s_hhs_2016a_2016-04-21t13:33:53z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/21/2016

03:02 PM -- HB16-1360



Senator Lundberg, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1360 and distributed amendments L.011 and L.012 (Attachments D and E). The reengrossed bill implements the recommendations made by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) in its sunset review of the regulation of direct-entry midwives, with some modifications. It continues the regulation of direct-entry midwives by the Division of Professions and Occupations in the DORA for seven years, through September 1, 2023. In addition, the bill makes the following changes to the scope of practice for direct-entry midwives:



160421 AttachD.pdf160421 AttachE.pdf



• permits direct-entry midwives to suture first- and second-degree perineal tears, if the registrant demonstrates to the director that he or she has received specific training, and to obtain and administer local anesthesia for the procedure;

• makes changes to the disclosure form that direct-entry midwives must provide to clients;

• requires direct-entry midwives to inform parents of the importance of critical congenital heart defect screening, and requires a direct-entry midwife to refer parents to a health care provider who can provide the screening if the direct-entry midwife is unable to perform the screening;

• prohibits a direct-entry midwife from providing care to a pregnant woman who has had a previous delivery by cesarean section;

• allows a direct-entry midwife to enter into a confidential agreement to voluntarily limit his or her practice if a physical or mental illness or condition renders him or her unable to practice direct-entry midwifery safely;

• adds prohibited practices for direct-entry midwives concerning the failure to notify DORA of such an illness or conditions affecting his or her ability to practice midwifery or noncompliance with practice limitations under a confidential agreement; and

• repeals the requirement that the director send letters of admonition via certified mail.



The bill also requires DORA to convene a stakeholder group to review data that is reported by direct-entry midwives. The stakeholder group must report to specified legislative committees by January 31, 2017. Finally, the bill requires DORA to establish a working group to investigate ways of managing risks in the practice of midwifery, including the need for, and access to, professional liability insurance. The working group must report its findings to DORA by October 1, 2016, and DORA must report any recommendations for legislation as a result of the report to certain legislative committees by November 1, 2016.



03:04 PM -- Janet Schwab, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout to he committee (Attachment F). Ms. Schwab responded to questions from the committee.



160421 AttachF.pdf



03:16 PM -- Linda Rosa, Colorado Home Birth Consumers, testified in opposition to the bill and responded to questions. She provided a handout to the committee (Attachment G).



160421 AttachG.pdf



03:25 PM -- Alanna Lynch, representing herself, testified against the House amendment to the bill that prohibits a direct-entry midwife from providing care to a pregnant woman who has had a previous delivery by cesarean section



03:29 PM -- Shelby Parker, representing herself, testified against the House amendment to the bill that prohibits a direct-entry midwife from providing care to a pregnant woman who has had a previous delivery by cesarean section. Ms. Parker responded to questions.



03:33 PM -- Lindsey Bonner, representing herself, testified in support of the bill as introduced.



03:37 PM -- Larry Sarner, Colorado Citizens for Science in Medicine, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sarner responded to questions from the committee.



03:41 PM -- Yvette Gentry, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. Ms. Gentry responded to questions from the committee.



03:44 PM -- Jan Lapetino, Colorado Midwives Association (CMA), spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Lapetino responded to questions.



03:52 PM -- Dr. Warren Johnson, CMA, spoke in support of the bill. Dr. Johnson responded to questions from the committee.



04:01 PM



Committee discussion and questions continued.



04:04 PM -- Aubre Tompkins, CMA, spoke in support of the bill.



04:08 PM -- Heather Pollack-Green, CMA, spoke in support of the bill as introduced. Ms. Pollack-Green responded to questions from the committee.



04:22 PM -- Pam Campos, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill as introduced.



04:25 PM -- Melissa Dickard, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill as introduced.



04:28 PM -- Karen Robinson, CMA, spoke in support of the bill as introduced. Ms. Robinson responded to questions from the committee.



04:34 PM -- Heather Thompson, Elephant Circle, spoke in support of the bill as introduced.



04:38 PM -- Allison Record, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill as introduced.



04:41 PM -- Indra Lusero, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



04:47 PM -- Jill Bergmann, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



04:51 PM -- Pauli Durrow, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill as introduced and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment H).



160421 AttachH.pdf



04:55 PM -- Dick Brown, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Colorado Section, spoke in support of the bill.



04:59 PM -- Dr. Brent Keeler, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Colorado Section, spoke in support of the bill as amended.



05:02 PM -- Dr. Steven Holt, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Colorado Section, spoke in support of the bill. Dr. Holt responded to questions from the committee.



05:10 PM -- Nathan Wenneker, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.



05:13 PM -- Barbie Burrage, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



05:16 PM -- Gina Gerboth, CMA, addressed concerns about midwife training in regard to sutures.



05:19 PM -- Tiffany Miller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:21 PM



Lauren Larson, DORA, Saul Larsen, DORA, and Jacquline Arcelin, DORA, came to the table and responded to questions about data collected by DORA and about the suture provision in the bill.





05:29 PM



Senator Lundberg made closing comments. Senator Aguilar distributed and discussed amendments L.015, L.019, and L.020 (Attachments I, J, and K).



160421 AttachI.pdf160421 AttachJ.pdf160421 AttachK.pdf

05:52 PM



The meeting adjourned.