s_hhs_2017a_2017-02-08t10:21:29z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/08/2017

Location: SCR 354

10:21 AM -- SB 17-074



Senator Garcia, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-074. The bill creates a pilot program in the College of Nursing in the University of Colorado to make grants for organizations providing medication-assisted treatment to persons with opioid use disorders in Pueblo and Routt counties. The program is funded by an annual appropriation of $500,000 from the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund (MTCF) for FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19 only. Any unxpended moneys are returned to the MTCF. The program is repealed as of June 30, 2020.



Grants. The College of Nursing is charged with developing program guidelines and procedures, in collaboration with a newly created advisory board, including time frames for applying for grants, the form of the application, distribution time lines, technical assistance, consultation, and evaluation of the grant program. Grants must be awarded as soon as possible in FY 2017-18, but no later than January 2018. Grant funding is to be used for assisting nurse practitioners and physician's assistants to obtain training and support to prescribe medications, such as buprenorphine, and to increase access to medication-assisted treatment. The bill establishes minimum criteria for applying for a grant and reporting requirements for grantees.



Advisory Board. The board consists of representatives of the College of Nursing, the State Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force, the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, the Colorado Nurses Association, the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Colorado, and at least one medical or public health professional from each county.



Committee discussion followed. Senator Garcia distributed amendments L.002 (Attachment A), L.004 (Attachment B), and L.005 (Attachment C). Senator Aguilar distributed amendments L.006 (Attachment D) and L.007 (Attachment E).



170208 AttachA.pdf170208 AttachB.pdf170208 AttachC.pdf170208 AttachD.pdf170208 AttachE.pdf



10:34 AM -- Meg Townsend, Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants, testified in support of the bill.



10:37 AM -- Dr. Michael Nerenberg, Pueblo Department of Public Health, testified in support of the bill.



10:41 AM -- Jennifer Anderson, Office of the Colorado Attorney General, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the Colorado Municipal League supports the bill.



10:43 AM -- Dr. Rob Valuck, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Valuck responded to questions from the committee.



10:53 AM



Committee discussion followed.



11:00 AM -- Mark McMahan, AMR Healthcare Transportation Services, testified in support of the bill.



11:06 AM -- Jacquelyn Cully, Integrative Treatment Consultants, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Cully responded to questions from the committee.



11:12 AM -- Kathy Maestas, Natcore Healthcare and Fremont County, testified in support of the bill, but requested some modifications. Ms. Maestas responded to questions.



11:23 AM -- Mark Jankelow, Springbok Health, Inc., testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.



11:31 AM -- Steven Wright, Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine, testified in support of the bill and suggested some amendments.



11:35 AM -- Kate Harris, Harm Reduction Action Center, testified in support of the bill.



11:36 AM -- Benjamin Capper, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



11:39 AM -- Mary Weber, University of Colorado College of Nursing, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Weber responded to questions.