SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

April 3, 2003 Hearing Room B

1:00 pm Tapes 49 - 50 - 51

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: SB 1 – 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 49, A
008	Chair Morrisette	Convenes meeting at 1:06 p.m. and opens a public hearing on SB 1.
SB 1 – PUBLIC HEARING
	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains bill.
030	Sen. Lenn Hannon	District 3. Testifies in support of SB 1. Reviews data on premium increases.
	Pres. Peter Courtney	District 11. Testifies in support of SB 1, and advises the number of states that have introduced a parity bill (EXHIBIT A). Expresses his feeling on the importance of passing this type of bill.
090	Sen. Avel Gordley	District 23. Testifies in support of SB 1 as a co-sponsor, and explains the issues on mental health discrimination and attitudes (EXHIBIT B).
130	Sen. Kate Brown	District 21. Testifies in support of SB 1.
	Sen. Walker	Asks question on suicide prevention for youth.
	Sen. Brown	Replies that mental health medical coverage will definitely help.
	Sen. Hannon	Replies on mental health insurance coverage for all employers.
240	John Powell	Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield – Talks about the -2 amendments. Introduces, Lynn Hagen (Regence), and Dr. Tom Foster, (Psychiatric Medical Consultant – Regence).
		Explains an exercise in opposition requested by Sen. Hannon to the original bill from last session (SB 112). Expresses concern on the costs of health insurance that is passed on to the employers and the employees. Further reviews expected costs in adding this insurance and the mental health part of the policy. Explains PEBB costs.
Tape 50, A
030	Sen. Shields	Asks questions on treatment for tribe members, and if the amendments would have any adverse impact.
044	Powell	Gives a reply concerning qualifications, and unsure if any impact on programs.
088	Leonard Hagen	Regence/BlueCross. Gives an overview and explanation on the proposed SB 1, -2 amendments in detail (EXHIBIT C).
290	Hagen	Reviews the last page.
	Chair Morrisette	Asks if there are similarities to these changes in other states.
367	Powell	States that his group was responding to the items in this particular bill.
	Sen. Fisher	Asks if these amendments would then be supported by Blue Cross.
419	Tom Foster	States he concurs that this bill does offer true health care parity.
	Sen. Fisher	States there is no cap on this bill noted.
426	Powell	Asks for clarification.
	Sen. Fisher	Asks several questions of Powell on caps and legal regulations.
Tape 49, B
040	Powell	Explains variations in costs for parity.
	Sen. Fisher	Asks questions on small business burden for insurance coverage for employees.
	Sen. Minnis	Asks if most state employees are covered by Blue Cross. Further asks about fiscal costs to the state to cover employees.
	Mark Nelson	Public Affairs Council, Oregon Society of Clinical Social Workers. Testifies in support of the -2 amendments enhancing the bill to express true parity. States the importance of treating mental and physical health as one (EXHIBIT D).
	John McCulley	Oregon Psychiatric Association. Testifies in support of the -2 amendments.
250	Dr. Connie Powell	Psychiatrist, President of Oregon Medical Association. Gives testimony in support of mental health services.
	Dr. Margaret Bennington-Davis	Medial Director Psychiatric Services, Salem Hospital. Testifies in support of SB 1 and the proposed amendments (EXHIBIT E).
Tape 50, B
	Ron Gallinet	Bend Chamber of Commerce. Testifies in opposition to SB1, and subsequent increase of insurance rates (EXHIBIT F).
	Juanita Price	Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Testifies in support of SB 1 for mental health drugs (EXHIBIT G).
	Leslie Ford	Cascadia Behavioral Health. Submits written testimony on treatment for children, and costs of insurance for employees (EXHIBIT H).
	Tim Hartnett	CODA, Inc. Submits written testimony in support of SB 1 and reviews alcohol and drug abuse, and mandates (EXHIBIT I).
160	Gina Firman	Director. Association of Community Mental Health Programs. Submits written testimony in support of SB 1 (EXHIBIT J).
199	Dr. Susan Patchin	Oregon Psychological Association. Gives testimony in support of SB 1.
266	Dr. Ada Molinoff	Clinical and Consulting Psychology. Submits written testimony in support of SB 1 (EXHIBIT K). Explains about repetitive patient visits, and reason for same.
300	Kathy Savicki	National Association of Social Workers. Submits written testimony in support of mental health portion of SB 1 (EXHIBIT L).
	Sen. Minnis	States that this bill has no bearing on the Oregon Health Plan.
	Savicki	Gives explanation on payment procedures.
Tape 51, A
033	Linda Reilly	Portland. Testifies as an advocate for children with mental illness, and explains the situation in raising her daughter with mental problems (EXHIBIT M). Requests support of SB 1.
	Joyce Van Anne	Ashland. Gives testimony on mental issues with her child and requests support for SB 1 (EXHIBIT N).
158	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing on SB 1 and adjourns meeting at 3:03 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 1, written testimony, President Peter Courtney, 2 pp.

B – SB 1, written testimony, Senator Avel Gordly, 2 pp.

C – SB 1, -2 proposed amendment, 13 pp.

D – SB 1, written testimony, Mark Nelson, 8 pp.

E – SB 1, written testimony, Margaret Bennington-Davis, 2 pp.

F – SB 1, written testimony, Ron Gallinat, 2 pp.

G – SB 1, written testimony, Juanita Price, 1 p.

H – SB 1, written testimony, Leslie Ford, 2 pp.

I – SB 1, written testimony, Tim Hartnett, 9 pp.

J – SB 1, written testimony, Gina Firman, 1 p.

K – SB 1, written testimony, Ada Molinoff, 27 pp.

L – SB 1, written testimony, Kathy Savicki, 2 pp.

M – SB 1, written testimony, Linda Reilly, 50 pp.

N – SB 1, written testimony, Joyce Van Anne, 2 pp.

O – SB 1, written testimony, miscellaneous authors, 50 pp.