SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

February 25, 2003 Hearing Room B

1:00 PM Tapes 24 - 25

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: HB 2157 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 392 – 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 24, A
005	Chair Morrisette	Convenes meeting and opens a public hearing on HB 2157 at 1:13 p.m.
HB 2157 – PUBLIC HEARING
	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains HB 2157.
032	Michael Skeels, PhD	Administrator, Office of Oregon State Public Health Labs. Submits written testimony in support of HB 2157 on legal blood alcohol testing (EXHIBIT A).
072	Sen. Minnis	Asks if the bill needs to include buccal swab testing.
	Skeels	States he could only respond on the blood testing methods.
	Sen. Fisher	Asks if this testing could be done by the administration in lieu of the state police.
	Skeels	States that yes, they possibly would have the time.
129	Chair Morrisette	Closes the public hearing on HB 2157 and opens a public hearing on SB 392.
SB 392 – PUBLIC HEARING
138	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains SB 392.
140	Dr. LaVerne Saboe	President, Chiropractic Association of Oregon. Submits written testimony in support of the formation of an alternative medicine task force (EXHIBIT B).
		Gives statistics on costs incurred in chiropractic care of back and musculoskeletal disorders and neck pain to those incurred by utilizing medical physicians.
	Chair Morrisette	Asks what the status of chiropractic care is with Oregon insurance companies.
	Saboe	Replies that it is optional and strictly up to the insurance providers.
	Sen. Minnis	Raises several concerns on this bill, starting with how costs are to be paid out of the Legislative Administration budget to support this task force, who the committee reports to, and what the emergency clause refers to.
	Chair Morrisette	Advises that further testimony should reply to these concerns.
	Art Keil	Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Gives written testimony on the intent of the bill in setting up a task force (EXHIBIT C).
	Taylor	Reviews suggested changes in the bill as noted by Keil, and clarifies the emergency clause.
	Kevin Wilson, ND	Naturopathic physician from Hillsboro. Submits written testimony of how insurance carriers in Oregon discriminate against naturopathic physicians for health care benefit coverage (EXHIBIT D).
	Chair Morrisette	Asks about Blue Cross coverage in Oregon.
Tape 25, A
	Wilson	States that insurers sell a product and it could be different all over the state. Suggests the task force could look into the inadequacies of the coverage for Oregon citizens.
060	Avis Campbell, ND	Naturopathic physician. Submits written testimony in support of SB 392 (EXHIBIT E). States his hope for future health care where an MD and a naturopathic physician could work together for the good of their patients. Expresses concern that insurance companies will cover some family members and not others.
145	Ron Murray	Plumbers and Steamfitters. Represents approximately 4300 members who are in support of SB 392. States that his organization is paying greater than minimum wage for health insurance, and members are interested in using alternative medicine. States he would like to volunteer their organization to be used as a test group to save money on insurance costs.
187	Robert Randolph	Member of Local 290 Union. States he works with their group on a wellness committee and testifies on the benefits of SB 392. Gives explanation on rising costs of insurance and not much rise in salary to cover. States the use of alternative medicine could be a benefit to members.
	Sen. Shields	Asks why the majority can’t choose their own medical care due to size of the group and monies involved.
	Randolph	States they follow the advice of their medical consultants.
330	Jennifer Flynt	Oregon Acupuncture Association. Submits testimony on acupuncture and the benefits of alternative medicine.
	Taylor	Reviews several changes requested in the bill.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing on SB 392, and reopens public hearing on HB 2157.
Tape 24, B
HB 2157 – PUBLIC HEARING
0015	David Schmierbach	Oregon State Police, Interim Forensic Services Division Director. Testifies in support of HB 2157, in answer to Sen. Minnis’ question on adding wording to include buccal swab testing in the bill.
	Dr. Emma Dutton	Oregon State Police, Quality Assurance Office for Forensic Director. In attendance to answer any questions.
	Sen. Minnis	Restates his question on whether buccal swap testing needs to be included in this particular bill. States there is another section of the statute that covers this area, and thus would not need to be added to this bill.
	Schmierbach	States that he has testified in the House in favor of this bill, and would like to go on record with this committee hearing with the same.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing and opens a work session on HB 2157.
HB 2157 – WORK SESSION
040	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves HB 2157 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
047		VOTE: 6-0 In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
	Chair Morrisette	The motion CARRIES. SEN. MINNIS will lead discussion on the floor.
	Chair Morrisette.	Closes work session on HB 2157 and adjourns meeting at 2:10 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2157, written testimony, Michael Skeels, 4 pp.

B – SB 392, written testimony, Dr. LaVerne Saboe, 3 pp.

C – SB 392, written testimony, Art Keil, 2 pp.

D – SB 392, written testimony, Kevin Wilson, 2 pp.

E – SB 392, written testimony, Avis Campbell, 1 p.