H_PBH_2022A 03/25/2022 11:06:54 AM Committee Summary

Dr. Peter Pressman, Assistant Professor in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz, presented to the committee on aphasia. He provided a powerpoint to the committee (Attachment A). He provided information about the number of cases of aphasia in the United States and Colorado. He discussed various aspects of aphasia, including how it occurs and the impacts on communication it causes in people who develop aphasia. Dr. Pressman discussed the research that is being conducted at the University of Colorado Anschutz on aphasia.

Committee members commented on the presentation.

Avi Golden, representing himself, presented to the committee about his personal experience with aphasia. He provided a powerpoint to the committee (Attachment B). He discussed his hospitalization and rehabilitation, as well as his efforts to bring awareness about the condition.

Christina M. Riseman, University of Colorado Boulder, and Holly Kleiber, University of Colorado Boulder, presented to the committee on aphasia. They provided a powerpoint to the committee (Attachment C). Ms. Riseman discussed the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic at the University of Colorado Boulder. She also discussed the training of future speech-language pathologists. Ms. Kleiber discussed the life participation approach to aphasia treatment and patient focused care. Ms Riseman discussed how they have incorporated theater into their rehabilitation treatment for aphasia. Ms. Kleiber discussed some of the benefits aphasia patients reported after the theater performance. Ms. Riseman discussed the needs of persons with aphasia, including access to meaningful participation in community, maximizing insurance coverage, funding of university training programs, and community education.

Dr. Kim Frey, Craig Hospital Craig Hospital, presented to the committee on aphasia. She provided a powerpoint with the committee (Attachment D). She discussed the aspects of intensive therapy and the Craig Hospital Aphasia Therapy (CHAT). Dr. Frey reviewed the elements of CHAT, as well as its history and programmatic costs. She discussed how music and yoga are incorporated in the therapy. Dr. Frey outlined a typical CHAT schedule for a patient with aphasia, which averages about 60 hours of therapy in three weeks. She discussed the program outcomes.

Representative Gonzales-Guiterrez and Representative McCluskie, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1289, concerning improving access to health benefits for economically insecure Colorado families by enhancing public health programs. The bill expands Medicaid coverage to low-income pregnant people and children, regardless of immigration status.  The bill requires the Commissioner of Insurance to improve the quality of health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise, and it extends a survey of birthing parents indefinitely, among other requirements. Representative Gonzales-Guiterrez provided a handout to the committee (Attachment E).

Rayna Hetlage, representing the Center for Health Progress, testified in support of the bill.

Giovani Juarez Granados, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Lilia Cervantes, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Jocelyn Vega, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ian Vy Pram read a statement on behalf of Dr. An Nguyen, representing self, in support of the bill.

Dr. Brianna Morgan, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Brenda Figueroa, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Jose Torres-Vega, representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Erin Miller, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Talaya Banks, representing Soul 2 Soul Sisters, testified in support of the bill.

Peggy Leech, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Nick Torres, representing the American Lung Association, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Tracy Johnson, representing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, responded to committee questions.

Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment F).

Representative McCluskie explained amendment L.001 (Attachment G).

Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained amendment L.002 (Attachment H).

Representative McCluskie and Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

The committee recessed.

Representative Pelton and Representative Young, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1278, concerning the creation of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). The bill creates the BHA in the Department of Human Services and charges it with creating a coordinated, cohesive, and effective behavioral health system in Colorado. Any state agency that administers a behavioral health program is required to collaborate with the BHA.

Michelle Barnes, representing the Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Kim Bimestefer, representing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Morgan Medlock, representing the BHA, testified in support of the bill.

Kate Harris, representing the Division of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in support of the bill.

Jenny Hill, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Cristen Bates, representing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

Casey Wolfington, representing Eagle Valley Behavorial Health, testified in opposition to the bill.

Vincent Atchity, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified to amend the bill.

Commissioner Tamara Pogue, representing Summit County and Colorado Counties, Inc., testified to amend the bill.

Commissioner Wendy Buxton-Andrade, representing Prowers County and Colorado Counties, Inc., testified to amend the bill.

Jamie Ulrich, representing the Weld County Department of Human Services, testified to amend the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Daniel Darting, representing the Signal Behavorial Health Network, testified to amend the bill.

Breeah Kinsella, representing the Colorado Providers Association, testified to amend the bill.

Meghan Baker, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Meighen Lovelace, representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Mark Simon, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Julie Jacobs, representing the Colorado Psychological Association , testified in support of the bill.

Janice Curtis, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Hope Hyatt, representing the Colorado Mental Wellness Network, testified to amend the bill.

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

Julie Reiskin, representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Alli Daley, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified to amend the bill.

Dr. Harriet Hall, representing self, testified to amend the bill.

George DelGrosso, representing self, testified to amend the bill.

Debbie Stafford, representing the Aurora Mental Health Center, testified in support of the bill.

Nancy Jackson, representing self, testified to amend the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Kim Collins, representing North Range Behavioral Health, testified to amend the bill.

James Riesberg, representing North Range Behavioral Health, testified in support of the bill.

Clark Bacco, representing North Range Behavioral Health, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members made comment regarding the panelists' testimony.

Edie Sonn, representing the Mental Health Center of Denver, testified to amend the bill.

Jonathan Cappelli, representing self, testified to amend the bill.

Tom Westfall, representing the Centennial Mental Health Center Board of Directors, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Jessie Spiers, representing Diversus Health, testified to amend the bill.

Alex Durham, representing the Center for Mental Health, testified to amend the bill.

Paul Reich, representing the Center for Mental Health, testified to amend the bill.

Dr. Imad Melhem, representing Diversus Health, testified to amend the bill.

Dr. Elizabeth Hickman, representing the Centennial Mental Health Center, testified to amend the bill.

Brittani Swagar, representing the Jefferson Center for Mental Health, testified to amend the bill.

Tabbey Cardinal-Lyden, representing the Jefferson Center for Mental Health, testified to amend the bill.

Patrick Stanford, representing the San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group, testified to amend the bill.

Dr. Ellen Burnes, representing Mental Health Partners, testified to amend the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Phoebe Norton, representing self, testified to amend the bill.

Commissioner Hilary Cooper, representing Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill.

Tonya Wheeler, representing Advocates for Recovery Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Nancy VanDeMark, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Lauren Snyder, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified to amend the bill.

Bethany Pray, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified to amend the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment I).

Representative Pelton explained amendment L.001 (Attachment J). Committee members made comments regarding amendment L.001.

Representative Pelton explained amendment L.002 (Attachment K).

Representative Young explained amendment L.003 (Attachment L). Committee members commented on amendment L.003.

Representative Young explained amendment L.005 (Attachment M).

Representative Young explained amendment L.007 (Attachment N).

Representative Young explained amendment L.008 (Attachment O).

Representative Young discussed amendment L.009 (Attachment P) and amendment L.017 (Attachment Q).

Representative Pelton explained amendment L.011 (Attachment R).

Represenative Young explained amendment L.012 (Attachment S).

Representative Young explained amendment L.013 (Attachment T).

Representative Young explained amendment L.014 (Attachment U).

Representative Pelton explained amendment L.015  (Attachment V).

Representative Pelton and Representative Young made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.