s_fin_2016a_2016-05-10t13:21:16z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/10/2016

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present.



01:21 PM -- HB16-1420



Senator Crowder, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1420. The reengrossed bill creates a Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (enterprise) within the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). Beginning FY 2016-17, the enterprise is responsible for the collection of a new Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Fee that replaces the Hospital Provider Fee assessed under current law. The enterprise must use fee revenue to draw down federal matching funds and expend fee revenue and federal funds for administration, reimbursements to hospitals, and business support purposes. The committee members received a table showing enterprise revenue earned from various state enterprises between FY 1993-94 and FY 2013-14 (Attachment A).



16SenateFin0510AttachA.pdf



01:22 PM -- Ms. Kelly Brough, representing the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Brough distributed a written copy of her testimony (Attachment B). She responded to questions from the committee. Committee members received a fact sheet from the Colorado Hospital Association (Attachment C).



16SenateFin0510AttachB.pdf 16SenateFin0510AttachC.pdf



01:33 PM -- Ms. Dianna Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



01:35 PM -- Ms. Katherine Mulready, representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Mulready read a statement of support from Connie Martin, the Chief Executive Office of San Luis Valley Health. She answered questions from the committee and discussion ensued.



01:48 PM -- Mr. Henry Sobanet, Director, Govenor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting, testified in support of the bill and walked the committee through a handout illustrating the changes under House Bill 16-1420 (Attachment D). Director Sobanet addressed questions from the committee. Discussion ensued.



16SenateFin0510AttachD.pdf



02:07 PM -- Mr. Matt Cook, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, Rural School Alliance, Pikes Peak School District Alliance, and Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.



02:09 PM -- Mr. Mark Turner, representing the Colorado Non-Profit Association, testified in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



02:13 PM -- Mr. Bud Starker, representing the Colorado Contractors Association, the Associated General Contractors of Colorado, and the Jefferson County Business Lobby, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Starker addressed comments and questions from the committee.



02:17 PM -- Mr. Ryan Biehle, representing the Colorado Academy for Family Physicians and several other organizations, testified in support of the bill.



02:21 PM -- Mr. Bruce Benson, President, University of Colorado System, testified in support of the bill. President Benson addressed questions and comments from the committee.





02:29 PM



Senator Crowder made some closing comments on the bill. Members of the committee commented on the merits of the bill.