S_HHS_2024A 04/11/2024 01:37:47 PM Committee Summary

Senators Mullica
and Will, primary bill sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1229, which changes
the requirements for people in need of long-term care to become presumptively
eligible for Medicaid by removing the requirement for a level of care assessment
and allowing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to collect
any information required for federal authorization.



Senator Mullica
provided a handout to the committee (Attachment A).

Deborah Lively, representing
LeadingAge Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



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



Kenneth Maestas, representing The Colorado Cross Disability Coalition (CCDC),
testified in support of the bill.



Committee members asked the panel questions.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment B).

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Senators Michaelson Jenet and Ginal, primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-054, which 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 andFinancing (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.

Senator Ginal provided a handout to the committee (Attachment C).

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

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

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

Dr. Jaime Moore, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr. Carolynn Francavilla Brown, representing Obesity Medicine Association, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Todd Nielsen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Rachel Moore, representing American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Teddy McCullough, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr. Erin Harrop, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Tigress Osborn, representing Campaign for Size Freedom/NAAFA, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Lauren Pickens, representing Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, testified to amend the bill.

McKenna Ganz, representing The Eating Disorder Foundation and the Colorado Alliance for Size Equity, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Ragen Chastain, representing Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights, and Education (FLARE!) Project, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr. Linda Shapiro Manning, representing Obesity Action Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Judith Smith, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Aleia Mastroianni, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Leah Weihe, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Senator Michaelson Jenet introduced amendment L.001 (Attachment E).

The committee discussed the amendment.

Senator Michaelson Jenet introduced amendment L.002 (Attachment F).

The committee discussed the amendment.

Senator Michaelson Jenet introduced amendment L.003 (Attachment G).

The committee discussed the amendment.

Senator Michaelson
Jenet introduced amendment L.009 (Attachment H).



The committee
discussed the amendment.

The committee discussed the bill.

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

The committee provided closing remarks.

Senators Gonzales and Michaelson Jenet, primary bill sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1170, establishes a bill of rights for juveniles in a Division of Youth Services facility (DYS), and requires the DYS to update its handbook to include these rights. This includes having access to certain information, legal resources, medical care, education, and persons; being protected from certain punishment and discrimination; and having protections to participate in legal processes.

Senator Gonzales provided a handout to the committee (Attachment I).

The committee asked the bill sponsors questions.

Jack Johnson, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Anaya Robinson, representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Tiffany Pelham Webb, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Anders Jacobson, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Senator Michaelson Jenet, primary bill sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1252, which continues the Suicide Prevention Commission until September 1, 2029. Under current law, the commission repeals on September 1, 2024. The bill also decreases the size of the commission from 26 to 22 people.

Mr. Steve Sanchez, representing Colorado State Suicide Commission, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Lena Heilmann, representing Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Susan Marine, representing Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Linda Newell, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members provided comments to the panel.

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



Mr. Kennedy Pugh, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Aimee Resnick, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
tesitmony was submitted to the committee (Attachment J).



Committee members asked the panel questions.

Senator Michaelson Jenet provided closing remarks.

Senators Michaelson Jenet and Rich, primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-124, which requires Medicaid and 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 new requirement applies to Medicaid starting July 1, 2025 and to private insurance plans starting January 1, 2026. Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is allowed to conduct prior authorizations for these tests. The bill requires HCPF to provide notice of the authorization review results and to provide a readily accessible online appeals process for denied claims.

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

Ms. Coral Cosway, representing Alzheimer's Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

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

Rebecca Givens, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Peggy Dennis, representing American Cancer Society, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Cori Chandler, representing American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, testified in support of the bill.

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

Dr. Leticia Shea, representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Melissa Horn, representing Arthritis Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Kristine McLaughlin, representing Legislative Council Staff - fiscal analyst, joined to panel to answer committee questions.

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Dr. James Gilchrist, representing Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Shayna Powell, representing Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Hilary Back, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Linda Taylor, representing Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Landrey Fagan, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Mr. Bob Trigg, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Ryan Phillips, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Natalie Gustafson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Kathleen Curry, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Emily Zadvorny, representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Mark Johnson, representing Colorado Medical Society, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Kurt Papenfus, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr. Tara Vlasimsky, representing Intermountain Health, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Jennifer Hagman, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

John Conklin, representing Colorado Medical Society, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Lance Ray, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.