s_hhs_2017a_2017-01-26t13:31:09z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/26/2017

Location: SCR 354

02:56 PM -- SB 17-065



Senator Lundberg, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-065. The bill creates the Transparency in Health Care Price Act. The act requires certain health care professionals and health care facilities, as defined by the bill, to make a single document available to the public that lists the direct pay prices for the most common health care services provided. Health care professionals and facilities must update the document at least annually and provide the document on request and electronically if a website exists. Under the bill, health care professionals and facilities are not required to submit their direct pay prices to any government agency for review, unless otherwise specified by existing law. The bill does not provide any agency with the authority to approve, disapprove, limit, or change the direct pay prices disclosed by health care professionals or facilities. The bill also prohibits any person, entity, or health insurer from penalizing a person who pays directly for health care services.



Senator Lundberg distributed and discussed amendments L.001(Attachment F) and L.002 (Attachment G).



170126 AttachF.pdf170126 AttachG.pdf



02:58 PM -- Hillary Jorgensen, Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:02 PM -- Elisabeth Arenales, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Committee questions and discussion followed.



03:19 PM -- Cindy Sovine-Miller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:20 PM -- Katherine Mulready, Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Mulready responded to questions from the committee.



03:31 PM



Committee discussion and questions continued.



03:39 PM -- Christy Chase, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee.

03:47 PM



The meeting adjourned.