Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

S_HHS_2018A 02/08/2018 01:35:10 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date 02/08/2018
Attendance
Aguilar X
Crowder X
Kefalas X
Martinez Humenik *
Smallwood X
Time 01:35:10 PM to 04:01:34 PM
Place SCR 354
This Meeting was called to order by Smallwood
This Report was prepared by Elizabeth Haskell
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB18-022 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB18-131 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
SB18-148 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB18-129 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
SB18-164 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
SB18-163 Committee Discussion Only
SB18-162 Referred to the Committee of the Whole

SB18-022 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole


01:36:09 PM  
Senator Aguilar and Senator Tate, co-prime
sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-022.  The bill limits to a seven-day
supply, the number of opioid pills that a health care provider including
physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, dentists, optometrists,
podiatrists, and veterinarians, may prescribe to a patient.  At the
discretion of the provider, the prescription may include one refill for
an additional seven-day supply.  With certain exceptions, the bill
also requires health care providers or their designees, to query the Prescription
Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) prior to prescribing the first refill prescription
for an opioid. The bill includes a number of exceptions to the seven-day
limitation and allows for a health care provider to electronically prescribe
opioids.
 When
initially querying the PDMP, each health care provider or designee is required
to identify his or her area of health care specialty or practice.

The bill also requires the Department
of Public Health and Environment to report its findings to the General
Assembly from studies conducted on PDMP integration methods and health
care provider report cards.  The department is also required to provide
the findings to the Center for Research Into Substance Use Disorder Prevention,
Treatment, and Recovery Support Strategies at the University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center.  The center is required to use the information
to provide voluntary training for health care providers in targeted areas.
 



Amendment L.005 was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).

01:40:43 PM  

Dr. Robert Valuck, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Valuck responded to questions from the committee.

01:53:25 PM  

Dr. J. Scott Bainbridge, Colorado Pain Society, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Bainbridge responded to questions from the committee.

01:58:35 PM  

Dr. Stephanie Gold, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Gold responded to questions from the committee.

02:02:57 PM  

Dr. Don Stader, Colorado Medical Society, testified in support of the bill and  responded to questions from the committee.  Committee discussion followed.

02:13:12 PM  

Kelly Tobin, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), testified in support of the bill.

02:20:28 PM  

Jennifer Remington, CCDC, testified in support of the bill.  Senator Aguilar commented on issues brought up during previous testimony.

02:26:03 PM  

Committee questions and comments followed.

02:27:50 PM  

Committee discussion continued.

02:31:24 PM  

Edie Sonn, Pinnacol Assurance, testified in support of the bill.

02:35:53 PM  

Jackie Zheleznyak, Denver Health, testified in support of the bill.

02:38:52 PM  

Jennifer Goodrum, Colorado Dental Association (CDA), testified in a neutral position on the bill and discussed CDA's concerns about amendment L.005 (Attachment A).  Ms. Goodrum responded to questions from the committee.  Committee comments followed.

02:51:24 PM  

Committee discussion ensued.

02:54:18 PM  

Lindsey Myers, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill.

02:57:48 PM  

Senator Tate made closing comments.



03:02:45 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment A).
Moved Aguilar
Seconded
Aguilar
Crowder
Kefalas
Martinez Humenik Excused
Smallwood
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:05:25 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-022, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Aguilar
Seconded
Aguilar Yes
Crowder Yes
Kefalas Yes
Martinez Humenik Yes
Smallwood Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB18-131 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar


03:13:14 PM  
Senator Smallwood reconvened the meeting.
 
Senator Tate, bill sponsor,
presented Senate Bill 18-131 and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment
B).  SB 18-131 makes various updates to the State Employees Group
Benefit Act to conform with current state and federal law, remove obsolete
provisions, and reflect current practices.  Among its many provisions,
the bill:
  • changes the definition of "dependent"
    to reflect that coverage can continue under an employee's policy until
    a child is age 26 and removes the requirement that a dependent child over
    age 19 be unmarried and enrolled as a full-time student to maintain coverage;

  • removes domestic partner from the definition
    of "dependent" to reflect the repeal of rules allowing domestic
    partners as dependents;
  • removes provisions referencing maximum
    lifetime benefits, which are prohibited under federal law;

  • removes a public hearing requirement
    that conflicted with the state procurement code; and

  • removes various obsolete provisions.


03:15:05 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B).
Moved Kefalas
Seconded
Aguilar
Crowder
Kefalas
Martinez Humenik
Smallwood
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:15:37 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-131, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Kefalas
Seconded
Aguilar Yes
Crowder Yes
Kefalas Yes
Martinez Humenik Yes
Smallwood Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



03:05:26 PM

Senator Smallwood recessed the meeting.



SB18-148 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


03:16:10 PM  

Senators Martinez Humenik and Moreno, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-148.  The bill requires a state agency to continue paying medical and dental benefits to the dependents of an employee who dies in a work-related death for 12 months from the end of the month in which the work-related death occurs.

03:19:04 PM  

Rick Tompkins, Colorado Department of Corrections, testified in support of the bill.

03:21:00 PM  

Velma Donahue, respresenting herself, testified in support of the bill.

03:24:31 PM  

Chief Matt Packard, Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill.  Committee members commented on the bill.

03:29:16 PM  

Jack Wylie, Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration, responded to questions from the committee.

03:34:42 PM  

Senator Martinez Humenik made closing comments.  Committee discussion followed.

03:38:06 PM  

Senator Moreno commented on the bill.



03:40:01 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-148 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Martinez Humenik
Seconded
Aguilar Yes
Crowder Yes
Kefalas Yes
Martinez Humenik Yes
Smallwood Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB18-164 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar


03:43:33 PM  
Senator Moreno, bill sponsor, presented
Senate Bill 18-164 and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment D).  The
bill suspends the requirement that the Department of Human Services report
to the General Assembly for certain programs that have not been funded
until such time as they receive funding.  The bill concerns reports
on the Child Welfare and Mental Health Services Pilot Program, the County
Block Grant Support Fund, and the Colorado Works Program Maintenance Fund.


03:44:54 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment D).
Moved Crowder
Seconded
Aguilar
Crowder
Kefalas
Martinez Humenik
Smallwood
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:45:24 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-164, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Crowder
Seconded
Aguilar Yes
Crowder Yes
Kefalas Yes
Martinez Humenik Yes
Smallwood Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB18-129 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar


03:40:15 PM  
Senator Moreno, bill sponsor, presented
Senate Bill 18-129 and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment C).  The
bill consolidates duplicative definitions and cleans up statutory language
concerning state sales tax exemptions for prescription drugs and medical
devices.  It also relocates a definition so that all relevant definitions
are in the same section of statute.  


03:42:22 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C).
Moved Crowder
Seconded
Aguilar
Crowder
Kefalas
Martinez Humenik
Smallwood
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:42:50 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-129, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Crowder
Seconded
Aguilar Yes
Crowder Yes
Kefalas Yes
Martinez Humenik Yes
Smallwood Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB18-163 - Committee Discussion Only


03:45:34 PM  

Senator Martinez Humenik, co-prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-163.  The bill extends the repeal date of the Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission to July 1, 2023.  As a result, this bill increases state expenditures through FY 2022-23.

03:47:14 PM  

Ryan Long, Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions from the committee about the bill's fiscal note.

03:49:46 PM  

Committee discussion followed.

03:52:34 PM  

Senator Smallwood laid the bill over until Wednesday, February 14.



SB18-162 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


03:53:07 PM  

Senator Martinez Humenik, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-162.  The bill creates a license within the Department of Human Services for a substitute placement agency that places or that facilitates or arranges placement of substitute child care providers in licensed child care facilities providing less than 24-hour care.

03:55:21 PM  

Erin Mewhinney, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

03:56:49 PM  

Nicole Riehl, Denver Early Childhood Council, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Riehl responded to questions from the committee.

04:00:46 PM  

Senator Martinez Humenik made closing comments.



04:01:29 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-162 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Martinez Humenik
Seconded
Aguilar Yes
Crowder Yes
Kefalas Yes
Martinez Humenik Yes
Smallwood Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


04:01:34 PM   Committee Adjourned






Colorado legislature email addresses ending in @state.co.us are no longer active. Please replace @state.co.us with @coleg.gov for Colorado legislature email addresses.  Details