S_HHS_2024A 03/28/2024 01:56:54 PM Committee Summary

Amarylis “Amy”
Gutierrez, appointee to the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Review
Board, came to the table. The appointment letter may be found in Attachment
A. Lila Cummings, Deputy Commissioner of Life and Health Services, introduced
the appointee and described her experiences with the board. Ms. Gutierrez
commented on her desire to serve on the board.



Committee members
asked Ms. Gutierrez questions.

Mark Keyes and James
Spaanstra appointees to the Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission, came
to the table. The appointment letter may be found in Attachment B. JoJo
La, Director of Colorado Environmental Boards and Commissions, introduced
the appointees and described their experiences with the commission. The
appointees commented on their desire to serve on the commission.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Catherine Harshbarger
appointee to the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board,
joined the meeting remotely. The appointment letter may be found in Attachment
A. Ms. Cummings reintroduced herself and Ms. Harshbarger. Ms. Harshbarger
explained her interest in wanting to continue working with the board.



Committee members
asked Ms. Harshbarger questions.

Senator Ginal explained amendment L.003 (Attachment C).

Ms. Eileen Doherty,
representing Colorado Gerontological Society, testified in support of the
bill.



Ms. Janet Cornell,
representing Colorado Assisted Living Associaton, testified in support
of the bill.



Carrie Peters,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Ashley Gonzalez,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Sherrie Bonham, representing
Colorado Assisted Living Association, testified in support of the bill.



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

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Senator Zenzinger
and Michaelson Jenet, primary bill sponsors, introduced House Bill 24-1017
which establishes statutory rights for foster care youth, requires county
human service departments to provide written notice to foster youth about
their rights, and clarifies the authority of courts to enforce these rights.



The rights of
foster care youth include:



·        freedom from discrimination or harassment;

·        freedom of thought, cultural and ethnic practice,
and religion;

·        freedom to express gender identity;


·        freedom from threats, punishment, retaliation
for asking questions, stating concerns, or making complaints about violations
of their rights;

·        access to services, placements, and programs
they are eligible for;

·        notification of the benefits they are eligible
for;

·        the ability to request information on how
payments were used by individuals who accepted payments for the youth;

·        the right to receive appropriate placement
and care including being placed in a safe environment that is free of abuse,
having their preferences regarding placement considered, and having providers
who are aware of their history;

·        the right to timely court proceedings and
effective case management;

·        the right to a timely notification to the
Social Security Administration to initiate the transfer of benefits from
providers to youth who are leaving the custody of the department;

·        the right to access and communicate privately
with caseworkers, legal representatives, advocates, probation officers,
and other professionals;

·        the right to confidentiality and privacy;

·        access to education, basic essentials, and
health care;

·        ability to participate in legal proceedings
and case planning; and

·        access to certain necessities and support
that will allow them to be self-sufficient in their transition to adulthood.




Committee members asked the sponsors questions.

Chris Henderson, representing Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill.

Maddie Noyce Lang, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Maya Chandler, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Tori Shuler, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members provided comments and questions to the panel.

Adriana Cuva, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Jearell Kelley, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Nicole Hunt, representing Focus on the Family, testified in opposition to the bill.

Shelby Costello, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Dominique Mallard, representing C.A.R.E.S, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Stacey Sanders, representing Elevating Connections, testified in support of the bill.

Mary Lang, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Brittany Vessely, representing Colorado Catholic Conference, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

Shannon Johnson, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

Bree Lennon, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Karen Silverman, representing Colorado CASA and Child Advocates - Denver CASA, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer Mullenbach, representing Jefferson County Commissioners, testified in support of the bill.

Melanie Jordan, representing Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in support of the bill.

Meghan Jackson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Dawn Fritz, representing Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

Tori Shuler read Elizabeth Arrieta's testimony in support of the bill for the record.

Renee Bernhard, representing Foster Source, testified in support of the bill.

Katie Wilberding Cross, representing Mile High United Way - Bridging the Gap, testified in support of the bill.

Beth Osland, representing Mile High United Way - Bridging the Gap, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Celia Brand, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Sheri Danz, representing Office of the Child's Representative, was available to answer committee questions.

Benjamin Teevan, representing Fostering Colorado and Colorado Association of Family & Children’s Agencies, testified in support of the bill.

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

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.

Senators Fields and
Buckner, primary bill sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 24-175 which creates
and modifies multiple programs concerning perinatal health, as discussed
below.



Doula service
coverage. The bill requires large employer health benefit plans to cover
doula services to the same extent and with the same provider qualification
requirements as required by Medicaid. It requires the Department of Regulatory
Agencies  to submit a state defrayal determination to the federal
Department of Health and Human Services for other state-regulated insurance
plans and require coverage upon confirmation or after 365 days if no response
is received.



Maternal and infant
health quality improvement initiatives. The bill mandates hospitals that
provide labor and deliver or neonatal care services to participate in at
least one maternal or infant health quality improvement initiative and
meet reporting requirements.



Perinatal Health
Quality Improvement Engagement Program. The bill requires the Department
of Public Health and Environment, in collaboration with the Perinatal Quality
Collaborative, to:



·        create the Perinatal Health Quality Improvement
Engagement Program to distribute grants to select hospitals to meet the
mandate;



·        track implementation of the recommendations
of the Colorado Maternal Mortality Review Committee;




·        implement their own initiatives to improve
maternal mortality and morbidity; and




·        address discrepancies in care.



Committee members asked the bill sponsors questions.

Rebecca Alderfer, representing Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative, testified in support of the bill.

Jessica Anderson, representing Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Donald Stader, representing The Naloxone Project & Stader Opioid Consultants, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Essey Yirdaw, representing Colorado Hospital Association, testified to amend the bill.

Pia Long, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Lauren Smith, representing Soul 2 Soul Sisters, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Johnny Johnson, representing Institute for Childrens' Mental Health, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Ms. Tiffany Miller-Kuhwede, representing Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Camille Hoffman, representing Institute for Childrens' Mental Health, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Ms. Karen Sandoval, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Whitney Buckendorf, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Bridget Anshus, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Christina Yebuah,
representing Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was
available to answer committee questions.



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



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



Additional written
testimony was submittted to the committee (Attachment E).

Senator Fields explained amendment L.001 (Attachment F).

Senator Fields explained amendment L.002 (Attachment G).

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

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

The committee recessed.

Dr. Randy Pilgrim,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Ted Larson,
representing Colorado Radiological Society, testified in support of the
bill.



Dr. Garrett McCoy,
representing Colorado Medical Society, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. William Hilty,
representing Colorado American College of Emergency Physicians, testified
in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Dr. David Friedenson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jason Hopfer, representing Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Jasmeet Dhaliwal, representing Colorado Chapter of American College of Emergency Physicians, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

The committee discussed the amendment.

Senator Roberts provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.