STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES POLICY AND OVERSIGHT
Chair, Representative Paul Thissen
MINUTES
Representative Paul Thissen, Chair of the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee, called the meeting to order at 2:50 P.M. on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
THISSEN, Paul (Chair)
LIEBLING, Tina (Vice-Chair)
ABELER, Jim
BROD, Laura
BUNN, Julie
EMMER, Tom
FRITZ, Patti
GARDNER, Paul
GOTTWALT, Steve
HAYDEN, Jeff
HUNTLEY, Tom
KELLY, Tim
LAINE, Carolyn
LOEFFLER, Diane
MACK, Tara
MURPHY, Erin
NORTON, Kim
RUUD, Maria
THAO, Cy
TORKELSON, Paul
A quorum was present.
HF1114 (Pelowski) Adult foster home capacity requirement changed
Representative Thissen moved that HF1114 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance
Representative Thissen moved the
H1114DE1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Providing testimony in support of the bill:
Dennis Theede, Executive Director, Home and Community Options, Winona
Heidi Hamilton, Minnesota Department of Human Services
Providing testimony in opposition to the bill:
Kirsten Anderson-Stembridge, Director of Advocacy, Lutheran Social Service
Representative Thissen renewed his motion that HF1114, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Thissen moved to reconsider HF176, as amended. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF176 (Emmer) Death record replacement required when ordered by the court
Representative Emmer moved that HF176, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Civil Justice.
Providing testimony in support of the bill:
Michael Schwartz, PA
Providing testimony in opposition to the bill:
Health Care and Human Services
Policy and Oversight Committee
March 19, 2009
Page 2
Andrew Baker, M.D., Hennepin County Medical Examiner
Representative Emmer renewed his motion that HF176, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Civil Justice. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1565 (Kelly) Goodhue County; Nursing facility beds consolidated and relocated to a new site
Representative Kelly moved that HF1565 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Providing testimony on the bill:
Ted Seifert, Commissioner, Goodhue County, Immediate Past Chair, South Country Health Alliance
Scott Wordelman, President and CEO, Fairview Red Wing Health Services
Kevin Rymanowski, CFO, Benedictine Health System
Representative Kelly renewed his motion that HF1565 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF842 (Olin) Emergency medical services technical changes made
Representative Thissen moved that HF842 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.
Representative Liebling assumed the gavel at 4:10 P.M.
Representative Olin presented the bill.
Representative Thissen assumed the gavel at 4:12 P.M.
Representative Thissen moved that HF842 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Consent Calendar. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF453 (Fritz) MFIP and food stamp provisions modified
Representative Fritz moved that HF453 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Providing testimony on the bill:
Jessica Webster, Policy Advocate, Legal Services Advocacy Project
Alexandra Fitzsimmons, Minnesota Catholic Conference
Lyndon Gawboy, Welfare Rights Committee
Representative Fritz renewed her motion that HF453 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF646 (Seifert) MFIP electronic benefit transfers modified, and commissioner directed to apply for demonstration project to give bonus for buying Minnesota-grown foods
Representative Thissen moved that HF646 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Emmer moved the
H0646A1 amendment.
Representative Emmer requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
Health Care and Human Services
Policy and Oversight Committee
March 19, 2009
Page 3
AYE NAY EXCUSED
ABELER, Jim HISSEN, Paul FRITZ, Patti
BROD, Laura AYDEN, Jeff GARDNER, Paul
BUNN, Julie UNTLEY, Tom
EMMER, Tom AINE, Carolyn
GOTTWALT, Steve IEBLING, Tina
KELLY, Tim OEFFLER, Diane
MACK, Tara URPHY, Erin
NORTON, Kim UUD, Maria
TORKELSON, Paul HAO, Cy
On a vote of 9 AYES and 9 NAYS THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Providing testimony:
Patricia Coldwell, Association of Minnesota Counties
Representative Gottwalt moved the
H0646A7 amendment.
Representative Gottwalt requested a roll call vote. Representative Gottwalt withdrew the request for a roll call vote.
THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Providing testimony in opposition to the bill:
Jamie Pfuhl, President of the Minnesota Grocers Association
Alexandra Fitzsimmons, Minnesota Catholic Conference
Providing additional testimony:
Chuck Johnson, Minnesota Department of Human Services
Representative Bunn moved to amend HF646, as amended, as follows:
Page 1, delete lines 13 - 15
Providing additional testimony:
Ann Sessoms, Minnesota Department of Human Services
A division was requested.
On a vote of 5 AYES and 14 NAYS THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Providing additional testimony:
Jim Nobles, Office of Legislative Auditor
Mike Hessing, Office of Legislative Auditor
Deb Konechne, Welfare Rights Committee
Representative Thissen renewed his motion that HF646, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Emmer requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
Health Care and Human Services
Policy and Oversight Committee
March 19, 2009
Page 4
AYE NAY EXCUSED
ABELER, Jim THISSEN, Paul GARDNER, Paul
BROD, Laura FRITZ, Patti LOEFFLER, Diane
BUNN, Julie HAYDEN, Jeff
EMMER, Tom HUNTLEY, Tom
GOTTWALT, Steve LAINE, Carolyn
KELLY, Tim LIEBLING, Tina
MACK, Tara MURPHY, Erin
NORTON, Kim RUUD, Maria
TORKELSON, Paul THAO, Cy
On a vote of 9 AYES and 9 NAYS THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
HF665 (Swails) Hospital construction moratorium exception provided
Representative Thissen moved that HF665 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register
Providing testimony on the bill:
Shalene Kennedy, M.D., Prairie St. John’s
Representative Ruud moved to amend HF665 as follows:
Page 5, line 6, after the period insert The hospital shall serve patients enrolled in Medical Assistance.
THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Providing additional testimony:
Stefan Gildemeister, Minnesota Department of Health
Representative Thissen renewed his motion that HF665, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Liebling assumed the gavel at 6:15 P.M.
HF730 (Thao) Health plans required to cover formulary-based wound care required
Representative Thao moved that HF730 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Representative Thao moved the
H0730DE1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Providing testimony in support of the bill:
Tom Spencer, Advanced Healing Systems
Dr. John Mielke, Advanced Healing Systems
Providing testimony in opposition to the bill:
Geoff Bartsh, Director of Legislative Affairs, HealthPartners, Minnesota Council of Health Plans
Representative Thissen assumed the gavel at 6:40 P.M.
Mike Hickey, NFIB
Health Care and Human Services
Policy and Oversight Committee
March 19, 2009
Page 5
Representative Thissen laid the bill over.
HF1219 (Kahn) Health insurance benefit availability required for domestic partners of state employees if they are also made available to spouses
Representative Thissen moved that HF1219 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance
Providing testimony on the bill:
Russ Stanton, Inter Faculty Organization
Sara Ford, Minnesota State College Faculty
Monica Meyer, Public Policy Director, OutFront Minnesota
Barbara Bradford, Member, Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
Representative Thissen renewed his motion that HF1219 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1345 (Abeler) Claims processing practices by third-party administrators of health coverage plans prohibited, health claims clearinghouses regulated, and insurer audits of health claims payments time limit provided
Representative Abeler moved that HF1345 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor
Representative Abeler moved the
H1345A3 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Abeler renewed his motion that HF1345, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF454 (E. Murphy) Deceased person disposition provisions modified
Representative Murphy moved that HF454 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Civil Justice.
Providing testimony on the bill:
Laura Smidzik, Executive Director, Project 515
Tim Reardon, Project 515
Representative Murphy moved the
A09-0174 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Murphy renewed her motion that HF454, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Civil Justice. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Thissen moved that HF1345, as amended, be reconsidered. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Abeler moved that HF1345, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Representative Abeler moved to amend HF1345, as amended, as follows:
Page 4, line 17, delete "contracts with the clearinghouse."
THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Health Care and Human Services
Policy and Oversight Committee
March 19, 2009
Page 6
Representative Abeler renewed his motion that HF1345, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1482 (Thissen) Medical assistance claims and liens provisions modified
Representative Thissen moved that HF1482 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Civil Justice
Providing testimony on the bill:
Laura Smidzik, Executive Director, Project 515
Representative Thissen laid the bill over.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
Rep. Paul Thissen, CHAIR
Urszula Gryska
Committee Legislative Assistant