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S_HHS_2017A 02/22/2017 Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Date: 02/22/2017
ATTENDANCE
Time: 10:58 AM to 11:54 AM
Aguilar
X
Crowder
X
Place: SCR 354
Kefalas
X
Martinez Humenik
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Smallwood
X
Senator Smallwood
This Report was prepared by
Elizabeth Haskell
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB17-190

HB17-1052
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Referred to the Committee of the Whole





10:58 AM -- SB 17-190



Senator Crowder, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-190 and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A). This bill prohibits insurance carriers that offer benefit plans covering dental services from requiring a participating dentist to provide services at a fee set by, or subject to the approval of, the carrier unless certain conditions are met. Specifically, carriers can only set the fee if the services are covered under a person's policy, and the carrier provides payment for the service under the policy in an amount that is reasonable and not nominal or de minimis.



170222 AttachA.pdf170222 AttachA.pdf



Under the bill, a dentist may charge a person covered by a dental plan for noncovered items or services in any amount determined by the dentist and agreed to by the patient that is equal to, or less than, the usual and customary price that the dentist charges for such items and services. Violations of the provisions of this bill constitutes an unfair method of competition and unfair or deceptive practice in the business of insurance.



11:00 AM -- Dr Michael Varley, Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill.



11:05 AM --
Dr. Jason Ehtessabian, Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill.



11:09 AM --
Dr. Marilyn Ketchum, Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill.





11:12 AM



Committee discussion and questions followed.



11:29 AM --
Charlie Sheffield, Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in neutral position on the bill. Mr. Sheffield responded to questions from the committee.



11:36 AM



Senator Crowder made closing comments.

BILL: SB17-190
TIME: 11:37:08 AM
MOVED: Crowder
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Aguilar
Crowder
Kefalas
Martinez Humenik
Smallwood
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: SB17-190
TIME: 11:37:48 AM
MOVED: Crowder
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 17-190, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 4-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Aguilar
Yes
Crowder
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Martinez Humenik
Yes
Smallwood
No
Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS







11:40 AM -- HB 17-1052



Senator Smallwood, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 1052. The bill increases the flexibility of the Child Welfare Allocation Committee and the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS) to consider various factors affecting the population of children in need of child welfare services when determining the formula for allocating county child welfare funding. Specifically, it removes the requirement that county funding allocations, expenditures, and caseloads over the previous three years be considered when setting the formula, as well as the prior year spending on and the number of families provided preventative family preservation services.



11:42 AM --
Barbara Kirkmeyer, Weld County Board of County Commissioners and Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Kirkmeyer responded to questions.

BILL: HB17-1052
TIME: 11:53:39 AM
MOVED: Smallwood
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1052 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Aguilar
Yes
Crowder
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Martinez Humenik
Yes
Smallwood
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



11:54 AM



The meeting adjourned.




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