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Health Policy and Finance

FIFTY-SEVENTH MEETING

2005-2006 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 21, 2006

STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTY-SEVENTH 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 fifty-seventh meeting to order at 10:25 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 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 THISSEN, Paul
HUNTLEY, Tom WALKER, Neva
WILKIN, Tim
Members excused: FINSTAD, Brad

A quorum was present.

Chairman Bradley announced that the committee will recess in time for floor session and will reconvene this afternoon, March 21, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 200.

Rep. Peppin moved approval of the minutes of March 15 and March 16, 2006. THE MOTION PREVAILED. The minutes were adopted.

HF3505 (Hamilton) Greater Minnesota small employer health insurance premium reductions permitted.

Rep. Bradley moved HF 3505 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions.

Rep. Hamilton presented HF 3505.

Testifying to the bill:

Bob Johnson, Insurance Federation of MN

Rep. Bradley renewed his motion that HF 3505 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Rep. Abeler moved the adoption of the following Health Care Cost Containment House Division Reports:

HF 1862 (Abeler)
HF 2831 (Abeler)
HF 2832 (Abeler)
HF 2438 (Abeler)
HF 1863 (Abeler)

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE HOUSE DIVISION REPORTS WERE ADOPTED.


HF 1862 (Abeler) H1862DE2

Rep. Abeler moved HF 1862 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy.

The Chair announced that the Committee will be working off the Amendment H1862DE2 which has already been adopted.

Rep. Abeler moved to amend the H1862DE2 Amendment (see Amendment H1862A12 attached).

Rep. Abeler presented a walk through of Amendment H1862A12.

Rep. Abeler incorporated an amendment into Amendment H1862A12 (see attached amendment marked "A").

Rep. Abeler renewed his motion to amend Amendment H1862DE2 (see attached Amendment H8162A12 with incorporation of Amendment marked “A" attached).

Division was called. After a count of seven No votes and seven Yes votes, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Rep. Abeler moved to amend the H1862DE2 Amendment (see Amendment H1862A8 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

The Chair ruled a miscounted vote on the motion to amend Amendment H1862DE2 (see attached Amendment H8162A12 with incorporation of Amendment marked “A" attached).

The Chair moved to reconsider. Division was called and another vote was taken. There were eight Yes votes and six No votes. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Bradley moved to amend the Amendment H1862DE2 as follows:

Page 25, line 25.1, delete “fault,"

Rep. Bradley withdrew his oral amendment.

Rep. Abeler renewed his motion that HF 1862, as amended, be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy.

Rep. Eken moved to amend the Amendment H1862DE2 (see Amendment H1862A11 attached). Rep. Eken presented Amendment H1862A11. Rep. Eken requested a Roll Call vote on Amendment H1862A11.


ROLL CALL VOTE ON AMENDMENT H1862A11

YES NO__________________

Eken Thao Bradley Peppin
Goodwin Thissen Abeler Powell
Huntley Walker Dean Samuelson
Otremba Emmer Wilkin


There being seven YES votes and eight NO votes, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Testifying the bill:

Dave Renner, MN Medical Association
Twila Brase, Citizens’ Council on Health Care
Phil Griffin, Preferred One
Phil Stalboerger, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN
Erin Sexton, MN Chamber of Commerce
Nancy Hokkanen, Minneapolis
John Gross, MN Department of Commerce

Rep. Abeler renewed his motion that HF 1862, as amended, be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 2831 (Abeler) H2831DE2

Rep. Abeler moved HF 2831 the H2831DE2 amendment be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Civil Law. After brief discussion, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 2832 (Abeler) H2832DE2

Rep. Abeler moved HF 2832 the H2832DE2 amendment be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce, with the recommendation to staff to include Section 6 on pages 2 and 3 of the H1862DE2 amendment on page 9 after line 12 of the H2832DE2 amendment.

After brief discussion, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 2438 (Abeler) H2438DE9

The Chair held over HF 2438 H2438DE9.

HF1863 (Abeler) H1863DE1

Rep. Abeler moved HF 1863 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Taxes.

Rep. Huntley moved to amend HF 1863 (see Amendment H1863DE2 attached). Rep. Huntley requested a Roll Call vote.

Rep. Huntley moved to amend Amendment H1863DE2 as follows:

Page 1, line 1.6, delete “50" and insert “7.85"

Rep. Abeler moved to amend Amendment H1863DE2 as a friendly amendment as follows:

Page 1, delete Line 1.2

Rep. Huntley rejected Rep. Abeler’s friendly amendment.

Rep. Abeler moved to amend Amendment H1863DE2 as follows:

Page 1, delete Line 1.2 and staff to make technical corrections

Rep. Huntley accepted Rep. Abeler’s oral amendment and incorporated it into Amendment H1863DE2.

Rep. Huntley explained the amendment with the incorporation.

A Roll Call vote was taken on Amendment 1863DE2, as amended.


ROLL CALL VOTE ON
AMENDMENT 1863DE2 AS AMENDED


YES__________________ _____________NO_________________

Bradley Peppin Dean
Abeler Powell
Eken Samuelson
Emmer Thao
Goodwin Thissen
Huntley Walker
Otremba Wilkin


There being 14 YES votes and one NO vote, THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Abeler renewed his motion that HF 1863, as amended, be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Taxes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

At 12:00 noon, the Chair called a recess until approximately 5:00 p.m. in Room 200.

Chairman Bradley reconvened the meeting at 5:06 p.m. in Room 200.

HF3341 (Powell) Health savings account option provision for legislators and staff required.

Rep. Powell moved HF 3341 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy.

Testifying to the bill:

Greg Hubinger, Legislative Coordinating Commission

Rep. Powell renewed his motion that HF 3341 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3402 (Wilkin) Loss ratios and small employer insurance coverages regulated, health savings plan state match established and money appropriated.

Rep. Wilkin moved HF 3402 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions.

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 3402 (see Amendment H3402A1 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Rep. Wilkin moved to amend HF 3402, as amended, as follows:

Page 9, delete Sect. 6

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying to the bill:

Geoff Bartsch, HealthPartners

Rep. Thissen moved to amend HF 3402, as amended, (see Amendment H3402A2 attached).

Testifying to the amendment:

Bob Johnson, Insurance Federation of MN
Lynn Gruber, MCHA

A vote was taken on Amendment H3402A2. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. The amendment was not adopted.

Rep. Wilkin renewed his motion that HF 3402, as amended, be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions.

Rep. Powell requested a Roll Call vote.


ROLL CALL VOTE ON
HF 3402 AS AMENDED

YES__________________ _____________NO_________________

Bradley Peppin Eken Huntley
Finstad Powell Goodwin Walker
Abeler Samuelson
Dean Thissen
Emmer Wilkin


There being ten YES votes and four NO votes, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Rep. Finstad assumed the gavel.

HF3658 (Bradley) Business organizations authorized to obtain certificates of authority to operate as health maintenance organizations, pricing fairness provided, small health plan purchasing pools authorized and health insurance tax imposed.

Rep. Bradley moved HF 3658 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions.

Rep. Bradley presented HF 3658.

Testifying to the bill:

Erin Sexton, MN Chamber of Commerce
Mark Fisher, AMOM
Sue Eskadahl, Employers Association
Sarah Noznesky, MN Medical Association
David Feinwachs, Minnesota Hospital Association
Pat Oberembt, MN RPh Assoc.
Bob Johnson, Insurance Federation of MN
Julie Brunner, MN Council of Health Plans
Dannette Coleman, Medica
Phil Griffin, Preferred One


Rep. Bradley renewed his motion that HF 3658 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3360 (Bradley) Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association governance structure modified, health insurance exemption provided, assessment repealed and money appropriated.

Rep. Bradley moved HF 3360 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions.

Testifying to the bill:

Jim Friese, MN Chamber of Commerce
Lynn Gruber, Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association
Sara Noznesky, MN Medical Association
John Schwarz, United Health System
Mike Hickey, NFIB

Rep. Bradley renewed his motion that HF 3360 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The next meeting of the Health Policy and Finance Committee will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at 10:15 a.m. in Room 10 of the State Office Building.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.



______________________________________
Rep. Fran Bradley, Chairman



______________________________________
Cheryl Burke, Committee Legislative Assistant