H_HI_2020A 02/26/2020 02:19:13 PM Committee Summary

Representative Buck, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 20-1199 to the committee. The bill reduces the minimum attachment point for stop-loss health insurance used with self-insured employer health plans to $10,000 per person for policies issued or renewed on and after January 1, 2021.  Under current law, the minimum attachment point for large employers is $15,000 per person and $20,000 per person for small employers of not more than 50 employees.

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Hunter Railey, Small Business Majority, testified in opposition to the bill.  Emma Sargent, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in opposition to the bill.  Caitlin Westerson, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, responded to committee questions.  Representative Buck responded to committee questions.

Mike Patton, Quandary Insurance, testified in support of the bill.  Julie DeSaire, Miramont Family Medicine, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Representative Buck gave closing remarks on the bill.  Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Buckner, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 20-1218 to the committee.  The bill continues the licensing of hearing aid providers by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for 11 years, until September 1, 2031.  It also makes several changes to how hearing aid providers are regulated, including:

•        requiring final agency actions to be appealed directly to the Court of Appeals;

•        broadening the scope of title protection for licensed hearing aid providers;

•        requiring a hearing aid provider to obtain licensure before selling or negotiating to sell a hearing aid;

•        requiring an applicant for licensure or a licensee to post a surety bond;

•        adding failure to practice according to professional standards to the grounds for discipline;

•        adds disciplinary action in another jurisdiction for acts or omissions similar to those that are grounds for discipline in Colorado as grounds for discipline in Colorado; and

•        restoring deceptive trade practice provisions related to the sale of hearing aids.



The bill also combines the Hearing Aid Provider Practice Act with the Audiologist Practice Act.



Amendments L.001 was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).  

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.  

Thomas Adams, Colorado Hearing Society, testified in support of the bill.  Riley Williams, Hello Hearing Studios, testified in support of the bill. Brenda Garcia, Colorado Hearing Society, testified in support of the bill.  Randy Holyfield, Colorado Hearing Society, testified in support of the bill.

Amendment L.004 was distributed to the committee (Attachment B).

Representative Buckner gave closing remarks on the bill.  Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Buckner, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 20-1219 to the committee.  The bill continues the licensing of audiologists for 11 years by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), until September 1, 2031.  It also makes several changes to how audiologists are regulated, including:

•        requiring final agency actions to be appealed directly to the Court of Appeals;

•        requiring insurance companies and licensees to report malpractice settlements or judgments to DORA;

•        amending the grounds for discipline regarding alcohol or controlled substance use; and

•        restoring deceptive trade practice provisions related to the sale of hearing aids.



The bill also combines the Audiologist Practice Act with the Hearing Aid Provider Practice Act.



Amendments L.001 and L.002 were distributed to the committee (Attachments C and D).  

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Marin Adkisson, Colorado Academy of Audiology, testified regarding the bill.  Elissa Jodon, Colorado Academy of Audiology and Children's Hospital Colorado, testified regarding the bill.

Randy Holyfield, representing himself, testified regarding the bill.  The committee discussed possible amendments.

Representative Lontine severed amendment L.002 at line 10, into part A and part B.

Representative Buckner gave closing remarks on the bill.

Representative Lontine made an announcement about testimony on House Bill 20-1239.

Representative Lontine recessed the committee.

Representative Lontine called the meeting back to order and made announcements regarding witness testimony. 

Representative Williams, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 20-1239 to the committee.  The bill establishes protocols that health care providers and facilities must adhere to when administering vaccines and directs the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to publish certain vaccine information.

Representative Williams responded to committee questions about the bill.

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill. 

Andrea Stojsavljevic, Healthier Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment E).  Stephanie Wasserman, Immunize Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  Representative Williams commented on the bill.

Grace Thorvilson, Colorado Parents for Vaccinated Communities, testified in opposition to the bill.  Kathyrn Penzkover, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. John Miller, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Gurkirat Singh, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Dr. Eleanor Floyd, American Academy of Pediatrics - Colorado Chapter and Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.  Dr. Anne Frank, American Academy of Pediatrics - Colorado Chapter, testified in opposition to the bill.  Dr. Kyle Leggott, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in opposition to the bill.  Dr. Lindsey Ricci, American Academy of Pediatrics - Colorado Chapter and Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.  Dr. Lindsey Warner, American Academy of Pediatrics - Colorado Chapter and Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Kathy Reiner, Colorado Association of School Nurses, testified in opposition to the bill. Handouts were distributed (Attachments F and G).  Jeani Fricke, SCL Health, testified in opposition to the bill.  Colleen Casper, Colorado Nurses Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  Dr. Bernadette Albanese, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Lontine recessed the committee.  

The committee came back to order.

Dena Jefferson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Laura Courtney, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The testimony of Dr. John Kucera, in support of the bill, was read into the record.  Pam Long, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Dr. Shelley O'Neill, Democrats for Medical Autonomy, testified in support of the bill.  Lindy Larson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Mark Ogle, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Julie Denton read the testimony of Melissa Atchley, in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Abigail Baylor, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Matt Baylor, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Reverend Wren Klein, Democrats for Medical Autonomy, testified in support of the bill.  Stephanie Thorpe, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Shannon Black, Democrats for Medical Autonomy, testified in support of the bill.  Susan VanMeter, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Tiffany Province, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Meghan Yahr, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Dr. Terri Gates, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Theresa Wrangham, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Leslie Scott, Democrats for Medical Autonomy, testified in support of the bill.  Robyn Kresmer, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Ruthie Marquez read the testimony of Jennifer Lyn, in support of the bill.  Jenna Ikuta, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Lucy Judge, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Phil Silberman, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Dana Ledbetter, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Elizabeth Jenks, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Hillary Rowenhorst, testified in support of the bill.  Athena Mills, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Adrienne Roecker read the testimony of Dr. Katya Meir, in support of the bill.  Becky Otteni, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Trisha Winslow read the testimony of Kala Elizabeth, in support of the bill.  Kayla Arndt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Shannon Nienhuis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Rebeca Blair, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Gina Smith, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Christine Oxnar, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Taylor Downing, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Nick Downing, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Adam Harris, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Starla Nizoll, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Sara Lanan, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Sarah Gould, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Colleen Prayne, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mike Quinlan read the testimony of Rebekah Quinlan, in support of the bill.  Mike Quinlan, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Amanda Vlasak, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Nancy Trappe, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Katrina Brynildsen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Margaret Sachsenmaier, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Dayna Sandidge, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  James Sherrer, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Carmen Bontrager, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Brittney Randle, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Debi Sievers, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Julie Denton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Nancy Eason, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Dayna Sandidge read the testimony on behalf of Anderson Jasmin, in support of the bill.  Audrey Herman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Jennifer Olmstead, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Els Kreger, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Andrya Towns, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Carrie Bigford, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Michelle Hood, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Timothy Pierce, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Helen Carta, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Laura Cronin, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Brittany Mahoney, representing herself, testified regarding the bill.

Kirsti Woelke, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Shanna Mossberger, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Sara Holbrow, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Candice Salazar, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  

Aubrey Okuchaba, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Amber Jones, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Kimberly Edmundson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Randi McIntyre, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Gary McIntyre, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Laurel Flahive, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Katie Adams, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Aliyah Ulrich, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Cinthia Williamson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Sonia Miller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Nora Dechurt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Courtney Morehouse, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Megan Kibling, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Danielle Carr, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Rachel Ponsor, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Gabrielle Palmer, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Christine Blackford, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Vera Walsh, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Shandy Laskey, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Rebecca Heath, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Amendment L.003 was distributed to the committee (Attachment H). 

Several persons submitted written testimony during the hearing.  The written testimony may be found in Attachment I. 

The bill sponsor gave closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.