SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

April 15, 2003 Hearing Room B

1:00 pm Tapes 59 - 60

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 2558 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 324 – Public Hearing

SB 875 – 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 59, A
008	Chair Morrisette	Convenes meeting at 1:16 p.m. and opens a public hearing on HB 2558.
HB 2558 – PUBLIC HEARING
012	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains bill.
045	Jim Gardner	PhRMA. Testifies in support of HB 2558 (EXHIBIT A).
098	Tom Holt	Oregon State Pharmacists Association. Testifies in opposition to HB 2558.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing and opens a work session on HB 2558.
HB 2558 – WORK SESSION
144	Sen. Walker	MOTION: Moves HB 2558 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
147		VOTE: 6-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
	Chair Morrisette	The motion CARRIES. SEN. WALKER will lead discussion on the floor.
159	Chair Morrisette	Closes work session and opens a public hearing on SB 324.
SB 324 -PUBLIC HEARING
166	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains the bill, and the -1 amendment (EXHIBIT B).
	Jim Gardner	PhRMA. States he would support SB 324, and would be interested in participating in a dialogue with Senator Schrader.
	Chair Morrisette	Opens a public hearing on SB 875 at the same time.
SB 875 – PUBLIC HEARING
185	Tim Nesbitt	President, Oregon AFL-CIO. Testifies in support of both bills, SB 324 and SB 875, and further on the -1 amendment to SB 875 (EXHIBIT C).
266	Mary Botkin	AFSCME. Testifies in support of SB 324 and SB 875. Reviews bulk prescription purchasing and dispensing programs.
306	Senator Kurt Schrader	District 20. Testifies in support of SB 324. Explains the time and effort that has gone into developing this bill and would like to move forward on getting the bill approved.
370	Sen. Minnis	Raises several questions on cost savings in bulk purchasing.
420	Sen. Schrader	Gives a detailed explanation of the intention of the bill as submitted.
Tape 60, A
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing on SB 324 and continues public hearing on SB 875.
	Rep. Mitch Greenlick	District 33. Testifies on SB 875 and the benefits of purchasing prescriptions in bulk.
107	Bruce Goldberg	Oregon Health Policy & Research. Testifies on SB 875, and speaks on behalf of people without medical insurance and lack of pharmaceutical coverage.
234	Sen. Minnis	Questions the opportunity to be able to buy in bulk, and have choices. Also asks about flexibility in preparing pharmaceutical compounds.
265	Goldberg	Replies his concurrence.
	Sen. Minnis	Offers to work on any changes to the language of the bill.
328	Rep. Greenlick	Speaks on how medical changes are constantly occurring.
	Sen. Minnis	Raises question on having further input from medical professionals.
Tape 59, B
055	Lynn-Marie Crider	AFL-CIO. Testifies on the technical issues of the SB 875 -1 amendment (See EXHIBIT C above).
092		Gives explanation on specific areas of the amendment, i.e., implementing a network of pharmacies, preferred drug lists and any additional costs.
240	Goldberg	Expresses hope that physicians are giving members on Oregon Health Plan their fair share of time and medical care.
	Jim Gardner	Testifies in opposition to SB 875 and the proposed amendment (EXHIBIT D). States it would not meet the medical needs of a diverse population and further could have a fiscal impact.
Tape 60, B
045	Tom Holt	Testifies in opposition to SB 875 (EXHIBIT E). Recommends several areas for corrections to the bill.
	Sen. Minnis	Asks if he could receive a reply on how the rebate program works.
	Gardner	Replies concerning the Federal government program through Medicaid.
170	Sen. Minnis	Reviews his understanding on the Federal program and how it will work with state government. Continues questions back and forth with Gardner.
The following prepared testimony is submitted for the record without public testimony for SB 875.
	Misc. Authors	Submit testimony (EXHIBIT F)
	Chair Morrisette	States there will be an additional work session scheduled for next week, and adjourns meeting at 3:04 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2558, written testimony, Jim Gardner, 2 pp.

B – SB 324, proposed -1 amendment, staff, 1 p.

C – SB 324 and SB 875, written testimony, Tim Nesbitt, 15 pp.

D – SB 875, written testimony, Jim Gardner, 11 pp.

E – SB 875, written testimony, and Wall Street Journal article (3/31/03), Tom Holt, 10 pp.

F – SB 875, submitted written testimony, miscellaneous authors, 13 pp.