh, introduced Senate Bill 24-116 to the House
Health and Human Services Committee. Under current law, people seeking
to enroll in Medicaid or Child Health Plan Plus apply through the Department
of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). However, certain populations,
including persons under 19 or who qualify for the Breast and Cervical Cancer
Program, are deemed presumptively eligible while their applications are
processed and eligible to receive services immediately. HCPF and Denver
Health are currently the only institutions that can make a presumptive
eligibility determination. The bill allows hospitals to make these determinations.
Additionally, the bill makes changes to the requirements for indigent patients
receiving health care discounts on services not reimbursed through the
Colorado Indigent Care Program including: requiring a patient to attest
to residing in Colorado; placing a price cap on comprehensive bills that
aligns with the current caps on individualized bills; authorizing health-care
facilities to deny discounted care to a patient if, during the initial
screening, the patient is determined to be presumptively eligible for Medicaid;
clarifying that the health professional who provides services is responsible
for billing the patient for those services, unless the services are billed
on a comprehensive bill; excluding primary care provided in clinics in
rural or frontier counties that offer a sliding-fee scale from receiving
discounted care; and requiring health professionals, in addition to health
facilities, to report certain data to the Department of Health Care Policy
and Financing.
08:06:12 PM  
The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.
08:06:33 PM  
Mr. Nikolas Otte,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Adeline Ewing,
representing Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the
bill.



Nancy Dolson,
representing Colorado Health Care Policy and Financing Department, testified
in support of the bill.



A set of printed
handouts were provided to members of the committee (Attachment B).
08:13:15 PM  
The primary bill
sponsor, Representative Jodeh, provided closing comments on Senate Bill
24-116.


08:14:51 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-116 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Young
Seconded Hamrick
Bradfield No
Bradley No
Brown Yes
English Yes
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez Yes
Lieder Excused
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Yes
Weinberg No
Wilson No
Young Yes
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 4   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-059 - Postponed Indefinitely
08:15:02 PM  
The committee recessed.
08:15:40 PM  
The committee resumed.
08:15:48 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Pugliese and Duran, introduced Senate Bill 24-059
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill establishes
the Office of the Children’s Behavioral Health Statewide System of Care
in the Behavioral Health Administration to develop and maintain a comprehensive
children’s behavioral health system of care. The system should allow children
and youth up to twenty-one years of age to have a single point of access
to behavioral health care. The bill outlines what the system must include
at minimum and sets timelines for the office in developing the system of
care. The bill specifies that the system of care must initially serve children
and youth receiving Medicaid or who are uninsured, but can be expanded
to serve additional populations in the future. It also specifies that implementation
of the system is subject to available appropriations.
08:22:43 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
08:30:14 PM  
Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Kelly Causey,
representing Behavioral Health Adminsitration, testified to amend the bill.



Robert Werthwein,
representing Colorado Health Care Policy and Financing Department, testified
to amend the bill.



Dr. Ron-Li Liaw,
representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the
bill.
08:40:50 PM  
Ellen Stern, representing
Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Heather Durosko,
representing Colorado Human Services Directors Association, testified in
support of the bill.



Scott James, representing
Weld County CO & Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the
bill.



Katie First, representing
Colorado Counties Inc, testified in support of the bill.



A written handout
was provided to members of the committee (Attachment C).



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment D).
08:49:31 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
09:00:07 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Pugliese and Duran, provided closing comments
on Senate Bill 24-059.
09:03:25 PM  
Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.


09:11:18 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-059 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Young
Seconded Bradley
Bradfield Yes
Bradley Yes
Brown No
English Yes
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez No
Lieder No
McCormick No
Ortiz No
Weinberg No
Wilson Yes
Young Yes
Daugherty No
YES: 6   NO: 7   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


09:11:41 PM
 Motion Postpone Senate Bill 24-059 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Young
Seconded Bradley
Bradfield No
Bradley No
Brown Yes
English No
Hamrick No
Hernandez Yes
Lieder Yes
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Yes
Weinberg Yes
Wilson No
Young No
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 6   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-124 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
09:11:51 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Hartsook and Duran, introduced Senate Bill 24-124
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill requires state-regulated
health insurance plans to cover certain biomarker tests outlined in the
bill. Under the bill, all tests supported by medical and scientific evidence
must be covered for the purpose of guiding treatment decisions. The coverage
applies to large group plans issued or renewed after January 1, 2025 and
to individual and small group plans issued or renewed after it is determined
that no state defrayal is necessary. Finally, the bill codifies current
practice for Medicaid coverage of biomarker tests.
09:19:01 PM  
Mr. Brandon Arnold,
representing Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Mr. RJ Ours, representing
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, testified in support of
the bill.



Sabrina Wright-Hobart,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Coral Cosway,
representing Alzheimer's Association of Colorado, testified in support
of the bill.
09:27:55 PM  
Dr. Leticia Shea,
representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in support of the
bill.



Mr. Nick Torres,
representing American Lung Association, testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment E).
09:32:50 PM  
The bill sponsors
introduced amendment L.009 (Attachment F).


09:34:24 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment F).
Moved Young
Seconded Wilson
Bradfield
Bradley
Brown
English
Hamrick
Hernandez
Lieder
McCormick
Ortiz
Weinberg
Wilson
Young
Daugherty
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
09:34:24 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Hartsook and Duran, provided closing comments
on Senate Bill 24-124.
09:35:53 PM  
Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.


09:37:30 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-124, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Young
Seconded Bradley
Bradfield Yes
Bradley Yes
Brown Yes
English Yes
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez Yes
Lieder Yes
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Yes
Weinberg No
Wilson Yes
Young Yes
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-007 - Referred to House Appropriations
09:37:40 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Titone and Weinberg, introduced Senate Bill 24-007
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill creates the
Behavioral Health First Aid Training Program in the Office of Suicide Prevention
in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The program
uses a train-the-trainer model targeted at participants from schools and
other organizations. Participants will be prepared under the program to
teach certification courses to teens and adults in their organizations
and communities. The office must adopt rules for the program, and contract
with a third party entity to administer and offer the training program
to eligible organizations. The contracted administrator for the program
must be a Colorado-based nonprofit with experience implementing evidence-based
behavioral health first aid training programs statewide. The administering
third-party entity must offer training programs at no cost to selected
organizations, which may include public schools, nonprofit organizations,
and first responder agencies, among others. The bill sets minimum criteria
to use in selecting organizations to receive training. The office must
use a pre- and post-program survey administered by the third-party entity
to evaluate the training program and report evaluation data and recommendations
for improvement.



The bill sponsors
responded to questions from members of the committee.
09:44:08 PM  
Ms. Betsy Molgano,
representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support
of the bill.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment G).
09:44:09 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Titone and Weinberg, provided closing comments
on Senate Bill 24-007.


09:49:18 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-007 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Weinberg
Seconded Young
Bradfield Yes
Bradley No
Brown Yes
English Yes
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez Excused
Lieder Yes
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Yes
Weinberg Yes
Wilson No
Young Yes
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-040 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
09:49:25 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Willford and Young, introduced Senate Bill 24-040
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. By August 2024, and every
three years after, the Department of Human Services, the Office of State
Planning and Budgeting, and Area Agencies on Aging must review the adequacy
of the appropriation for state funding for senior services and report the
findings to the General Assembly by November.
09:55:52 PM  
Mr. Rich Mauro, representing Denver Regional Council of Governments, testified in support of the bill.
09:58:35 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Willford and Young, provided closing comments
on Senate Bill 24-040.


10:00:05 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-040 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Young
Seconded Lieder
Bradfield Yes
Bradley Yes
Brown Yes
English Yes
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez Yes
Lieder Yes
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Yes
Weinberg No
Wilson Yes
Young Yes
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-209 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
10:00:10 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Lindsay and Bird, introduced Senate Bill 24-209
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill allows an automated
pharmacy dispensing system to redispense drugs under certain conditions.
The bill also lifts certain restrictions on pharmacists, including restrictions
on who may administer vaccines and restrictions on treating patients under
the age of 12.
10:04:12 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
10:08:08 PM  
Dr. Emily Zadvorny,
representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in opposition to the
bill.



Dr. Ashley Mains
Espinosa, representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Dr. Leticia Shea,
representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in opposition to the
bill.



Dr. Tisha Smith,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Ky Davis, representing
RxPlus Pharmacies, testified in opposition to the bill.
10:19:03 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
10:27:39 PM  
Katie Wolf, representing
Colorado Retail Council, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Kim Ward,
representing Colorado Retail Council, testified in support of the bill.



Jordan Romero,
representing Kroger, testified in support of the bill.
10:33:48 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
10:37:46 PM  
The bill sponsors
introduced amendment L.011 (Attachment H).


10:39:44 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.011 (Attachment H).
Moved Young
Seconded Bradley
Bradfield
Bradley
Brown
English
Hamrick
Hernandez
Lieder
McCormick
Ortiz
Weinberg
Wilson
Young
Daugherty
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
10:39:45 PM  
Representative Bradfield
introduced amendment L.010 (Attachment I).
10:42:59 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to the amendment.
10:43:16 PM  
Members of the committee asked questions about the amendment.


10:46:43 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.010 (Attachment I).
Moved Bradfield
Seconded Hamrick
Bradfield Yes
Bradley No
Brown No
English No
Hamrick Yes
Hernandez Yes
Lieder Yes
McCormick No
Ortiz No
Weinberg No
Wilson No
Young No
Daugherty No
YES: 4   NO: 9   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
10:46:45 PM  
The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Lindsay and Bird, provided closing comments on
Senate Bill 24-209.
10:48:21 PM  
Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.


10:53:00 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-209, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Young
Seconded Bradley
Bradfield Yes
Bradley Yes
Brown Yes
English Yes
Hamrick No
Hernandez Yes
Lieder No
McCormick Yes
Ortiz Yes
Weinberg No
Wilson Yes
Young Yes
Daugherty Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


10:53:06 PM   The committee adjourned.






The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 7, 2024, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 8, 2024, unless otherwise specified. Details