SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

January 24, 2001 Hearing Room B

1:00 PM Tapes 11 - 12

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Fisher, Chair

Sen. Margaret Carter, Vice-Chair

Sen. Gary George

Sen. Frank Shields

Sen. Ken Messerle

STAFF PRESENT: Rick Berkobien, Administrator

Andrew Morris, Committee Assistant

MEASURES HEARD: SJR 8 Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 287 Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 413 Public Hearing

SB 429 Public Hearing and Work Session

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 11, A
004	Chair Fisher	Calls meeting to order at 1:18 p.m. and opens a public hearing on SJR 8.
SJR 8 PUBLIC HEARING
010	Rick Berkobien	Explains SJR 8 to the committee.
026	Sen. Avel Gordly	Senate District 10. Testifies in support of SJR 8. Comments on the life of Josiah Hill III.
090	Sen. Carter	Testifies in support of SJR 8. Relates personal experiences with Josiah Hill III.
117	Sen. Gordly	Introduces Dr. Richard Bayer.
123	Richard Bayer, MD	Board of Directors, Physicians for Social Responsibility. Reads testimony in support of SJR 8 (EXHIBIT A).
200	Bayer	Continues reading testimony.
238	Chair Fisher	Asks about Hill’s physician assistant practice.
240	Bayer	Responds he was the first practicing physician assistant in Oregon. Relates other activities Hill participated in.
297	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SJR 8 and opens a work session on SJR 8.
SJR 8 WORK SESSION
300	Sen. CARTER:	MOTION: Moves SJR 8 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0-1 AYE: 4 - Carter, Messerle, Shields, Fisher EXCUSED: 1 – George
323	Chair Fisher	The motion CARRIES. SEN. GORDLY will lead discussion on the floor.
328	Chair Fisher	Closes work session on SJR 8 and opens a public hearing on SB 287.
SB 287 PUBLIC HEARING
335	Berkobien	Explains SB 287 to the committee.
369	Jeff Svejcar	Executive Director, Student Assistance Commission. Testifies in support of SB 287. Comments on the student debt of people working in rural areas.
387	Chair Fisher	Asks about funding.
392	Svejcar	Responds they are not seeking any additional funds. States the money can be divided differently. Relates an example.
TAPE 12, A
000	Chair Fisher	Asks how dividing the money differently would affect rural services.
005	Svejcar	Responds that current needs are not being met, so it would not adversely affect anything. States the program could help attract providers to rural areas.
014	Sen. Carter	Asks about student debt.
025	Svejcar	Responds by explaining how the program would work.
038	Sen. Carter	Comments on past efforts to get people to work in rural healthcare.
060	Berkobien	States a tax credit is available to physicians in rural areas.
067	Svejcar	States the proposed program is a reward based system.
092	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SB 287 and opens a work session on SB 287.
SB 287 WORK SESSION
097	Sen. Carter	MOTION: Moves SB 287 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0-1 AYE: 4 - Carter, George, Shields, Fisher EXCUSED: 1- Messerle
107	Chair Fisher	The motion CARRIES. SEN. SHIELDS will lead discussion on the floor.
SB 413 PUBLIC HEARING
112	Chair Fisher	Closes the work session on SB 287 and opens a public hearing on SB 413.
114	Berkobien	Explains SB 413 to the committee.
142	Linda Meloche	Naturopathic Physician. Reads testimony in support of SB 413 (EXHIBIT B). Explains naturopathic medicine. Gives a sectional analysis of SB 413.
210	Don Walker	Naturopathic Physician. Reads testimony in support of SB 413 (EXHIBIT C). Comments on the language of SB 413.
250	Greg Garcia	Naturopathic Physician. Testifies in support of SB 413. Comments on the academic requirements of naturopathic medicine.
275	Sen. Carter	Asks about other states requirements.
279	Garcia	Responds that Oregon’s statute is followed in other schools around the country.
291	Meloche	Comments on reciprocity.
296	Sen. Carter	Discusses the importance of Oregon’s standards.
305	Meloche	Explains the process of becoming licensed in Oregon.
330	Scott Gallant	Representing the Oregon Medical Association (OMA). Testifies in opposition SB 413. States that the current statute is very specific about what naturopathic doctors may or may not do. Comments on current statute. Comments on drugless therapy.
TAPE 11, B
000	Gallant	Continues testimony.
048	Sen. Carter	Asks if the language change to statute is too broad.
053	Gallant	Responds affirmatively.
055	Sen. Carter	Asks if the bill is needed.
063	Gallant	Responds the bill needs more background research.
072	Chair Fisher	Asks about the language.
075	Gallant	Responds that there may be a need for amendments to clarify the language. Comments on various medical tests that may not be appropriate to be ordered by naturopaths.
095	Sen. Shields	States the bill needs more input from other agencies.
113	Chair Fisher	Asks for a response to Gallant’s testimony.
122	Meloche	Responds there are times when x-rays or MRIs are needed and it would be appropriate for a naturopathic physician to order. States that insurance companies cover diagnostic costs.
148	Garcia	Comments on the ethics of naturopathic medicine.
162	Chair Fisher	Asks about diagnostics.
174	Walker	Responds by explaining various diagnostics and how they work.
183	Garcia	States that most diagnostics take place in hospitals.
204	Chair Fisher	Comments on medical practices.
223	Sen. Shields	Asks about the Board of Education accreditation.
229	Garcia	Responds by explaining the accreditation for the school in Portland.
270	Chair Fisher	Asks about the school in Arizona.
274	Garcia	Responds the school in Arizona’s accreditation will be gone in two years.
299	Meloche	States that deleting “drugless therapy” and adding “naturopathic medicine” to the statute would be the best way to distinguish between medical doctors and naturopathic doctors.
318	Sen. George	Comments on the current formulary for naturopathic doctors.
333	Walker	Discusses the x-ray machine in his office.
365	Sen. George	Comments on the diagnosis practice.
377	Meloche	Relates example of diagnoses.
387	Chair Fisher	Discusses license responsibility.
409	Meloche	Comments on the reasons for the proposed language changes.
TAPE 12, B
000	Chair Fisher	Comments on the enforcement of current statutes.
012	Meloche	States the need for clear and concise statues.
016	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SB 413 and opens a public hearing on SB 429.
SB 429 PUBLIC HEARING
024	Berkobien	Explains SB 429 to the committee.
045	Mary Claire Buckley	Executive Director, Psychiatric Security Review Board. Testifies in support of SB 429. Comments on placement of convicted criminals in psychiatric care. Describes the language of SB 429.
088	Chair Fisher	Asks about immediate treatment and having to wait through a holiday weekend.
095	Buckley	Responds that needed services would be provided.
103	Sen. Carter	Asks who would be in charge during the time in between immediate and practical.
110	Buckley	Responds it is the law enforcement’s official responsibility.
117	Sen. Carter	Comments on the costs of holding someone for an extended time.
130	Buckley	Responds by relating possible scenarios in rural counties.
159	Chair Fisher	Comments on treatment in rural communities.
165	Buckley	States that depending on the urgency of the matter, law enforcement officials have discretion in handling clients.
200	Bob Montgomery	Representing County Mental Health Providers. Testifies on SB 429. Comments on the importance of having clear definitions in statute.
230	Chair Fisher	Discusses possible scenarios.
241	Buckley	Comments on proposed language.
264	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SB 429 and opens a work session on SB 429
SB 429 WORK SESSION
269	Sen. Shields	MOTION: Moves SB 429 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 5-0 AYE: 5 - Carter, George, Messerle, Shields, Fisher
279	Chair Fisher	The motion CARRIES. SEN. FISHER will lead discussion on the floor.
282	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SB 429 and adjourns the meeting at 3:02 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Andrew Morris, Rick Berkobien,

Committee Assistant Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SJR 8, Written testimony, Richard Bayer, MD, 2 pp.

B – SB 413, Written testimony, Linda Meloche, ND, 3 pp.

C – SB 413, Written testimony, Don Walker, ND, 3 pp.