S_HHS_2023A 04/13/2023 06:20:30 PM Committee Summary

Christine Vogel, appointee to the Colorado Commission on the Aging, joined the committee. The appointment letter may be found in Attachment A. Emily Hanson introduced Ms. Vogel and described her background. Committee members made comments to the appointee.

Guyleen Castriotta, appointee to the State Board of Health, joined the committee. The appointment letter may be found in Attachment B. Marissa Wilkins introduced Ms. Castriotta and described her background. Committee members made comments to the appointee.

Senator Rodriguez, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 23-1130 concerning prohibiting state-regulated insurance plans from requiring more than one alternative drug trial as part of a step therapy protocol before covering a drug prescribed by a provider to treat select mental health conditions. The bill also allows a provider to attest a prescribed drug is necessary, without undergoing step therapy, and the insurance plan must cover the drug. Lastly, the bill requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to review newly FDA-approved drugs for certain mental health conditions within 90 days for coverage of the drug under Medicaid.

Haven Rohnert, representing
the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Rimal Bera,
representing the Alliance for Patient Access Mental Health Working Group,
testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.



Additional written
testimony may be found in Attachment C.

Senator Rodriguez provided closing remarks.

Senator Van Winkle
and Senator Gonzales, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-252
concerning requiring hospitals to disclose standard charges for services.
The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) must design the
disclosure template, monitor hospitals for compliance, and take corrective
action. Failure to comply is a deceptive trade practice. The bill also
moves existing hospital transparency reporting requirements from the Department
of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to HCPF.



Committee members
asked the bill sponsors questions.

Mr. Matt Kelly, representing
UCHealth, testified in opposition to the bill.



Dee Montee, representing
Intermountain Health, Peaks Region, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Katherine Mulready,
representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Committee members
asked Ms. Mulready questions.

Mr. David Kochel,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Jefferey Riester,
representing the Department of Law, testified in support of the bill.



Chief Financial
Officer Bettina Schneider, representing the Colorado Department of Health
Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.



Cyndy Reddy, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Ms. Ilaria Santangelo,
representing PatientRightsAdvocate.org, testified in support of the bill.



Jim Jusko, representing
Patient Rights Advocate, testified in support of the bill.



Hope Stonner,
representing the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support
of the bill.



Ms. Anne Ladd,
representing the Peak Health Alliance, testified in support of the bill.



Marni Carey, representing
Power to the Patients, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Mrs.  Chris
Deacon, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Robert Smith,
representing the Colorado Business Group on Health , testified in support
of the bill.

Ms. Srilekha Palle,
representing the Independent Women's Forum, testified in support of the
bill.



Haven Rohnert,
representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support
of the bill.



Additional written
testimony may be found in Attachment D.

Senator Gonzalez and Senator Van Winkle explained amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachment E and F).

Senator Mullica and Senator Winter, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-260 concerning prohibiting practitioners from requiring individuals to pay, provide identification or health insurance information, or register as a patient to receive a publicly-funded vaccine. If this information is requested, the practitioner must disclose that the vaccine will be provided regardless of whether the information is provided or not. The bill also clarifies that practitioners may charge for vaccine administration fees for publicly-funded vaccines to either the individual or their health insurance provider, except to individuals who receive their services through Medicaid.

Diana Herrero, representing Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Aimee Bernard, representing Immunize Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Sarah Wu, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez,
representing Servicios de La Raza, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Ky Davis,
representing RxPlus, testified to amend the bill.



Keith Rawls, representing
Boulder County Public Health Department, testified in opposition to the
bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Dr. Emily Zadvorny,
representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified to amend the bill.



Alex Andrews,
representing 365 Health, testified in support of the bill.



Dawn Fritz, representing
Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.



Adele Work, representing
365 Health, was available to answer committee questions.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Senator Mullica introduced amendment L.007 (Attachment G).

Senator Mullica explained amendment L.011 (Attachment J).

Senator Winter explained L.015 (Attachment K).

Senator Winter and Senator Mullica provided closing remarks.

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Angela Kimball, representing
Inseparable, testified in support of the bill.



Sarah Younggren,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Nicole Johnston,
representing the Community Health Partnership, Suicide Prevention Collaborative
of El Paso County, testified in support of the bill.

Brenda Everett, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Mrs. Megan Maurer,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Mrs. Jodee Calm,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Nancy Eason, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Luke Conrad, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Caroline Gaghen,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Izzie House, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Noah Vong, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Alex Weeks,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Carolyn Martin, representing
the Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified in opposition to the
bill.



Mrs. Sherri Yockey,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Pam Long, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Julie Deters,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Mrs. Tara Roehl,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Ms. Judy Papenfuss,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Mrs. Joan Sullivan,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Mrs. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Mr. Rick Padilla,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked Mr. Padilla questions.

Nicholas Martinez,
representing Transform Education Now, testified in support of the bill.



Steven Haden,
representing Envision You, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Sarah Davidon,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Meredith Gleitz,
representing One Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Dawn Fritz,
representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support
of the bill.



Bridget Anshus,
representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Elizabeth Selander,
representing Children’s Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the
bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.

Mrs. Lori Gimelshteyn,
representing Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Mr. Mark Tisdale,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Mrs. Jody Nickerson,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Stephen Tool,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Carson Biederman,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ian Coggins, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Jason Vahling,
representing the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials
and the City and County of Broomfield, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jeremy Lane,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



John Graham, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Donna LaBelle,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Alexis Alltop,
representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Elizabeth Wilson,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Mary Parker,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Patty Hernandez,
representing Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill.



Ian Rutherford,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Committee members
made comments to the panel.



Additional written
testimony may be found in Attachment L.