SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

April 1, 2003 Hearing Room B

1:00 pm Tapes 46 – 47 - 48

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Morrisette, Chair

Sen. Bill Fisher, Vice-Chair

Sen. John Minnis

Sen. Charles Starr

Sen. Vicki Walker

EXCUSED: Sen. Frank Shields

STAFF PRESENT: Marjorie Taylor, Administrator

Saranelle Allen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 852 – Public Hearing and Work Session

HJR 4 A – Public Hearing and Work Session

Informational Meeting – Mental Health & Chemical Dependency

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 46, A
008	Chair Morrisette	Convenes meeting at 1:09 p.m. and opens a public hearing on SB 852.
SB 852 – PUBLIC HEARING
	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains bill.
		Notes a teleconference from Le Grande with Jeanne Bowden and Cathy Britton on line.
040	John C. Britton	Legislative Fiscal office. Gives an overview of Medicaid funds (MUPL). Explains fund use designated for K-12 education, Oregon Health Sciences University and Oregon Rural Health Association, and amount going into the bank.
	Sen. Walker	Asks if any money will have to be paid back.
	Britton	Explains rule changes from Federal government, and not certain if any monies have to be returned.
165	Sen. David Nelson	District 29. Testifies as a sponsor of SB 852. Advises that on the original bill there were five categories and that there are three proposed amendments coming in. Primary interest is for monies to use in rural communities. Advises he will be getting the -2, -3, -4 amendments back to us as soon as possible.
225	Chair Morrisette	States his support for the bill and amendments to provide some much needed help for rural areas.
	Ed Patterson	Testifies in support of SB 852 with written testimony from Ken Hoffman, President Oregon Rural Health Association (EXHIBIT A).
	Sen. Fisher	Asks for clarification on graphs and Item J, which did receive the Hill-Burton funds.
	Sen. Minnis	Asks if speaking to capitol construction projects, and advises this is a funding mechanism.
	Patterson	Gives explanation on mechanism of statutes.
Tape 47, A
024	Jeanne Bowden	Associate Dean, OHSU School of Nursing in La Grande. Submits written testimony, via teleconference call, in support of SB 852 for funding to rural communities. Reviews the clinic situation in rural Elgin area (EXHIBIT B).
090	Dr. Alan Parks	Christmas Valley, OR. Testifies in support of SB 852.
	Paul McGinnis	Office of Rural Health – Field Services. Gives testimony in support of SB 852. Speaks on behalf of the clinics around the state (EXHIBIT C).
	Ruby Haughton	CareOregon. Reviews the proposed SB 852-4 amendment to support the safety net clinics (EXHIBIT D).
	Karen Whitaker	Oregon Office of Rural Health, OHSU. Testifies in support of the -4 amendments, and extends support to all of the rural health safety net and emergency medical services (EXHIBIT E).
267	Sandy Ryman	Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center, La Grande. Submits written testimony in support of emergency health services in rural areas (EXHIBIT F).
340	Ken Rutledge	Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. Submits written testimony and states support of SB 852 -2 amendment having to do with A & B Hospitals (EXHIBIT G). Relays concerns on recent cuts, and general fund shortfalls in funding for the Oregon Health Plan. Expresses concerns on the economic impact and opposes legislation as stated in SB 852.
440	Sen. Shields	Asks if needs were being looked at on both sides, and how he could choose one over the other.
	Rutledge	Gives his explanation.
Tape 46, B
0	Sen. Minnis	Raises several questions on changes in rural facilities.
	Chair Morrisette	Asks for an opinion on the role of the safety net clinic.
088	Rutledge	Expresses that it is a good program, and should be getting more money and consideration.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing and opens a work session on SB 852.
SB 852 – WORK SESSION
103	Ruby Haughton	CareOregon. Explains the -4 amendment to the bill.
	Sen. David Nelson	District 29. Explains the -3 amendment to the bill.
144	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT SB 852-3, amendment dated 3/31/03, and SB 852-4, amendment dated 4/1/03.
148		VOTE: 5-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye. EXCUSED: 1 - Shields
	Chair Morrisette	The motion CARRIES.
151	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves SB 852 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation and BE REFERRED to the committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.
160	Sen. Minnis	Express concerns about the impact on the Oregon Health Plan.
	Sen. Walker	Expresses similar concerns and hopes we can work out the funding to the benefit of all.
	Chair Morrisette	Speaks to sending a message that these are important programs and need to be resolved.
178	Chair Morrisette	VOTE: 5-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye. EXCUSED: 1 - Sen. Shields
	Chair Morrisette	The motion CARRIES.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes work session on SB 852 and opens a public hearing on HJR 4A.
HJR 4A – PUBLIC HEARING
204	Sen. David Nelson	District 29. Testifies in support of the bill and telecommunications benefit in health care.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing and opens a work session on HJR 4A
HJR 4 A – WORK SESSION
210	Sen. Fisher	MOTION: Moves HJR 4A be sent to the floor with a DUE PASS recommendation.
214		VOTE: 5-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye. EXCUSED: 1 - Shields
	Chair Morrisette	The motion CARRIES. SEN. FISHER will lead discussion on the floor.
288	Dr. Parker	On line, confirms his thanks for passing the bill (EXHIBIT H).
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing again and work session and opens an informational meeting.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING – Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Issues
338	Constance Powell, MD	Portland Psychiatrist. Gives testimony on non-discrimination on mental illness and substance abuse in health care benefits. (EXHIBIT I).
Tape 47, B
130	Leslie Ford	Cascadia Behavioral Health Care. Testifies on chemical dependency issues and parity (EXHIBIT J). Reviews cost shortfalls on mental care in the Oregon Health Plan.
211	Tim Hartnet	Executive Director, CODA. Reviews concerns on public health care and public policy in the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. (EXHIBIT K)
330	Sen. Fisher	Asks questions on insurance parity numbers.
460	Dr. Powell	Gives reply on how the actuarial tables were utilized.
Tape 48, A
022	Sen. Minnis	Asks several questions of Dr. Powell, and receives replies.
The following prepared testimony is submitted for the record without public testimony for the Informational meeting:
	Scott Gallant	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT L)
	Chair Morrisette	Adjourns meeting at 3:01 pm.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 852, written testimony, Ken Hoffman, 11pp.

B – SB 852, written testimony, Jeanne Bowden, 2 pp.

C – SB 852, written testimony, Paul McGinnis, 5 pp.

D – SB 852, proposed -4 amendment, Ruby Haughton, 1 p.

E – SB 852, written testimony, Karen Whitaker, 2 pp.

F – SB 852, written testimony, Sandy Ryman, 1 p.

G – SB 852, written testimony, Ken Rutledge, 7 pp.

H – HJR 4, written testimony, Dr. Parker and others, 19 pp.

I – Informational, written testimony, Dr. Constance Powell, 4 pp.

J – Informational, written testimony, Leslie Ford, 1 p.

K – Informational, written testimony, Tim Hartnet, 9 pp.

L – Informational, written submitted testimony, Scott Gallant, 2 pp.