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S_HHS_2023A 01/11/2023 11:10:41 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT HEALTH
Date 01/11/2023
Attendance
Amabile X
Bradfield *
Bradley X
Buckner X
Cutter X
deGruy Kennedy *
English X
Garcia X
Ginal X
Gonzales-Gutierrez *
Hamrick X
Hartsook X
Holtorf X
Jaquez Lewis X
Jodeh X
Lieder X
McCormick X
Michaelson Jenet X
Mullica X
Ortiz X
Rich *
Smallwood X
Soper E
Story X
Titone *
Weinberg X
Willford X
Young X
Fields X
Daugherty X
Time 11:10:41 AM to 05:20:47 PM
Place Old State Library
This Meeting was called to order by Daugherty
This Report was prepared by Matthu Beck
Hearing Items Action Taken
Presentation by the Office of the State Auditor Committee Discussion Only
Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman Presentation Committee Discussion Only
Connect for Health Colorado Presentation Committee Discussion Only
Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Supportive Housing Program Report Presentation Committee Discussion Only
Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Insurance (DOI), Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Presentation Committee Discussion Only
SMART Government Act Briefing for the Department of Public Health and Environment Committee Discussion Only
Public Testimony Related to the Department of Public Health and Environment Committee Discussion Only

11:11:14 AM
Chair Daugherty gave
opening remarks and went over the agenda for the day. The agenda was distributed
to the committee (Attachment A).



Presentation by the Office of the State Auditor - Committee Discussion Only
11:11:52 AM  
Marisa Edwards, Deputy
State Auditor, introduced staff members from the Office of the State Auditor
(OSA). Jenny Page, Director of Strategic Operations and Audit Manager,
shared details from the annual report. OSA staff shared documents with
the committee (Attachment B).
11:17:05 AM  
Monica Power, Audit
Manager, explained how recommendations included in the report are listed
and what information is included. She went over high priority recommendations
from their office.
11:22:10 AM  
OSA staff answered
questions from the committee.



Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman Presentation - Committee Discussion Only
11:35:25 AM  
Jordan Steffen, Deputy
Ombudsman, Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO), explained the
responsibilities of the office and what the reporting requirements are
for the CPO. CPO staff shared documents with the committee (Attachment
C).
11:40:45 AM  
Ms. Steffen explained the case process for her office and went over current public policy initiatives from CPO.
11:48:19 AM  
Ms. Steffen answered
questions from the committee.



Connect for Health Colorado Presentation - Committee Discussion Only
11:57:46 AM  
Kevin Patterson,
Executive Director of Connect for Health Colorado, presented information
on how the organization helps customers. He shared his presentation with
the committee (Attachment D).
12:01:05 PM  
Mr. Patterson presented information on issuer changes for 2023 including providers and plans available on the marketplace.
12:14:07 PM  
Mr. Patterson covered key takeaways from the annual report and answered questions from the committee.
12:23:54 PM  
Mr. Patterson continued to answer questions from the committee.



Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Supportive Housing Program Report Presentation - Committee Discussion Only
12:28:02 PM  
The committee recessed.
01:30:33 PM  
The committee resumed.



01:32:04 PM
Maulid Miskell, Deputy
Director of the Division of Housing, DOLA, and Kristin Toombs, Director
of the Office of Homeless Initiatives, DOLA, presented on key takeaways
from the Supportive Housing Program report and answered questions from
the committee. DOLA staff shared documents with the committee (Attachment
E).



Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Insurance (DOI), Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only
01:52:26 PM  
Mike Conway, Commissioner
of Insurance, DOI, DORA and Cara Cheevers, Director of Behavioral Health
Program, DOI, DORA presented on mental health parity in Colorado and the
differences in coverage between mental health and physical health. Ms.
Cheevers and Mr. Conway answered questions from the committee. DOI staff
shared their presentation with the committee (Attachment F).



SMART Government Act Briefing for the Department of Public Health and Environment - Committee Discussion Only
02:18:29 PM  

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE); Trisha Oeth, Director of Environmental Health and Protection, CDPHE; Dr. Eric France, Chief Medical Officer, CDPHE: and Erick Scheminske, Chief Operating Officer, CDPHE, presented on CDPHE's efforts during 2022 and future strategic plan priorities. CDPHE Staff shared documents with the committee (Attachment G).

02:42:55 PM  
The committee took a brief recess.
02:43:11 PM  

The committee came back to order. CDPHE staff resumed their presentation which included air quality accomplishments, suicide prevention efforts, and the department's FY2023-2024 budget request.

03:20:04 PM  
Committee members
asked questions of the panel.
03:37:50 PM  
CDPHE staff resumed
their presentation, which included the department's legislative agenda
and gun violence prevention progress.
03:46:46 PM  
Committee members continued to ask questions of the panel.



Public Testimony Related to the Department of Public Health and Environment - Committee Discussion Only
04:41:08 PM  
Beau Gertz, representing
himself, testified regarding CDPHE and submitted a letter to the committee
(Attachment H). Eileen McCarron, representing Colorado Ceasefire, testified
regarding CDPHE. Maisha Fields, representing herself, testified regarding
CDPHE. Committee members asked questions of the panel.
05:04:18 PM  
Julie Denton, representing
herself, testified regarding CDPHE.

Pam Long, representing herself, testified regarding CDPHE.

Stephanie Greenberg, representing Colorado Faith Communities United to
End Gun Violence, testified regarding CDPHE.

Melissa Atchley, representing herself, testified regarding CDPHE.



Committee members asked questions of the panel.


05:20:47 PM   The committee adjourned.






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