S_HHS_2022A 04/28/2022 01:45:01 PM Committee Summary

Senator Moreno, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1289, which expands Medicaid and Children's Basic Health Plan (CHP+) coverage to low-income pregnant people and children, regardless of immigration status (lookalike programs); requires the Insurance Commissioner to improve the quality of health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise; and extends a survey of birthing parents indefinitely.

Mr. Armando Peniche, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ana Casas Ibarra, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erin Miller, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Brianna Morgan, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions of the panel.

Committee members asked questions of the bill sponsors.

Medicaid Director Tracy Johnson, representing the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, was available to answer committee questions.

Senator Moreno provided closing remarks.

Senator Moreno and Senator Cooke, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1285, which prohibits a hospital from pursuing a collection action against a patient owing debt if the hospital was not in compliance with federal price transparency laws on the date that the items or services were provided to the patient, allows a patient to pursue legal action, and requires certain remedies from hospitals for violations.

Jackie Zheleznyak, representing Denver Health and Hospital Authority, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked questions of Ms. Zheleznyak.

Katherine Mulready, representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members asked questions of Ms. Mulready.

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

Committee members asked questions of Ms. Ladd.

David Silverstein, representing self, testified in support of this bill.

Senator Cooke and Senator Moreno provided closing remarks.

Senator Gardner and Senator Petterson, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1284, which aligns current state surprise billing laws with the federal No Surprises Act and creates a deceptive trade practice.

Commissioner of Insurance Michael Conway, representing the Division of Insurance, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions of Commissioner Conway.

Adam Fox, representing the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Stuart Jenkins, representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Amanda Massey, representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in support of the bill.

Karlee Tebbutt, representing the American Health Insurance Plan, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Gardner provided closing remarks.

Senator Zenzinger and Senator Coram, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1290, which prohibits the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing from requiring prior authorization for any repair of complex rehabilitation technology, and increases the rural reimbursement rate for complex rehabilitation technology repairs.

Ms. Jeanette Hensley, representing Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Ms Robin Bolduc, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Jeremy-J Chatelain, representing the Independence Center, testified in support of the bill.

Kenneth Maestas, representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members made comments to the panel.

Senator Ginal, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1325, which requires the Division of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies to create, implement, and evaluate standards around the use of valued based payments in the health insurance system.

Senator Ginal provided closing remarks.

Senator Jaquez Lewis, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1122, which requires pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse pharmacies at certain rates, and also creates the 340B Prescription Drug Program Anti-Discrimination Act, which, among its provisions, prohibits a third party that reimburses a 340B covered entity for 340B drugs from imposing fees, charge backs, or other adjustments on covered entities or contract pharmacies based on their participation in the 340B drug pricing program, or requiring a claim for a drug to include a modifier to indicate that the drug is a 340B drug unless the claim is for payment, directly or indirectly, by the Medicaid program.

Committee members asked questions of Senator Jaquez Lewis.

Ms. Karlee Tebbutt, representing America's Health Insurance Plans, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Greg Hageman, representing Sunrise Community Health, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Lucas Smith, representing Buena Vista Pharmacy, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Brian Warren, representing the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, testified in opposition to the bill.

Sally West, representing Walgreens, testified to amend the bill.

Rob Geddes, representing Safeway and Albertsons, testified to amend the bill.

Senator Buckner, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1246, which allows a pharmacy located in a hospice inpatient unit to register as a Specialized Prescription Drug Outlet.

Alan Morse, representing the Home Care and Hospice Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions of Mr. Morse.

Senator Buckner provided closing remarks.