HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

March 3, 2003 Hearing Room D

8:30 A.M. Tapes 40 – 41

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Jeff Kruse, Chair

Rep. Billy Dalto, Vice-Chair

Rep. Carolyn Tomei, Vice-Chair

Rep. Gordon Anderson

Rep. Jeff Barker

Rep. Laurie Monnes Anderson

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Ben Westlund

STAFF PRESENT: Sandy Thiele-Cirka, Committee Administrator

Mara McGraw, Committee Assistant

MEASURES HEARD: HB 2566 – Public Hearing

HJM 2 – Public Hearing and Work Session

HB 2287 – Public Hearing

HB 2288 – Public Hearing

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 40, A
004	Chair Kruse	Calls meeting to order at 8:36 A.M. and opens public hearing on HB 2566.
HB 2566 – PUBLIC HEARING
012	Rep. Mark Hass	House District 27. Offers testimony in support of HB 2566. Relates story of former Rep. Montgomery whose grandson died of sudden cardiac arrest at a public swimming pool. Discusses need for defibrillators in high schools and public buildings. Points out amendment to eliminate appropriation from General Fund. Urges committee to adopt amendment upon receipt.
048	Rep. Dalto	Inquires on implementation cost.
050	Rep. Hass	Quotes price per unit.
067	Alicia Philpot	Executive Director, Oregon Pediatric Society. States utility of bill. Emphasizes need for public education and training. States support for proposed amendment.
079	John Valley	Oregon Advocacy Director, American Heart Association. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT A). Explains ventricular fibrillation and links to survival from cardiac arrest. Relates priority list for location of defibrillators.
114	Rep. Anderson	Inquires on program funding.
117	Valley	Refers to Rep. Hass’ amendments regarding seeking federal grant funds to implement and administer program.
125	Rep. Anderson	Inquires on adult need for defibrillators in schools.
131	Valley	Explains reasoning behind priority list for placement of defibrillators in high schools.
144	Bob Sewart	Associate Superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Department of Education. Reports on special needs students and related heart health issues.
162	Andrea Morgan	Education Specialist, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Department of Education. Estimates cost of defibrillator placement in schools across the state. Reports variety of prices on defibrillation units. Speaks to training required for use and related costs and explains defibrillator maintenance and upkeep expenses.
231	Rep. Monnes Anderson	Reports defibrillation stationed at Capitol for use, demonstration and training.
237	Chair Kruse	Notes upcoming amendments. Closes public hearing on HB2566 opens public hearing on HJM 2.
HJM 2 – PUBLIC HEARING
247	Rep. Donna Nelson	House District 24. Submits written testimony in support of HJM 2 (EXHIBIT B). Relates need for transportation to Veterans Administration (VA) medical facilities. Explains cost and time savings to veterans and state agencies.
347	Rep. Nelson	Continues presentation on HJM 2. Speaks to changing VA policy regarding honoring prescriptions from private physicians. Submits and reads constituent letter (EXHIBIT C).
427	Rep. Barker	Inquires on impact to rural medical facilities.
435	Rep. Nelson	Defers to next witness.
TAPE 41, A
022	Greg Warnock	Executive Director, Oregon Veterans Association. Submits written testimony in support of HJM 2 (EXHIBIT D). Speaks to solution for programmatic problems in Veteran’s Services. Relates challenges with time, expense and physical stress to veterans who must travel long distances to receive care.
048	Matt McDonald	Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW). Reports current use and challenges of vans and volunteer drivers to transport veterans to medical facilities.
061	John Mangis	Director, Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs. Testifies in support of HJM 2. Notes corrections to data listed in HJM 2. Details locations of all veterans medical facilities. Speaks to “mainstreaming” policy to address issues of adequate care. Continues testimony and explains Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN).
159	Rep. Monnes Anderson	Inquires on access issues related to reduction in eligibility categories.
164	Mangis	Reports lack of adequate funding and issues related to priority eligibility categories. Explains VA health care system as back up system to military defense. Reports move to HJM 2 will most likely result in a priority lists.
179	Rep. Monnes Anderson	Suggests additional language to ensure all veteran are eligible for care.
186	Mangis	Comments VA Hospitals are of high quality of care and research oriented.
204	Rep. Tomei	Questions veteran categories and related delay in services.
212	Mangis	Explains veterans services operate on a timeline similar to private care facilities regarding wait for appointments with the exception of emergency care. Reports impact of patient overload to system.
235	Rep. Tomei	Restates question regarding wait for veterans with service related health issues.
239	Mangis	Explains service and non-service connected disabilities, the priority list and subsequent care for emergency and non-emergency care.
255	Rep. Anderson	Comments on policy to transport veterans long distances to receive emergency care. Addresses issues of duplication of services and impact on effective medical care.
297	Mangis	Comments on facility in Jackson County. Points out reasoning behind veterans shuttling from private to agency care. Reports related costs resulting from shuttling between private to agency care.
355	Chair Kruse	Notes issue of third party payer is addressed in bill by Sen. Fisher.
369	Rep. Anderson	Inquires on impact of HJM 2 on local and VA hospitals.
374	Mangis	Explains “mainstreaming” veterans to private, primary care would not have dramatic impact on VA hospitals.
400	Rep. Barker	Thanks veterans for attending committee meeting and speaking to HJM 2. Comments on 18-month wait period for services.
424	Mangis	Addresses issue of 18-month wait to receive care.
465	Chair Kruse	Offers procedural suggestions to move HJM 2 through committee.
TAPE 40, B
039	Debra Gill	Veteran. Testifies in support of HJM 2. Relates personal story.
074	Richard McKnight	Veteran. Testifies in support of HJM 2. Relates personal story regarding challenges in receiving medical care services.
109	Gill	Explains difficulty obtaining an appointment with primary care physician.
134	Dennis Hodyman	Veteran. Testifies in support of HJM 2. Relates stories of fellow veterans in regard to obtaining medical care services and prescription drugs. Relates personal story.
230	Dennis Hodyman	Discusses issues related to coordinating appointments and transportation to care facilities. Addresses Rep. Anderson’s question regarding duplication of care by signing release forms
286	Rep. Anderson	Points out release of records by both veteran and physician would expedite care.
300	Lloyd Abbott	Veteran. Testifies in support of HJM 2. Relates personal story regarding the challenges in receiving primary care services. Speaks to issues related to volunteer veteran drivers who provide medical transpiration to VA facilities.
365	Chair Kruse	Closes public hearing on HJM 2 and opens work session on HJM 2.
HJM 2 – WORK SESSION
367	Rep. Dalto	MOTION: Moves HJM 2 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation.
374	Rep. Tomei	Comments on need for more concrete measure to ensure quality services.
385	Chair Kruse	Comments on Congress and Oregon’s need to make a statement.
394		VOTE: 6-0-1 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote AYE. EXCUSED: 1 - Westlund
	Chair Kruse	The motion CARRIES. REP. NELSON will lead discussion on the floor.
404	Chair Kruse	Notes Nelson’s amendments. Closes public hearing on HJM 2 and opens public hearing on HB 2287 and HB 2288.
HB 2287 and HB 2288 – PUBLIC HEARING
428	Jacqueline Zimmer-Jones	Director, Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (O4ADs). Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT E) in support of HB 2287 and HB 2288.
TAPE 41, B
007	John Mulin	Director, Clackamas County Social Services. Testifies in support of HB 2287 and HB 2288. Provides history of local and state government relating to the equity issue. Notes collaborative effort with state.
075	James Toews	Acting Assistant Director, Seniors and People with Disabilities, Department of Human Services (DHS). Submits written testimony in support of HB 2287 and HB 2288 (EXHIBIT F). Speaks to establishing an equitable formula and efficient management across the state. Addresses issues related to state and local government collaborations in regard to equity. Notes funding is not included in current Governors budget.
110	Rep. Tomei	Inquires on Governors plan for programs that will be inadequately funded.
112	Toews	Explains worst care scenarios for O4ADs..
128	Rep. Tomei	Inquires the impact during the interim period.
130	Toews	Explains ease in reaching equitable formula. Relates issue is budget related not collaboration related. Speaks to implementation issues for current and subsequent biennium.
145	Chair Kruse	States intent of committee regarding HB 2287 and HB 2288. Submits informational packet (EXHIBIT G). Closes public hearing on HB 2287 and HB 2288. Adjourns meeting at 10:07 A.M.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2566, written testimony, John Valley 1 p.

B – HJM 2, information packet, Rep. Donna Nelson, 6 pp.

C – HJM 2, written testimony, Rep. Donna Nelson, 1 p.

D – HJM 2, written testimony, Greg Warnock, 1 p.

E – HB 2287 and HB 2288, written testimony, Jacqueline Zimmer-Jones, 2 pp.

F – HB 2297 and HB 2288, written testimony, James Toews, 1 p.

G – HB 2287 and HN 2288, information packet, staff, 6 pp.