716A5076955B409687258528007197A2 Hearing Summary

Representative Roberts and Representative Kennedy, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 20-1349 to the committee.  The bill directs the Commissioner of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to design a health insurance plan (the "Colorado Option" plan) to be offered by private health insurance carriers in the individual market beginning in 2022.  It requires most hospitals to participate at reimbursement rates established in the bill, which may be adjusted by the commissioner.  An advisory board is created to guide the development and implementation of the program.

Amendments L.001, L.003, L.004, L.009, and L.010 were distributed (Attachments A to E).  

The bill sponsors responded to committee questions. Committee discussion continued.

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Adela Flores Brennan, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill.  Meranda Vieyra, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Laura Packard, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  John Messner, Gunnison County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

The following persons testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University - Grand Junction.  Michelle Shiao, SCL Health, testified in opposition to the bill. Christian Reece, Club 20, testified in opposition to the bill.  Diane Schwenke, Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.  Ms. Schwenke read the testimony of John Justman, Mesa County Commissioner, in opposition to the bill.  Ms. Schwenke read the testimony of Rick Taggart in opposition to the bill.

Representative Rich read the testimony of Ed Krey in opposition to the bill.

The following persons testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University - Montrose.  James Kiser, Montrose Memorial Hospital, testified in opposition to the bill.  Jessie Nietzer, Montrose Memorial Hospital, testified in opposition to the bill.  Mr. Kiser responded to committee questions.

The following person testified remotely from Colorado Mountain College - Glenwood Springs. Dave Ressler, Aspen Valley Hospital, testified regarding the bill. Mr. Ressler responded to committee questions.

The following persons testified remotely from Adams State University.  Konnie Martin, San Luis Valley Health, testified in opposition to the bill. Arlene Harms, Rio Grande Hospital, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witnesses responded to committee questions.

The following person testified remotely from Colorado Mountain College - Steamboat Springs. Julie Hagenbuch, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

A handout was distributed that was not available to Legislative Council Staff.  Mike Kopp, Colorado Concern, testified in opposition to the bill. Zach Zaslow, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.  Dr. Reginald Washington, Health One, testified in opposition to the bill.  Kelly Brough, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout that was not available to Legislative Council Staff.  The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Amanda Massey, Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout that was not available to Legislative Council Staff.  Sara Orrange, America's Health Insurance Plans, testified in opposition to the bill.  Charles Ritz, Anthem, testified in opposition to the bill.  Rick Rush, representing himself, responded to committee questions.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Katherine Howell, UCHealth, testified in opposition to the bill.  Christine Lucero, UCHealth, testified in opposition to the bill.  

Thomas Donohoe, SCL Health, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Jeff Bacon, Banner Health, testified in opposition to the bill. Chris Gessner, University of Colorado Hospital, testified in opposition to the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Lauren Masias, Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill.  Robin Wittenstein, Denver Health, testified in opposition to the bill.  Loren Furman, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.  Kevin Ross, Weld County Commissioner, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Dr. John Cawley, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill.  Shawn Satterfield, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Peg Ellefson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Colin McIntosh, Sheets and Giggles, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Mark Matthews, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Jeff Keener, South Metro Denver Chamber, testified in opposition to the bill.  Donald Shawcroft, Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in opposition to the bill.  Kelly Erb, Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout that was not available to Legislative Council Staff.  John Hart, Wray Community Hospital, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout that was not available to Legislative Council Staff.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Julie Siegel, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Katherine Mulready, Colorado Hospital Association, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout that was not available to Legislative Council Staff.  Sherry Krieger, Americans for Prosperity, testified in opposition to the bill.  Richard Orf, Associated Government of Northwest Colorado, testified in a neutral position on the bill.  A representative from the Colorado Hospital Association responded to committee questions.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Kyle Brown and Debra Judy, Division of Insurance, responded to committee questions. Committee discussion continued with the witness panel.

Bethany Pray, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Kyle Leggott, Colorado Association of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill. Monica VanBuskirk, Connect for Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Andrea Kuwik, Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill.  Rayna Hetlage, Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill.  Alice Steiner, Colorado Community Health Network, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Jake Williams, Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Hunter Railey, Small Business Majority, testified in support of the bill. Erin Miller, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Virginia Gebhart, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Judith Burke, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Patty Sullivan, testified in support of the bill. Chris Brown, Common Sense Policy Roundtable, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

A handout was distributed to the committee that was not available to Legislative Council Staff.  

The bill sponsors described amendments to the bill.

Amendment L.012 was distributed (Attachment F).  Amendment L.005 was distributed (Attachment G).

Amendment L.008 was distributed (Attachment H).

The bill sponsors gave closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.