022817E6E762CE92872583D0006DF3A5 Hearing Summary

Senator Zenzinger, bill sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 19-197.  The bill continues the complementary or alternative medicine program by five years.  The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee regarding the services provided and the number of program beneficiaries.  The bill sponsor provided information from the Annual Report SFY 2017-18 of the Complementary and Integrative Health Services Evaluation (https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/NRC%20Annual%20Report%20for%20SFY17-18-%20June%202018.pdf).

Colin Laughlin, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, responded to questions from the committee regarding the program's history, beneficiaries, and benefits.  Senator Zenzinger also responded.

Chanda Hinton Leichtle, Chanda Plan Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

Jacob Hill, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Nicole Miller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Oliver Giminaro, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Hinton Leichtle responded to a question from the committee regarding the history of the spinal cord industry waiver.  Mr. Hill responded to questions from the committee about how alternative medicine benefit patients and how individuals transition to these medical practices from prescribed opioids.

Kevin Smith, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

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

Mr. Neil responded to a question from the committee regarding qualifications for the spinal cord injury waiver.

Senator Zenzinger made closing comments on the bill.