S_HHS_2020A 02/13/2020 01:40:27 PM Committee Summary

Senator Ginal, bill sponsor, reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 20-107. Senator Ginal responded to questions. Committee discussion followed.

Public testimony on SB 20-107 was heard by the committee on February 6, 2020, in the Old Supreme Court Chamber.

Senator Ginal distributed and discussed amendments L.005, L.006, L.009, and L.010. (Attachments A, B, C, and D).

Christy Chase, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions about the amendments.

Senator Fields distributed and discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment E).

Senator Ginal, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 20-119.  This bill authorizes the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to expand the Canadian Drug Importation Program to allow drug importation from a nation other than Canada, conditional upon the enactment of federal legislation permitting states to do so.  Senator Ginal distributed a handout (Attachment F).

Senator Ginal responded to questions.

Kim Bimestefer, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.

Kelly Swartzendruber, HCPF,  responded to questions.

Committee questions and discussion continued.

Jennifer Roberts, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Erin Hackett read the testimony of Ali Schoer, representing herself, against the bill (Attachment G).

Emily Roberts, Colorado Bio Science Association, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment H).

The witnesses responded to questions.

Scott Pocsik, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, testified against the bill and responded to questions.

Leigh Seeger, Jefferson County Business Resource Center, testified against the bill. Ms. Seeger responded to questions.

Milton Tyrrell, Partnership for Safe Medicines, testified against the bill.

Shabbir Safdar, Partnership for Safe Medicines, testified in against the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Leah Lindahl, Healthcare Distribution Alliance, testified against the bill.

Lauren Masias, Colorado Competitive Council, testified against the bill.

Katelin Lucariello, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, testified against the bill.

Dr. Shirley Leow, AARP Colorado, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment I).

Virginia Gebhart, Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care, testified in support of the bill.

Diane Robinson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Jeanette Hensley, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill. The witnesses responded to questions.

Senator Fields recessed the committee.

Senator Fields reconvened the meeting.

Senator Smallwood discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment J).  Committee discussion followed.

Ms. Lucariello came to the table and responded to questions.

Committee discussion followed.

Senators Smallwood and Todd, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 20-127. The bill creates the Health Benefit Plan Design Review Committee in the Division of Insurance (DOI) in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). The purpose of the committee is to review introduced legislation that imposes new requirements or modifies existing requirements for health insurance plans and assess the costs and benefits of proposed changes.

The bill sponsors responded to questions.

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

Virginia Morrison Love, America's Health Insurance Plans, testified in supported of the bill.

Phil Ceramce, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Jason Hopfer, Colorado Association of Health Plans, told the committee he was available for questions.

Travis Berry, Colorado Competitive Council, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Senators Todd and Smallwood made closing comments.

Committee members commented on the bill.