SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

January 21, 2003 Hearing Room B

1:00 PM Tapes 1 - 3

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Morrisette, Chair

Sen. Bill Fisher, Vice-Chair

Sen. John Minnis

Sen. Frank Shields

Sen. Charles Starr

Sen. Vicki Walker

STAFF PRESENT: Marjorie Taylor, Administrator

Saranelle Allen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Organizational Meeting

Adoption of Committee Rules

Orientation and Introductions

Informational Meeting

Overview of the Oregon Health Plan and Health Care

Issues – Jean Thorne

Effects of Measure 28 Budget Cuts on Medically Needy

Recipients – Invited Testimony

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 1, A
005	Chair Morrisette	Calls meeting to order at 1:08 pm and opens an Organizational Meeting.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Adoption of Committee Rules
015	Chair Morrisette	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT the proposed Committee Rules dated 01/21/03 (EXHIBIT A).
		VOTE: 6-0
017	Chair Morrisette	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
Orientation and Introductions
020	Chair Morrisette	Introduces himself and goals of the committee.
025	Sen. Minnis	Introduces himself.
059	Sen. Walker	Introduces herself.
080	Sen. C. Starr	Introduces himself.
104	Sen. Shields	Introduces himself.
124	Sen. Fisher	Introduces himself.
167	Marjorie Taylor	Committee Administrator. Introduces herself and Saranelle Allen, Committee Assistant.
187	Chair Morrisette	States upcoming topics for the agenda, medical malpractice, mental health, obesity, rural health care, competency, nurses, nursing home care, adult foster care, insurance for health care, and pharmaceutical costs.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Overview of the Oregon Health Plan and Health Care
219	Jean Thorne	Department of Human Services. Gives written testimony on the Oregon Health Plan and its components (EXHIBIT B).
Tape 2, A
015	Thorne	Reviews several areas of change as shown in Income Eligibility Across Programs (EXHIBIT C), and gives an overview of the Update on Oregon Health Plan (OHP2) (EXHIBIT D).
193	Thorne	Reviews reductions and anticipated changes to the program and the need to work closely with the committee.
270	Sen. Minnis	Asks Thorne if she has any knowledge of Congress offering a prescription drug benefit, and suggests a visit to Washington, DC might be of value.
338	Chair Morrisette	Recognizes Lynn Read, OMAP Director, in attendance to answer any questions on invitees for testimony of Measure 28.
360	Sen. Walker	Asks how testimonial attendees were selected and communicated to.
380	Chair Morrisette	Expresses concern on the content of the letters sent out to recipients in the various programs.
412	Read	Gives explanation on department’s communication errors.
Effects of Measure 28 Budget Cuts on Medically Needy Recipients
454	Jeremy Gunn	Submits written testimony in favor of Measure 28 and the medically needy program (EXHIBIT E).
Tape 1, B
72	Sheila Lowe	Testifies regarding the pain management program and the benefits she receives.
115	Tracia Hope	Testifies about her health and the benefits of the pain management program.
168	Chair Morrisette	Asks each of the three people who testified the amount of their monthly medical costs.
178	Gunn	States costs are over $2,000 a month.
180	Lowe	States costs are over $3,000 a month.
185	Hope	Advises she’s not sure…does get glasses.
220	Diane Miller	Testifies regarding her husband receiving a kidney transplant, and now will lose his pharmaceutical care, which could result in his death. Asks for help in getting additional funds.
284	Wendy Knotts	Testifies regarding her son, herself and other family members, who are dependent on pharmaceuticals.
387	Amber Drummond	Testifies about the cuts in dental care, and other medical care issues. Also questions some of the current costs, and how they could be carried out more efficiently.
443	Read	Speaks on compassion, and the immense decision making difficulty for her department in these life threatening cases.
Tape 2, B
059	Read	Reviews some areas where change has been implemented.
064	Sen. Walker	Expresses concern on how issues could be prioritized and the harshness of the letters sent out, with such short notice.
086	Read	Couldn’t really respond as the letters were done in the Eligibility Department. States she will get back to Sen. Walker on the shortness of the notice.
165	Sen. Fisher	Expresses concern on the health care funding shortfall.
230	Sen. Minnis	Suggests we look at the site of residency as a way to cut costs we shouldn’t be incurring.
261	Chair Morrisette	Asks about eligibility requirements.
269	Read	Answers it was six months.
344	Sen. Walker	Asks if a second letter will be sent out after the outcome of Measure 28 is known.
392	Read	Believes that is a possibility.
Tape 3, A
007	Sen. Shields	Comments on seriousness of cuts and any possible loss of life.
030	Chair Morrisette	Expresses that committee will do no harm, and will attempt to find positive ways to help people
040	Chair Morrisette	Adjourns meeting at 3:00 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – Adopted Rules, Committee, staff, 2 pp

B – Informational, Health Plan, Oregon, Jean Thorne, 48 pp

C – Informational, Health Plan, Income Eligibility, Jean Thorne, 1 p

D – Informational, Health Plan Update, Oregon Joint Committee, Jean Thorne, 2 pp

E – Informational, written testimony, Jeremy Gunn, 1 p