H_PHC_2019A 04/05/2019 12:18:09 PM Committee Summary

Representative Singer and Representative Van Winkle, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1268 to the committee.   The bill requires individuals and entities that receive a referral fee for referring prospective residents to an assisted living residence (referral agencies) to disclose to a prospective resident its business relationship to the residence and that the assisted living residence has paid for the referral.

Kelley Horton, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill.

Lyle Campbell, Colorado Assisted Living Association, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Singer, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-178 to the committee.  The bill repeals and reenacts the Adoption Assistance Program in the Department of Human Services (DHS) to codify rules and makes modifications.  The program allows DHS or a county department of human services to enter into an adoption assistance agreement with an adoptive parent to provide benefits to the adoptive parent who adopts an eligible child.  Amendment L.002 was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).

Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Jordan Steffen, Child Protection Ombudsman Office, testified in support of the bill.

Ashley Chase, Office of the Child Representative, testified in support of the bill.

Melody Roe, Adoption Exchange, testified in support of the bill.

Carla Bennett, Colorado League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill.

Korey Elger, DHS, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Representative Singer gave closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Sullivan and Representative Cutter, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1269 to the committee.  The bill requires private health insurers and the state's Medicaid plan to provide coverage for behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorder services on par with the coverage for physical health services and outlines coverage requirements in detail.  

 

Moe Keller, Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment B).

Lauren Snyder, Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Bethany Pray, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Alexis Ritvo, Colorado Psychiatric Society and the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Committee discussion continued with the witness panel. 

Ms. Karabatsos responded to questions from the committee.  Matt Mortier, Division of Insurance, responded to committee questions.

Committee discussion with the witnesses ensued.

Dr. John Douglas, Tri County Health Department, testified in support of the bill.

Elicia Bunch, Centennial Peaks Hospital and Cedar Springs Hospital, testified in support of the bill.

Kevin Wilson, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Jim Wiegand, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Karen Dunning, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Christiano Sosa, The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Julianna Nelson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Christine Bottomley, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Jonathan Ritvo, Colorado Psychiatric Society, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Aubrey Boggs, Colorado Mental Wellness Network, testified in support of the bill.

Valerie Schlecht, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Megan Marx-Varela, Colorado Coalition for Parity, testified in support of the bill.

Two handouts were distributed to the committee (Attachments C and D).

Christina Johnson, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill.

Dawn Reinfeld, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Sullivan distributed amendment L.001 and L.003 (Attachments E and F).

Representative Larson distributed amendment L.004 (Attachment G).

Representatives Sullivan and Cutter gave closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.