SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

March 20, 2003 Hearing Room C

1:00 p.m. Tapes 39 - 40

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Morrisette, Chair

Sen. Bill Fisher, Vice-Chair

Sen. Frank Shields

Sen. Charles Starr

Sen. Vicki Walker

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. John Minnis

STAFF PRESENT: Marjorie Taylor, Administrator

Saranelle Allen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 74 –Work Session

SB 435 – Not Heard

SB 542 – Public Hearing

SB 785 – Not Heard

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 39, A
005	Chair Morrisette	Convenes meeting at 1:12 p.m. and states that SB 435 and SB 785 will not be heard today. Opens a work session on SB 74.
SB 74 – WORK SESSION
009	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains SB 74. Advises there are -1, -2 and -3 amendments to the previously heard bill (EXHIBIT A).
015	Sen. C. Starr	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT SB 74-2 amendment dated 03/18/03.
018		VOTE: 5-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye. EXCUSED: 1 - Minnis
	Chair Morrisette	The motion CARRIES.
021	Sen. C. Starr	MOTION: Moves SB 74 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.
	Sen. Fisher	Asks for confirmation that this amendment removes the sunset clause and if so does support the amendment, but does not support any new mandates.
026		VOTE: 5-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye. EXCUSED: 1 - Minnis
	Chair Morrisette	The motion CARRIES. SEN. MORRISETTE will lead discussion on the floor.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes work session on SB 74, and opens a public hearing on SB 542.
SB 542 – PUBLIC HEARING
033	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains the bill.
070	Rep. Bill Garrard	District 56. Testifies in support of SB 542, and relates his personal bout with prostate problems.
	June Miller	Pendleton Prostate Cancer Support group, Pilot Rock, OR. Testifies in support of SB 542 concerning prostate cancer and the health of her husband (EXHIBIT B).
150	Jim Miller	Pilot Rock, OR. Gives specifics on his health situation and testifies in support of SB 542.
	Paul Zummach	Pendleton, OR. Testifies to his own health situation, and in support of SB 542 for routine PSA tests for prostate cancer.
	Luther Fitch	Hermiston, OR. Submits written testimony in support of SB 542. States he has survived an advanced prostate cancer condition and has lived 4 years longer than the original prognosis (EXHIBIT C). Submits written testimony from three mayors in Eastern Oregon, Mayor Bob Ramig, Mayor Don Bensel, and Mayor Bill Hansell, all who have survived prostate cancer (EXHIBIT D).
	Sen. C. Starr	Adds to testimony on prostate cancer concerning his father and his brother. Feels the bill and legislation is a true positive.
339	John Powell	Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield. Gives testimony concerning costs for escalating insurance coverage.
400	Leonard Hagen	Manager Government Affairs, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield. Testifies in opposition of SB 542 as a mandate on insurance coverage costs. Gives example of small businesses who are unable to afford health care for their employees due to escalating costs and reviews written testimony (EXHIBIT E).
Tape 40, A
041	Sen. Starr	Asks several questions on coverage on prostate cancer and related costs.
074	Hagen	Advises that a medical dialog is ongoing in the medical field.
089	Cornelia Taylor	Physician and Medical Director – Oregon Health Sciences University. Gives an overview on medical screening with written statement (EXHIBIT F). Elaborates on content of the article as to value of the screening in saving lives.
160	Sen. Starr	Asks several questions on alternate year testing, and cancer mortality.
	Sen. Fisher	Asks if this bill applies only to private insurers.
	Powell	Gives concluding remarks
	Hagen	Gives finalizing comments.
311	Andrew Clark	Testifies in support of SB 542 concerning his experience with prostate cancer and subsequent insurance coverage (EXHIBIT G).
419	Sen. Fisher	Asks if he had state insurance, at the time of his diagnosis.
	Clark	Advises it was through his wife’s school insurance, and was Blue Cross.
	Courtni Dresser	Oregon Advocacy Manager, American Cancer Society. Speaks in favor of SB 542 (EXHIBIT H). Gives statistical information on colon and prostate cancer deaths by year in Oregon.
Tape 39, B
047	Dresser	Reviews benefits of early detection of prostate cancer and spiraling costs if not caught in the early stages. States that colon cancer is the 2^nd highest cancer killer in the state. Gives cost information on the two available colon exams.
077	Sen. Fisher	States concerns on the statistics, and would like more information.
	Dresser	Gives additional information on behalf of the American Cancer Society in regard to the bill’s intent. Replies to several of Sen. Fisher’s questions on costs and statistical accuracy.
	Chair Morrisette	Advises he would like to look into the information further and get more specifics in reply to Sen. Fisher’s inquiries.
310	Barney Speight	Kaiser Permanente. Gives testimony on SB 542, which doesn’t necessarily relate to the mandate. Would like to work with the committee to change the wording of the statutes on the testing aspect.
382	Peggy Anet	Submits written testimony concerning the mandates on SB 542 (EXHIBIT I) and reviews the enrollment document and costs of coverage.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing on SB 542 and advises this bill will be returned for future action.
	Sen. Starr	Acknowledges Mr. Fitch being in the audience.
	Chair Morrisette	Adjourns meeting at 2:37 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 74 , proposed amendments to SB 74, -1, -2, -3, staff, 9 pp.

B – SB 542, written testimony, June and Jim Miller, 2 pp.

C – SB 542,written testimony, Luther Fitch,2 pp.

D – SB 542, written testimony received from Mayors Ramig, Bensel, Hansell, 4 pp.

E – SB 542, written testimony, Leonard Hagen, 1 p.

F – SB 542, written testimony, Cornelia Taylor, 19 pp.

G – SB 542, written testimony, Andrew Clark, 1 p.

H – SB 542, written testimony, Courtni Dresser, 2 pp.

I – SB 542, written testimony, Peggy Anet, 18 pp.