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Health Policy and Finance

THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING

2005-2006 Regular Session - Tuesday, April 5, 2005

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FOURTH SESSION

HEALTH POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE

MINUTES


Representative Fran Bradley, Chair of the Health Policy and Finance Committee, called the thirty-sixth meeting to order at 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 in Room 10 of the State Office Building.

The Clerk noted the roll.

Members present:



BRADLEY, Fran, Chair OTREMBA, Mary Ellen
ABELER, Jim PEPPIN, Joyce
DEAN, Matt POWELL, Duke
EKEN, Kent SAMUELSON, Char
EMMER, Tom THAO, Cy
GOODWIN, Barb WALKER, Neva
HUNTLEY, Tom WILKIN, Tim



Members excused: Finstad, Brad
Thissen, Paul

A quorum was present.

Rep. Powell moved approval of the minutes of the April 4, 2005, meeting. THE MOTION PREVAILED. The minutes were approved.

Chairman Bradley announced that the committee will hear testimony only today on HF 1505 (Brod). The bill will be moved and votes will be taken in the Friday, April 8, 2005, meeting.

HF1505 (Brod) Vaccines containing mercury or mercury compounds prohibited.

Rep. Brod presented HF 1505.

Testifying in support of HF 1505:

Christine Loose, New Prague
Jerri Johnson, MN Natural Health Legal Reform Project
Jennifer Larson, Unlocking Autism, Holland Center
Brian Roelofs, Lakeville

Testifying in opposition to HF 1505:

Dr. Jeff Schiff, President, American Academy of Pediatrics, MN Chapter,
and MN Medical Association
Patricia Stinchfield, Infectious Disease/Immunology and Infection Control
and Children’s Hospitals and Clinics
Kristen Ehresmann, Section Chief, Immunization, Tuberculosis, and International Health
Section, MN Dept. Of Health
Phil Griffin, March of Dimes
Diane Peterson, Immunization Action Coalition
Lisa Randall, St. Paul

Also testifying in support of HF 1505:

Dr. Karen Effrem, AHRP, EdWatch


HF1847 (Powell) Medical assistance special transportation services coverage criteria specified, special transportation reimbursement rates increased, prohibition on brokers to manage services extended, and review of special transportation services required.

Rep. Powell moved HF 1847 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Rep. Powell presented HF 1847.

Testifying in support of HF 1847:

Steve Ellwood, Rochester
Kathleen Cota, MN Department of Human Services
Brenda Battle, Minnesota Non-emergency Transportation (MNET) program.

Rep. Emmer assumed the gavel.

Rep. Powell renewed his motion that HF 1847 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

The Chair laid over HF 1847 for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

HF1265 (Newman) Civil Commitment Act temporary confinement cost payment clarified.

Rep. Emmer moved HF 1265 be recommended to pass.

Rep. Emmer moved to amend HF 1265 (see Amendment A05-0475 attached). Rep. Emmer incorporated the Author’s amendment into Amendment A05-0475 as follows:

Page 1, delete lines 1 through 7

A vote was taken on Amendment A05-0475 as amended by Author’s incorporation. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying in support of HF 1265:

Marc Sebora, City Attorney of Hutchinson

Testifying in opposition to HF 1265:

Kathy Lamp, Hennepin County

Rep. Bradley assumed the gavel.

Rep. Emmer renewed his motion that HF 1265, as amended, be recommended to pass. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF934 (Brod) Compulsive gambling prevention and education funding provided, and money appropriated

Rep. Brod presented HF 935.

Rep. Bradley moved HF 934 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.


Testifying in support of HF 934:

Rev. Lance Holthusen, Sleepy Eye
Don Feeney, MN State Lottery

Rep. Bradley renewed his motion that HF 934 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

HF2075 (Davids) Health plan - pharmacy and health plan - pharmacy benefits manager contracts limited.

Rep. Bradley moved HF 2075 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.

Rep. Davids presented HF 2075.

Rep. Bradley renewed his motion that HF 2075 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Taxes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 1059 (Pelowski) A bill for an act relating to human services; allowing PACE programs to be covered under alternative integrated long-term care services

Rep. Pelowski presented HF 1059.

Rep. Bradley moved HF 1059.

Rep. Bradley moved to amend HF 1059 (see Amendment H1059A1 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying in support of HF 1059:

Constance Schein, St. Anne and Rural PACE Initiative, Winona
Pamela Parker, MN Department of Human Services

Rep. Bradley moved HF 1059, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

At 12:22 p.m., Chairman Bradley called a recess until 7:00 p.m. or until the Call of the Chair.

Vice Chair Finstad reconvened the meeting at 7:18 p.m. in Room 200.

HF1828 (Samuelson) Counties required to process certain medical assistance applications within specified timelines.

Rep. Samuelson moved HF 1828 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Rep. Samuelson presented HF 1828.

Testifying in support of HF 1828:

Jon Lips, Long Term Care Imperative

Testifying in opposition to HF 1828:

Ruth Krueger, Dakota County


Rep. Samuelson renewed her motion that HF 1828 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Rep. Bradley assumed the gavel.

HF952 (Finstad) Positive Alternatives Act

Rep. Finstad moved HF 952 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Rep. Finstad moved to amend HF 952 (see Amendment H0952A10 attached).

Testifying to the amendment:

Andrea Rau, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life

Rep. Finstad incorporated the following amendment in Amendment H0952A10:

page 1, line 6, after "17" insert ", 18, and 19 through the period"
page 1, delete line 7
page 1, line 8, delete "$2,500,000"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Finstad moved to amend HF 952 (see Amendment H0952A11 attached).

Testifying to the bill:

Carol Wolverton, MN Department of Health

A vote was taken on Amendment H0952A11. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chairman Bradley requested the committee vote again on Amendments H0952A10 and H0952A11 because there may have been some confusion during the previous votes.

Rep. Finstad renewed his motion to amend HF 952 (see Amendment H0952A10 attached, as amended). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Finstad renewed his motion to amend HF 952 (see Amendment H0952A11 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Finstad renewed his motion that HF 952, as amended, be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

At 7:45 p.m., the Chair called for a short recess to the Call of the Chair.

Chairman Bradley reconvened the meeting at 7:55 p.m.

HF2023 (Wilkin) Health maintenance organizations assessed for purposes of the insurance fraud prevention account; rates, claims, and filing practices regulated; and expanded provider network requirements eliminated.

Rep. Wilkin moved HF 2023 be recommended to pass.

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 2023 (see Amendment H2023A3 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying to the bill:

John Gross, MN Department of Commerce
Phil Stalboerger, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of MN

Rep. Abeler moved to amend HF 2023 as follows:

Page 5, line 1, delete "but not limited to,"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Goodwin moved to amend HF 2023 (see Amendment A05-0497 attached).

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend the Amendment A05-0497 as follows:

Page 1, line 15, reinstate the stricken language
Page 1, line 16, reinstate the stricken language and delete "$200,000"

Rep. Goodwin accepted Rep. Wilkin’s oral amendment as incorporation in Amendment A05-0497.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Wilkin renewed his motion that HF 2023, as amended, be recommended to pass. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF980 (Wilkin) Programs and services for persons with disabilities modified

Rep. Wilkin moved HF 980 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Rep. Wilkin presented HF 980.

Testifying to the bill:

John Tschida, Courage Center

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 980 (see Amendment H0980A4 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 980 (see Amendment H0980A5 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 980 (see Amendment H0980A6 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 980 (see Amendment H0980A7 attached).

Rep. Wilkin moved to incorporate an oral amendment to Amendment H0980A7 as follows:

Page 1, line 19, delete "15 and 16" and insert "13, 14 and 14a"

A vote was taken on Amendment H0980A7 with incorporated Wilkin oral amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Wilkin renewed his motion that HF 980, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill.


Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 980 as follows:

Page 33, after line 11, insert:

"This section expires on October 15, 2006."

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying to the amendment:

Patricia Coldwell, Association of MN Counties
Meghan Mohs, MACSSA

Rep. Wilkin renewed his motion that HF 980 as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Health Policy and Finance omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at 10:15 a.m. in Room 10 of the State Office Building.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.


______________________________________
Rep. Fran Bradley, Chairman


______________________________________
Cheryl Burke, Committee Legislative Assistant