S_HHS_2023A 04/27/2023 06:56:23 PM Committee Summary

Marrisa Wilkins presented on behalf of Evelinn Borrayo, Thomas Butts, Christina Suh, and Jeff Kuhr for their appointments to the Board of Health. Their appointment letters may be found as Attachment A. Ms. Wilkins described the appointees background in health. Ms. Suh described her background in health and reasons for wanting to serve on the Board of Health. Mr. Kuhr described his background in health and reasons for wanting to serve on the board. Ms. Borrayo described her background in health and reasons for wanting to serve on the board. Mr. Butts described his background in health and reasons for wanting to serve on the board.

Members of the committee asked questions of the appointees.

Senators Rodriguez and Pelton, co-prime bill sponsors, opened on House Bill 23-1153 relating to pathways to behavioral health care. Members of the committee asked questions of the sponsors.

Dr. Donna Lynne,
representing Denver Health, testified in support of the bill.



Mark Falcone,
representing Center City Collaborative, testified in support of the bill.



Katie First, representing
Colorado Counties Inc, testified in support of the bill.



Edie Sonn, representing
Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.



Commissioner Tamara
Pogue, representing Summit County/Colorado Counties Inc., testified in
support of the bill.

Director of the Office
of Civil and Forensic Mental Health Leora Jospeh, representing Colorado
Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.



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

Director of Homeless
Initiatives Cole Chandler, representing the Colorado Department of Human
Services, testified in support of the bill.



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

Senators Rodriguez and Pelton gave closing remarks on the bill. Members of the committee gave closing remarks.

Senators Gardner and Roberts opened on Senate Bill 23-298 regarding allowing public hospital collaboration agreements. The bill sponsors answered questions from the committee.

Mark Waller, representing
the Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium, testified in support of the bill.



Executive Director
Kim Bimestefer, representing the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy
and Financing, testified to amend the bill.



Jefferey Riester,
representing the Department of law, testified to amend the bill.



Special Financing
Division Director Nancy Dolson, representing the Colorado Department of
Health Care Policy and Financing, was available to answer committee questions.

Kelly Erb, representing
the Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill.



Bridget Garcia,
representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of
the bill.



Members of the
committee asked follow up questions.

The bill sponsors gave closing remarks on Senate Bill 23-298.

Senator Mullica, primary bill sponsor, opened on House Bill 23-1158 regarding the Colorado commodity supplemental food grant program. Members of the commmittee asked questions.

Carol Pace, representing
AARP, testified in support of the bill.



Sarah Gregory,
representing Feeding Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Effie Rorke, representing
Feeding Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
asked the panel questions.



Additional written
testimony may be found in Attachment G.

Senator Mullica gave closing remarks on House Bill 23-1158.

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



Dr  Lucas
Smith, representing RxPlus Pharmacies, testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
testimony may be found in Attachment I.

Senators Smallwood and Mullica, co-prime sponsors, gave closing remarks on House Bill 23-1201.

Senator Jacquez Lewis opened on House Bill 23-1218 regarding health facility patient information denied services.

Alison Gill, representing
American Atheists, testified in support of the bill.



Shannon Russell,
representing Catholics for Choice, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Leslie Kalechman,
representing AARP Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Philip Shimel, representing
Cobalt Advocates, testified in support of the bill.



Joshua Ewing,
representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified to amend the
bill.



Additional written
testimony may be found in Attachment J.

Senator Jacquez Lewis gave closing remarks on House Bill 23-1218.

Senator Jacquez Lewis presented House Bill 23-1209 regarding analyzing statewide publicly financed healthcare.

Mrs. Kelly Campbell,
representing America’s Health Insurance Plans, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Jason Hopfer,
representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Mr. Dave Davia,
representing Rocky Mountain MCA, testified in opposition to the bill.



Members of the
panel answered questions from the committee.

Angelique Espinoza,
representing Good Business Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Michael Neil,
representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support
of the bill.



Mr. Nathan Wilkes,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Commissioner George
Marlin, representing Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified
in a neutral position on the bill.



Mr. Guinn Unger,
representing the Colorado Healthcare Coalition, testified in support of
the bill.



Members of the
panel answered questions from the committee.

Senator Jacquez Lewis gave closing remarks on the bill.

Senators Cutter and
Mullica, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1215 regarding
hospital facility fees. Members of the committee asked questions.



Written testimony
may be found in Attachment R.

Senators Mullica and Cutter gave closing remarks on the bill. Members of the committee gave closing remarks.