HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

 

 

April 28. 2005 Hearing Room C

8:30 A.M.  Tapes 83 - 85

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:            Rep. Donna Nelson, Chair

Rep. Phil Barnhart, Vice-Chair

Rep. Brian Boquist

Rep. Scott Bruun

Rep. Dave Hunt

Rep. Betty Komp

 

MEMBER EXCUSED:            Rep. Debi Farr, Vice-Chair

 

STAFF PRESENT:                  Jim Stembridge, Committee Administrator

Erin Seiler, Committee Assistant

 

MEASURES/ISSUES HEARD:

Health Care Benefits for National Guard & Reserve Members & Their Families – Informational Meeting

HB 2737 – Work Session

HB 2847 – Work Session

HB 2862 – Work Session

 

 

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 83, A
001	Chair Nelson	Opens the meeting at 8:38 a.m. Open the informational meeting on Health Care Benefits for National Guard & Reserve Members & Their Families.
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR NATIONAL GUARD &  RESERVE MEMBERS & THEIR FAMILIES – INFORMATIONAL MEETING
055	Rear Admiral  James Johnson	Regional Director, TRICARE Regional Office West. Submits and summarizes written testimony on health care benefits for National Guard and Reserve Members (EXHIBIT A).
151	Johnson	Submits TRICARE Regional Office West PowerPoint presentation (EXHIBIT B).
155	Johnson	Explains TRICARE Health Care programs (EXHIBIT B, Pages 3 -5).
197	Rep. Nelson	Asks how the TRICARE health care program “meshes” with Oregon Veterans’ Administration Medical facilities.
205	Johnson	Explains TRICARE Northwest Hub support services in Oregon (EXHIBIT B, Page 6).
270	Rep. Nelson	Addresses the need to increase advertising and marketing of veterans’ health care services and benefits.
275	Johnson	Speaks to efforts of TRICARE to provide information to veterans’ about available health care benefits.
292	Rep. Nelson	Asks if TRICARE has a public relations budget to market program in Oregon.
317	Johnson	Identifies where the Prime Service Areas are in Oregon and the areas in Oregon where provider availability is inadequate (EXHIBIT B, Pages 7 -9).
361	Rep. Boquist	Asks why it is a challenge to get providers in the Pendleton Area.
370	Johnson	Addresses why the Pendleton and Bend area have challenges with getting TRICARE network providers.
TAPE 84, A
037	Rep. Barnhart	Points out that Medicare reimbursement rates are “incredibly inadequate” and suggests that TRICARE attempt to differentiate their reimbursement rates from Medicare rates in order to improve provider retention.
059	Johnson	Comments on the difficulty of recruiting and retaining network providers because of low reimbursement rates.
083	Chair Nelson	Explains why veterans have limited access to medical treatment in Oregon.
115	Johnson	Speaks to Congressional oversight of military medical facility and Veterans’ Administration medical facilities.
170	Johnson	Explains CHAMPUS Maximum Allowable Charge rates (EXHIBIT B, Page 10).
205	Johnson	Speaks to TRICARE mental health parity (EXHIBIT B, Page 11).
239	Johnson	Explains TRICARE Prime Benefit Program (EXHIBIT B, Page 12).
325	Johnson	Addresses Congressional efforts to increase Reserve Component Health Care Benefits (EXHIBIT B, Pages 13- 14).
TAPE 83, B
001	Johnson	Explains the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) (EXHIBIT B, Page 15).
015	Johnson	Explains the TRICARE Reserve Select Benefit (EXHIBIT B, Pages 16 – 18).
046	Rep. Boquist	Asks what the purpose is of TRICARE Reserve Select Benefit and if there are alternative health care benefit options.
060	Johnson	Explains why Congress developed the TRICARE Reserve Select Benefit Program.
108	Rep. Hunt	Inquires as to who has the authority to amend eligibility requirements for TRICARE Prime Benefits.
120	Johnson	States that eligibility is Congressionally mandated.
124	Rep. Boquist	Asks how to ensure that Reservists are all registered and eligible for health care benefits before leaving active duty.
130	Johnson	Explains TAMP coverage and TRICARE Outreach Programs (EXHIBIT B, Pages 19 - 20).
161	Johnson	Addresses how health care benefits for Reservists used to be administered.
209	Chair Nelson	Closes the informational meeting on Health Care Benefits for National Guard & Reserve Members & Their Families.
220	Chair Nelson	Recesses meeting at 9:50 a.m.
221	Chair Nelson	Reconvenes the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
223	Chair Nelson	Opens the work session on HB 2737.
HB 2737 – WORK SESSION
225	Jim Stembridge	Committee Administrator. Explains HB 2737, which creates Oregon Military Family Relief Program in Oregon Military Department. Submits -1 amendments (EXHIBIT C).
245	Rep. Barnhart	Explains the changes made by –1 amendments.
289	Colonel Mike Caldwell	Deputy Director, Oregon Military Department. Confirms that the language in –1 amendments is accurate.
311	Chair Nelson	Questions whether the amendment adequately resolves issues of residence and legal dependent status.
320	Rep. Boquist	Verifies that a legal dependent can be whomever the soldier designates.
352	Chair Nelson	Asks what language should be used regarding legal dependent status.
375	Caldwell	Suggests language relating to the recognition of a soldiers’ legal dependents and how to establish eligibility for soldiers who are members of the Oregon National Guard but do not reside in Oregon.
408	Rep. Barnhart	Clarifies the difference in residency status of Oregon National Guard and Oregon Reservists in the Armed Forces who do not reside in Oregon.
TAPE 84, B
012	Rep. Komp	Points out difficulties in getting another amendment before committees close.
016	Rep. Boquist	Expresses how important it is to establish “at least one” of the proposed military relief funds.
022	Mac MacDonald	Representatives, Veterans’ Organizations. Suggests additional amendments to HB 2737.
065	Rep. Barnhart	Suggests adopting -1 amendments and moving HB 2737 to House Revenue far further amendments.
083	Chair Nelson	Opens the work session on HB 2847.
HB 2847 – WORK SESSION
085	Jim Stembridge	Explains HB 2847, which requires that Oregon Veterans’ Home Account be permanently listed on individual tax return form for charitable contribution purpose. Submits -1 amendments (EXHIBIT D).
102	Rep. Barnhart	Asks if the amendment replaces the $50,000 dollar requirement.
111	Stembridge	Summarizes -1 amendments.
127	Rep. Barnhart	Points out what language is removed from HB 2847 by -1 amendments.
136	Rep. Barnhart	Restates the importance of sending the bills to House Revenue.
147	Chair Nelson	States why HB 2737 and HB 2847 will remain in committee until each is amended correctly.
204	Chair Nelson	Closes the work sessions on HB 2737 and HB 2847.
208	Chair Nelson	Opens the work session on HB 2862.
HB 2862 – WORK SESSION
214	Jim Stembridge	Committee Administrator. Explains HB 2862, which directs public post-secondary education institutions to award credit for education and training obtained while serving in Armed Forces of United States. Submits and summarizes -1 amendments (EXHIBIT E). Submits and summarizes -2 amendments (EXHIBIT F).
247	Rep. Bruun	MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HB 2862-2 amendments dated 04/25/05.
253	Rep. Barnhart	Explains why there needs to be parallel language for universities and community colleges.
284	Rep. Barnhart	Explains why -1 amendments are necessary and -2 amendments are unnecessary.
304	Julie Suchanek	Government Relations Specialist, Oregon Community College Association (OCCA). Explains why OCCA requested and supports the adoption of -2 amendments.
330	Rep. Barnhart	Asks if it is the position of OCCA that community colleges should not be required to give credit for education and training, even if all program requirements are met.
346	Suchanek	Explains how OCCA interprets -1 amendments as usurping the policy control of local community college boards.
365	Rep. Barnhart	MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HB 2862-1 amendments dated 04/25/05.
370	Chair Nelson	Clarifies how HB 2862 would be changed by -2 amendments.
380	Rep. Barnhart	Restates why -2 amendments are “not necessary” since universities and community colleges already have complete control over transfer credit.
385	Suchanek	Explains how -2 amendments recognize the different governing structures of community colleges and universities.
399	Suchanek	Restates why OCCA supports -2 amendments.
TAPE 85, A
005	Rep. Komp	Asks if Oregon University Systems (OUS) or Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) have commented on HB 2862.
010	Stembridge	States that institutions governed by OUS already award credit using guidelines provided by American Counsel of Education.
026	Rep. Komp	States hesitance to take action on HB 2862 because of existing problems within OUS of transferring credits between community colleges and universities.
040	Rep. Barnhart	Disagrees with the analysis that HB 2862 affects the transfer of any credits within OUS.
050	Rep. Boquist	Agrees with Rep. Komps’ interpretation of HB 2862 because Chancellor’s Office would be directed to establish system wide guidelines for transferring credits.
059	Chair Nelson	Points out that OUS did agree to draft the necessary rules.
064	Rep. Bruun	Withdraws motion to adopt -2 amendments.
068	Chair Nelson	Closes the work session on HB 2862.
078	Chair Nelson	Adjourns the meeting at 10:46 a.m.

 

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

 

1. Health Care Benefits for National Guard & Reserve Members & Their Families, written testimony, Rear Admiral James Johnson, 5 pp
2. Health Care Benefits for National Guard & Reserve Members & Their Families, TRICARE Regional Office West PowerPoint Presentation, Rear Admiral James  Johnson, 21 pp
3. HB 2737, -1 amendments, staff, 1 p
4. HB 2847, -1 amendments, staff, 2 pp
5. HB 2862, -1 amendments, staff, 1 p
6. HB 2862, -2 amendments, staff, 1 p