MINUTES OF THE
SOCIAL SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 5, 2019 • 7:59 a.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Sen. Allen M. Christensen, Senate Chair
Rep. Paul Ray, House Chair
Rep. Raymond P. Ward, House Vice Chair
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore
Sen. Todd Weiler
Rep. Kim F. Coleman
Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost
Rep. Brad M. Daw
Rep. Sandra Hollins
Rep. Marsha Judkins
Rep. Adam Robertson
Rep. Travis M. Seegmiller
Rep. Norman K. Thurston

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. Daniel Hemmert

Staff Present:
Mr. Russell T. Frandsen, Fiscal Analyst
Ms. Clare Tobin Lence, Fiscal Analyst
Ms. Maddy Oritt, Fiscal Analyst
Ms. An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

1. Call to Order
2. Public Input on Topics on
Dr. Kurt Rifleman, Medical Director, Mid-town Community Health Center, spoke in favor of Department of Health (DOH) Workforce Financial Assistance.
Dr. Andrew Garrison, Medical Director, Community Health Center, spoke in favor of DOH Workforce Financial Assistance.
Mr. Alan Pruhs, Executive Director, Association for Utah Community Health, spoke in favor of DOH Workforce Financial Assistance.
Dr. Sarah Cordingley, Pediatric Audiologist, Let Utah Children Hear, spoke in support of the CHAP Program.
Mr. Jeff Davis, parent, Let Utah Children Hear, spoke in support of the CHAP Program.
3. Dental Expenses Incurred by Medicaid Clients in Nursing
5b-NCSL - Dental expenses incurred by Medicaid clients in nursing homes - how do other Medicaid programs address this
Ms. Emma Chacon, Operations Director, Division of Medicaid and Health Financing, DOH, explained funding for dental services provided to nursing home clients.
4. Improvements in Speed of Disability Determinations
Mr. Jeff Nelson, Director, Bureau of Medicaid Eligibility Policy, DOH, explained the improvements to the committee's performance.
Rep. Judkins asked what the impact will be due to Medicaid expansion and Mr. Nelson responded.
5. Review of Department of Health's Medicaid
Mr. Russell Frandsen, Fiscal Analyst, Office of Legislative Fiscal Analyst (LFA), explained the Medicaid Sanctions Budget and possible motions for the committee's consideration.
Rep. Judkins asked for guidance in finding document links and Mr. Frandsen responded.
6. Results of Contract with Dental Lifeline Network
8-Dental Lifeline Network - Utah - Annual Report
Dr. Laurence Palmer, DDS, Chairman of Utah Leadership Council, introduced himself and Hollie Stevenson, J.D., Vice President of Affiliate and Government Relations, Dental Lifeline Network. She explained the program and provided "Dental Lifeline Network Annual Report" and "About Dental Lifeline Network".
8b-Dental Lifeline Network UT Presentation February 5, 2018
Chair Christensen asked how clients are referred to Dental Lifeline Network and what are the qualifications for receiving the service and Ms. Stevenson responded.
7. Requests for Appropriation - Health (agency only)
9-DFHP Building Blocks
Mr. Frandsen explained the report and reviewed funding provided by the legislature for various programs during 2018.
9d-Medical Cannabis Building Block Itemized Budget
9d1-Medical Cannabis Appropriations
Dr. Joe Miner, Executive Director, DOH, talked about the department's efforts to provide medical cannabis to those with qualified medical conditions and through qualified medical providers.
Chair Christensen asked if there are requests for medical cannabis and Dr. Miner responded.
Rep. Ray asked about guidelines for types of medical cannabis and Dr. Miner responded.
Rep. Thurston asked about impaired driving laws and if having a medical cannabis card allowed for driving while using cannabis and Dr. Miner responded.
Mr. Rich Oborn, Director, Center for Medical Cannabis, DOH, explained the elements of the program and provided the following documents:
9d1-Medical Cannabis Appropriations
9d2-Medical Cannabis Card Process Overview
9d3. Medical Cannabis Fact Sheet.FinalPaperVersion
9d4-UMCA Overview Final
Rep. Daw asked for information about the education provided to pharmacists and claims made for conditions helped by medical cannabis. Mr. Oborn responded.
Dr. Marc Babitz, Deputy Director, DOH, provided more information about the education provided to pharmacists.
Rep. Seegmiller asked about training regarding interactions between multiple prescriptions and cannabis and Mr. Oborn responded.
Chair Christensen gave his input on who is responsible for knowing about interactions between multiple prescriptions and medical cannabis and Dr. Babitz gave more information, suggesting dosages should start low and go slow.
Rep. Hollins thanked the department for its work and asked for more clarification about medical providers. Dr. Babitz responded.
Mr. Oborn continued with his presentation.
Rep. Dailey-Provost asked for information about the cost of the center's website and Mr. Oborn responded.
Rep. Robertson asked for additional information regarding the budget requests and Mr. Oborn responded.
Chair Christensen asked for information about anticipated income streams and Mr. Oborn responded.
Dr. Joe Miner, Executive Director, DOH, presented the following Building Block requests:
9f-CHAP BBItemized Budgets - January 2019
9e-HCWFA BB Itemized Budget
Dr. Babitz commented on funding sources for HCWFA.
Mr. Paul Patrick, Director, Division of Family Health and Preparedness, DOH, talked about the shortage of physicians in rural areas.
Chair Christensen asked for information about attracting rural health care providers and Mr. Patrick and Dr. Babitz responded.
Rep. Dailey-Provost added information about the importance of rural health care providers.
Dr. Babitz clarified funding options for funding rural physicians and clinics.
Mr. Patrick thanked the committee for their work.
Mr. Gary Edwards, Executive Director, Salt Lake County Health Department, discussed funding to local health departments, and provided "Local Public Health Funding Trend.".
Mr. Lloyd Berentzen, Executive Director, Bear River Health Department, discussed funding to local health departments and the need to have the resources to respond quickly to outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Chair Christensen asked about the amount of the funding request and Mr. Berentzen responded.
Rep. Robertson asked for clarification of funds provided by counties to their own health departments and Mr. Berentzen responded.
Rep. Judkins asked for clarification regarding the distribution of funds and Mr. Edwards responded.
Dr. Miner provided additional information about the need for the block grant.
Chair Christensen thanked Mr. Berentzen and Mr. Edwards for their work.
8. Department of Health's Primary Care Workforce Financial Assistance Base
Mr. Frandsen explained possible motions for the committee to consider and also explained possible budget reductions.
Dr. Babitz commented on the proposed cuts.
Chair Christensen asked for additional information regarding programs completely using all funds provided by the legislature and Dr. Babitz responded.
9. Follow Up on A Performance Audit of the Division of Family Health
Mr. Patrick discussed the division's efforts to address the audit's recommendations.
11a-Implementation Status Report FHP - CRB Jan 2019
11b-Implementation Status Report FHP - CRB Nov 2018
11c-FHP Strategic Plan 1-31-2019 - CRB Reduced
Mr. Frandsen reviewed possible motions for the committee to consider.
House Vice Chair Ward moved to approve all BE, BH, BF, BK, and BL motions from the sheet entitled "Social Services Subcommittee - Motions for Subcommittee Consideration" dated 1/25/2019.
House Vice Chair Ward's motion passed with a vote 10-0-7.
Yeas - 10Nays-0Abs-7
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. J. Dailey-Provost
Rep. B. Daw
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. M. Judkins
Rep. T. Seegmiller
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. R. Ward
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. J. Adams
Rep. K. Coleman
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hemmert
Rep. P. Ray
Rep. A. Robertson
MOTION: Sen. Cullimore moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-7.
Yeas - 10Nays-0Abs-7
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. J. Dailey-Provost
Rep. B. Daw
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. M. Judkins
Rep. T. Seegmiller
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. R. Ward
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. J. Adams
Rep. K. Coleman
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hemmert
Rep. P. Ray
Rep. A. Robertson
Senate Chair Christensen adjourned the meeting 10:39 a.m.