SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

February 19, 2001 Hearing Room B

1:00 PM Tapes 31 - 32

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Fisher, Chair

Sen. Gary George

Sen. Frank Shields

Sen. Ken Messerle

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. Margaret Carter, Vice-Chair

STAFF PRESENT: Rick Berkobien, Administrator

Andrew Morris, Committee Assistant

MEASURES HEARD: HJM 1 Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 562 Public Hearing and Possible Work Session

SB 569 Public Hearing and Possible Work Session

SB 570 Public Hearing and Possible 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 31, A
004	Chair Fisher	Opens a sub-committee at 1:10 p.m. and opens a public hearing on HJM 1.
HJM 1 PUBLIC HEARING
005	Rick Berkobien	Administrator. Explains HJM 1 to the committee.
010	Verna Porter	Oregon State Council of Senior Citizens. Testifies in support of HJM 1. Comments on Medicare reimbursements. Relates an example. Presents testimony on behalf of Jim Davis (EXHIBIT A).
058	Chair Fisher	Opens a full committee.
061	Joe Coss	Oregon State Council of Senior Citizens. Reads testimony in support of HJM 1 (EXHIBIT B).
094	Sen. Messerle	Comments on the differences between urban and rural payments.
102	Chair Fisher	States the differences are due to the voting strength of the urban areas.
106	Cross	States that health care costs are higher in rural areas. Comments on Medicare payments in the country’s urban areas.
124	Sen. Messerle	Comments on rural services.
138	Chair Fisher	Further comments on rural services.
145	Cross	Comments on the disbursement differences between states.
154	Sen. Messerle	Asks if Oregon has a cap.
160	Cross	Responds affirmatively.
164	Porter	States that many people do not realize the discrepancy is a federal issue.
171	Cross	Comments on recent congressional action. Explains the effects of the inflation rate on reimbursement rates.
188	Ed Patterson	Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. Testifies in support of HJM 1. Comments on the work Oregon’s congressional delegates have done. Explains the impact of the federal Balanced Budget Act.
232	Sen. George	Comments on Medicare reimbursement.
264	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on HJM 1 and opens a work session on HJM 1.
HJM 1 WORK SESSION
270	Sen. George	MOTION: Moves HJM 1 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0 AYE: 4 - George, Messerle, Shields, Fisher EXCUSED: 1 - Carter
275	Chair Fisher	The motion CARRIES. SEN. GEORGE will lead discussion on the floor.
300	Chair Fisher	Closes the work session on SB 562 and opens public hearing on SB 562.
SB 562 PUBLIC HEARING
302	Berkobien	Explains SB 562 to the committee.
333	Paul Cosgrove	Oregon Dental Hygienist’s Association. Presents testimony in support of SB 562 (EXHIBIT C). Relates statistics.
381	Jo Ann Bones	Board of Dentistry. Presents testimony in support of SB 562 (EXHIBIT D). Discusses services provided by hygienists.
437	Sen. Shields	Comments on (EXHIBIT D).
446	Cosgrove	Further explains statistics.
TAPE 32, A
005	Bones	States there is a shortage of dentists developing in the US. Relates possible solutions to help dentists.
021	Chair Fisher	Asks about educational requirements for dental assistants.
032	Bones	Responds that extra courses would be required.
052	Chair Fisher	Asks about functions that could be preformed under the supervision of a dentist.
063	Bones	Responds by explaining the necessary training to be a dental assistant.
079	Cosgrove	Comments that an amendment is needed.
102	Sen. George	Asks about expanded practice and asks for other states practices.
107	Cosgrove	Responds he will look into other states. Comments on the scopes of practice between assistants and hygienists.
117	Jane Myers	Oregon Dental Association. Testifies in opposition to SB 562. Comments on the quality of service. States that the presented statistics are skewed. States that there are not any serious shortages of dentists in Oregon. Explains current rules and regulations.
180	Myers	Continues testimony.
250	Sen. Shields	Asks if a large portion of the population has not seen a dentist, then how can there not be a shortage of dentists.
365	Myers	Responds that there are barriers to treatment.
305	Sen. Shields	Asks about accessibility to hygienists.
323	Myers	Responds by explaining the referral process. Discusses current requirements and record keeping.
376	Chair Fisher	Asks what “available to treat” means.
378	Myers	Responds that is dentists who are taking new patients. Comments on the original intent of previous legislation.
415	Sen. Messerle	Comments on business practices and the referral process.
435	Sen. George	Asks about the language.
446	Myers	Responds by explaining what the bill would and would not change.
TAPE 31, B
000	Sen. George	Comments on the scope of practice issues.
012	Chair Fisher	Opines on the referral process.
020	Myers	Explains past referral proposals.
039	Chair Fisher	Clarifies intent.
065	Myers	Comments on screening and services.
079	Sen. Shields	Comments on existing administrative rules.
087	Myers	States the administrative rules are not effective.
094	Sen. Messerle	Asks how the association would resolve their issues with SB 562.
100	Myers	Responds to not pass the bill and further develop administrative rules.
107	Sen. Messerle	Asks for the Dental Association’s figures.
111	Myers	Responds she will look for data.
124	Chair Fisher	Asks if their issue is not knowing if people are being referred.
127	Myers	Responds affirmatively.
130	Cosgrove	Comments on current administrative rules. Describes record keeping practices. Opines on further record keeping requirements.
171	Bones	Explains the current administrative rules. States the board does not want to be overly regulatory. Comments on referrals.
202	Chair Fisher	Comments on possible amendments.
220	Sen. George	Asks if hygienists could have independent practices.
231	Bones	Responds that hygienists must work under the supervision of a dentist. States that the dentist does not have to be on the premises, but they would have to give permission to the hygienist.
273	Sen. Messerle	Asks who serves developmentally disabled clients.
284	Cosgrove	Responds it depends on the agency and facility.
311	Sen. Messerle	Asks about the discrepancies between rural and urban Oregon.
323	Cosgrove	Responds by explaining services in rural Oregon.
338	Myers	Comments on current statute requirements.
420	Chair Fisher	Reviews amendments to be drafted.
448	Sen. Messerle	Clarifies opinion on SB 562.
457	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SB 562 and opens a public hearing on SB 569 and SB 570.
SB 569 AND SB 570 PUBLIC HEARING
TAPE 32, B
005	Jennifer Webber	Oregon Society of Physician Assistants, OSPA. Presents testimony in support of SB 569 (EXHIBIT E).
025	Curt Hawkinson	President, OSPA. Testifies in support of SB 569. States the bill would better serve people in Oregon.
044	Jim Anderson	Oregon Medical Association, OMA. Testifies on SB 569 and SB 570. States that the OMA will work out issues with the OSPA.
062	Hawkinson	Testifies in support of SB 570. Discusses the affects of SB 570. States the Board of Medical Examiners would still have authority over physician assistants.
092	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SB 569 and SB 570 and adjourns the meeting at 2:47 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Andrew Morris, Rick Berkobien,

Committee Assistant Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HJM 1, Written testimony, Verna Porter, 2 pp.

B – HJM 1, Written testimony, Joe Cross, 3 pp.

C – SB 562, Statistics, Paul Cosgrove, 1 p.

D – SB 562, Written testimony, Jo Ann Bones, 1 p.

E – SB 569, SB 570, Written testimony, Jennifer Webber, 4 pp.