H_HI_2020A 01/28/2020 10:22:45 AM Committee Summary

Brian Tobias and Vivienne Belmont, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), presented on the sunset review report regarding Hearing Aid Providers.  DORA's sunset review report was distributed to committee members, and can be accessed online here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bAIvNBREG6RPH-40cVMrYffsSMTp8Bkl/view.  Draft bill LLS no. 20-0520.01 was distributed to committee members (Attachment A). Mr. Tobias explained DORA's eleven recommendations regarding Hearing Aid Providers.

Ms. Belmont and Mr. Tobias responded to committee questions regarding the DORA recommendations. Committee members commented.

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the draft bill.

Dianna Orf, Colorado Hearing Society, testified regarding the DORA recommendations.  Ms. Orf responded to committee questions.  Marin Adkisson, Colorado Academy of Audiology and Mile High Hearing, testified regarding the DORA recommendations.

Mr. Tobias returned to the table to respond to committee questions.  Ms. Adkisson responded to committee questions.

Representative Buckner was appointed as sponsor of the introduced bill.  Representative Lontine requested to cosponsor the bill.  The committee granted permission to the drafter for technical changes to the bill.  

Mr. Tobias and Ms. Belmont, DORA, presented on the sunset review report for Audiologists.  A copy of the sunset review report was distributed to committee members, and can be accessed online here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IMpsSrh0HhPZpS7svAH31IvMqkE_3Gqa/view.  Draft bill LLS no. 20-0526.01 was distributed to committee members (Attachment B).  Mr. Tobias described DORA's six recommendations regarding Audiologists.

Marin Adkisson, Colorado Academy of Audiology and Mile High Hearing, testified regarding the DORA recommendation to combine the audiologist and hearing aid provider sections in statute.  Julie Prutsman, Colorado Academy of Audiology and Sound Relief Hearing Center, testified regarding continuing education for audiologists.  Elissa Jodon, Colorado Academy of Audiology, testified regarding derivatives of the title of audiolgist.  Suzanne Hamilton, Colorado Academy of Audiology, testified regarding the DORA recommendations.  

Ms. Jodon, Ms. Adkisson, and Ms. Hamilton responded to committee questions.

Representative Soper discussed a conceptual amendment to the draft bill.  Yelana Love, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained the effect of a conceptual amendment to the draft bill.  Committee members discussed possible amendments.  

Representative Buckner was appointed as sponsor of the introduced bill.  Representative Lontine requested to cosponsor the bill.  The committee granted permission to the drafter to make technical changes.

Ana English, Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC), presented regarding CIVHC and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C).  Ms. English described the history and functions of CIVHC.  She discussed the All Payer Claims Database (APCD), and CIVHC's role as administrator of the APCD.  Ms. English described the insurers that provide claims data to the APCD, and the reporting that CIVHC provides using the APCD.  

Pete Sheehan, CIVHC, further described the types of reports that CIVHC produces using APCD data, and provided examples to the committee.  He explained the type of data that is available specifically to legislators.  Mr. Sheehan discussed CIVHC's budget and state funding.  

Laurel Karabatsos, Deputy Medicaid Director, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), presented on the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) and Regional Accountable Entities (RAE) and distributed a handout (Attachment D) to the committee.  She summarized Colorado's Medicaid program and eligibility.  Ms. Karabatsos described how the Medicaid program provides behavioral health services to clients.  She discussed the structure, goals, and objectives of the ACC, including joining physical and behavioral health under one entity.

Ms. Karabatsos described the differing payments structures for physical and behavioral health Medicaid providers.  She discussed Medicaid initiatives regarding prevention support and resources, condition management, and complex care management.  Ms. Karabatsos explained the Medicaid cost trends and health outcome metrics that HCPF tracks.

Ms. Karabatsos explained how the RAEs coordinate primary care medical providers and behavioral health networks, and how the RAEs reimburse providers.  She described the capitated Medicaid behavioral health benefit criteria and the specific services offered through the benefit.  Ms. Karabatsos briefly discussed the Medicaid managed care plans that are available in ten counties in the state.  She described financial performance incentives that are available to RAEs.

Ms. Karabatsos responded to committee questions regarding Medicaid behavioral health provider rates.