S_HHS_2025A 03/13/2025 01:37:38 PM Committee Summary

Senator Exum, primary
bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 25-197 which repeals individual programs
within the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program (grant program) and instead
lists them as allowable uses for grant money under the broader grant program.
It consolidates their separate cash funds into the Youth Services Program
Fund. The bill maintains current funding streams to support the grant program.



The bill also
transfers responsibilities held by the grant program board to the Department
of Human Services (CDHS), including selecting grant recipients and grant
awards. It removes the local public-to-private funding match requirements
and requires certain grant recipients to submit information on program
outcomes annually to CDHS.



Committee members
asked the bill sponsor questions.

Ms. Elycia Cook,
representing Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, testified in support
of the bill. Michel Salas Holien, representing Kempe Foundation, testified
in support of the bill. Ms. Marion Batayte, representing Parent Possible,
testified in support of the bill. Mr. Stuart Jenkins, representing Colorado
Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, testified in support of the bill. Ms.
Heather Tritten, representing CO Children's Campaign, testified in support
of the bill. Mr. Aaron Miltenberger, representing Boys & Girls Clubs
of the San Luis Valley, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
made comments to the panel.

Senator Exum explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

Senator Exum explained amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

Senator Exum provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.

The committee resumed.

Senator Winter F., primary bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 25-164 which clarifies who is allowed to distribute opioid antagonists, sets reporting requirements, and allows for additional opioid antagonist storage on school grounds.

Senator Winter F. provided closing comments.

Committee members provided closing remarks.

Senator Michaelson Jenet, primary bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 25-048 which requires health benefit plans to cover lifestyle therapy, bariatric surgery, and anti-obesity medication for the treatment of chronic obesity and pre-diabetes. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing must seek federal authorization to provide these treatments; and, if approved, notify members in writing about the availability of treatment.

Dr. Rebecca Andrick,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Christine
Fallabel, representing American Diabetes Association, testified in support
of the bill. Michael Conway, representing Division of Insurance, testified
in opposition to the bill. Dr. Carolynn Francavilla, representing Obesity
Medicine Association, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Adam Gilden,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Teddy McCullough,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Linda Shapiro
Manning, representing Obesity Action Coalition, testified in support of
the bill. Bettina Schneider, representing Colorado Health Care Policy and
Financing Department, was available to answer committee questions. Dr.
Gillian Lee, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms.
Jovita Schiffer, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



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

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Senator Michaelson Jenet provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Senators Michaelson Jenet and Rich, primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 25-071 which prohibits manufacturers from imposing restrictions on 340B Drug Pricing Program facilities and requires covered hospitals to publish certain information.

Ms. Brittany Dixon,
representing Club 20, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Alan Qualls,
representing Banner Health, testified in support of the bill. Kevin Stansbury,
representing Lincoln Health, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Brianna
Fox, representing Lincoln Health, testified in support of the bill. Mx.
Matt Pagnotti, representing Colorado Organizations & Individuals Responding
to HIV/AIDS (CORA), Vivent Health, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions

Ms. Elbra  Wedgeworth,
representing Save340B, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Perry Knight,
representing Johnson and Johnson, testified in opposition to the bill.
Ms. Amanda Green, representing National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser
Coalitions, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Richard Cimino, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Kelly Erb Zager,
representing Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the
bill. Dr. Melinda Gonzales, representing Clinica Family Health and Wellness,
testified in support of the bill. Ky Davis, representing RxPlus Pharmacies
and Harris Pharmacy, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Kevin Forbush,
representing Intermountain Healthcare, testified in support of the bill.
Marilyn Schock, representing UCHealth Greeley Hospital, testified in support
of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Lucas Smith, representing
Buena Vista Drug and Salida Pharmacy and Fountain, testified in support
of the bill. CoralAnn Hackett, representing Colorado Organization of Nurse
Leaders (CONL), testified in support of the bill. Dr. Michael Salem, representing
National Jewish Health, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Steve Frankel,
representing National Jewish Health, testified in a neutral position on
the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Ms. Kelly Wiberg,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Brian Warren,
representing Biotechnology Innovation Organization, testified in opposition
to the bill. Ms. Khadija Haynes, representing themself, testified in opposition
to the bill. Katelin Lucariello, representing Phrma, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Dr. Justin Hanel,
representing Valley-Wide Health Systems, testified in support of the bill.
Thomas Gierwatoski, representing Platte valley pharmacy and ex plus, testified
in support of the bill. Jon Cohee, representing Delta Health, testified
in support of the bill. Julie Bence, representing themself, testified in
support of the bill. Joshua Ewing, representing Colorado Hospital Association,
testified in support of the bill.



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

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Senators Kirkmeyer
and Gonzales J., primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 25-124 which
places requirements on the use of profits from the 340B Drug Pricing Program
for nonprofit hospitals and adds new reporting and enforcement provisions.



A fiscal memorandum
was distributed to the committee (Attachment K).



Committee members
asked the bill sponsors questions.

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Jason Wardrip, representing
Colorado Building & Construction Trades Council, testified in support
of the bill. Ryan Boone, representing themself, testified in support of
the bill. Ms. Amy Goodman, representing Colorado BioScience Association,
testified in support of the bill. Mr. Richard Cimino, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill. Ky Zinnen, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Ms. Portia Prescott,
representing Rocky Mountain NAACP CO-MT-WY State Conference, testified
in support of the bill. Mr. Kalvin Pugh, representing Community Access
National Network, testified in support of the bill. Citlaly Quiroz, representing
Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Bianka Emerson,
representing Colorado Black Women for Political Action, testified in support
of the bill. Ms. Elbra Wedgeworth, representing Save340B, testified in
support of the bill. Mr. Mason Evans, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill. Ms. Laura Hameed, representing Our Health Equity,
testified in support of the bill.



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

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Senator Kirkmeyer explained amendment L.001 (Attachment M).

Senator Kirkmeyer explained amendment L.002 (Attachment N).

Senator Kirkmeyer explained amendment L.005 (Attachment O).

Senator Kirkmeyer explained amendment L.006 (Attachment P).