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Health and Human Services

FORTY-THIRD MEETING

2007-2008 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 11, 2008

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION

COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

MINUTES


Representative Paul Thissen, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 2:22 P.M. on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

THISSEN, Paul (Chair)
ABELER, Jim
ANDERSON, Bruce
BROD, Laura
BUNN, Julie
FRITZ, Patti (Vice-Chair)
GOTTWALT, Steve
HAMILTON, Rod
HUNTLEY, Tom
LIEBLING, Tina
LOEFFLER, Diane
MURPHY, Erin
NORTON, Kim
OTREMBA, Mary Ellen
RUUD, Maria
THAO, Cy
TSCHUMPER, Ken
WALKER, Neva


Members excused:

EMMER, Tom
FINSTAD, Brad

A quorum was present.

Rep. Huntley moved that the minutes of March 6, 2008 and March 10, 2008 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3377 (Walker) division report

Rep. Walker moved that DH3377CR1, the Division Report be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Rep. Walker moved that CEH3377-1, HF3377 Committee Engrossment, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF2426 (Norton) Disabled children Human Services eligibility redetermination notice required

Chair Thissen moved that HF2426 be taken off the table. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Rep. Norton moved that HF2426 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.

Rep. Norton moved the H2426DE1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Norton renewed her motion that HF2426, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF2591/SF2377* (Olin) First responders authorized to staff basic life support ambulances under certain conditions, and staffing flexibility allowed for rural ambulance providers

Chair Thissen moved that SF2377 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the General Register.

Rep. Olin presented the bill.
Providing testimony:

Buck McAlpin

Chair Thissen renewed his motion that SF2377 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Rep. Murphy assumed the gavel at 2:35 P.M.

HF3372 (Thissen) Department of Health policy bill: changing provisions for uniform billing forms and electronic claim filing

Rep. Thissen moved that HF3372 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Civil Justice.

Providing information on the bill:

James Golden, Department of Health

Rep. Thissen moved the H3372A1 amendment.

Providing testimony were:

Bob Johnson, Insurance Federation
Dave Finewachs

Rep. Anderson requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:

AYE NAY EXCUSED

HUNTLEY, Tom THISSEN, Paul BROD, Laura
MURPHY, Erin ABELER, Jim EMMER, Tom
OTREMBA, Mary Ellen ANDERSON, Bruce FINSTAD, Brad
THAO, Cy BUNN, Julie LIEBLING, Tina
TSCHUMPER, Ken FRITZ, Patti NORTON, Kim
GOTTWALT, Steve WALKER, Neva
HAMILTON, Rod
LOEFFLER, Diane
RUUD, Maria

On a vote of 5 AYES and 9 NAYS THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Rep. Thissen moved the A08-1325 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Thissen moved the A08-1274 amendment.

Providing testimony were:

Julie Brunner, Council of Health Plans
John Gross, Health Care Policy, Department of Commerce

Rep. Abeler moved to amend the A08-1274 amendment as follows:

Page 3, line 3.20 after "be" insert "up to"

Rep. Thissen incorporated the oral amendment.

THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Thissen renewed his motion that HF3372, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Civil Justice. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The Chair called for a recess at 3:40 P.M.

Chair Thissen reconvened the committee at 6:50 P.M.

HF3539 (Swails) division report

Rep. Huntley moved that the HF3539 division report be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Rep. Huntley moved that HF3539 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.

Providing testimony in support of the bill:

John Ryan, Prairie St. John's
Roberta Opheim, State Omsbudsman for Mental Health
Dr. Shaleen Kennedy, M.D.

Providing testimony in opposition of the bill:

Dr. Lisa Capell, University of Minnesota
Dr. Cathy Curdue, Vice Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota
Kathy Knight, Vice President, Fairview Behavioral Services
Tom Geskermann, Vice President, Behavioral Health, Regions Hospital
Sara Criger, VP/CEO St. Joseph's Hospital
Dr. Robert Sevenich, Psychiatrist, St. Paul

Rep. Bunn moved the H3539DE1 amendment.

Rep. Brod moved to amend H3539DE1 as follows:

Page 5, delete lines 5.3 - 5.6

Rep. Bunn incorporated the oral amendment.

Providing information:

Julie Sonier, Department of Health

THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Huntley renewed his motion that HF3539, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.

On a division vote of 9 AYES and 8 NAYES THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Vice Chair Fritz assumed the gavel at 8:23 P.M.

Vice Chair Fritz announced a recess at 8:23 P.M.

Vice Chair Fritz reconvened the meeting at 8:30 P.M.

HF3265 (Thissen) Radiation therapy facility construction moratorium extended in specified counties

Rep. Thissen moved that HF3265 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.


Providing testimony in support of the bill:

Richard Taylor, Oncology Solutions

Providing testimony in opposition of the bill:

Robert Cimasi, Health Capital Consultants
Dr. Irving Lerner, Minnesota Oncology Hemetology
Val Harshe, St. Paul Cancer Center (associated with United Hospital)

Rep. Bunn moved the H3265DE3 amendment.

Providing information:

Julie Sonier, Department of Health

On a division vote of 7 AYES and 11 NAYS THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Rep. Thissen renewed his motion that HF3265 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 P.M.


Rep. Paul Thissen, CHAIR


Urszula Gryska
Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..

HF3372 (Thissen) Department of Health policy bill: changing provisions for uniform billing forms and electronic claim filing
HF3377 (Walker) division report
HF2591/SF2377* (Olin) First responders authorized to staff basic life support ambulances under certain conditions, and staffing flexibility allowed for rural ambulance providers
HF2426 (Norton) Disabled children Human Services eligibility redetermination notice required
HF3265 (Thissen) Radiation therapy facility construction moratorium extended in specified counties
HF3539 (Swails) division report
HF2585 (Ward) has been removed from the agenda