MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE

25 House Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 9, 2015


Members Present:                Rep. Kay L. McIff, Chair

                                                Rep. Robert M. Spendlove, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Stewart E. Barlow

                                                Rep. Melvin R. Brown

                                                Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck

                                                Rep. Craig Hall

                                                Rep. Sandra Hollins

                                                Rep. Michael S. Kennedy

                                                Rep. Paul Ray

                                                Rep. Edward H. Redd

                                                Rep. Norman J. Thurston

                                                Rep. Raymond P. Ward


Staff Present:                        Mr. Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst

                                                Ms. Linda Black, House Secretary


Note:           A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes


Chair McIff called the meeting to order at 3:55 p.m.

 

MOTON:       Rep. Kennedy moved to approve the minutes of February 5, 2015. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Barlow, Rep. Ray, and Rep. Thurston absent for the vote.

 

H.B. 237         Vision Screening Amendments (Rep. M. Brown)


Rep. Brown explained H.B. 237 to the committee with the assistance of Bill Gibson, Director, Division of Services for the Blind, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Bonnie T. Johnson, Lions Club

 

MOTION:     Rep. Hall moved to amend the bill as follows:

 

1.    Page 3, Lines 75 through 85:   

 

75   (7) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b), a licensed health professional

76providing vision care to private patients may not participate as a screener in a free vision

77screening program provided by a school district.

78   (b) A school district or charter school may:

79   (i) allow a licensed health professional who provides vision care to private patients to

80participate as a screener in a free vision screening program for a child {  nine  }  3-1/2  years [of age] old or

81older;

82   (ii) establish guidelines to administer a free vision screening program described in

83Subsection (7)(b)(i); and

84   (iii) establish penalties for a violation of the requirements of Subsection (7)(c).

85   (c) A licensed health professional or other person who participates as a screener in a

The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Ray moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Ray moved to place H.B. 237 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

 

1st Sub. S.B. 61         Medicaid Audit Amendments (Sen. L. Hillyard)

 

Sen. Hillyard explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Michelle McOmber, CEO, Utah Medical Association

 

Spoke to the bill:        Michael Hales, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Health

Jeremy Gorenstein, Health Management Systems

 

MOTION:     Rep. Thurston moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Chavez-Houck voting in opposition. Rep. Ray was absent for the vote.

 

H.B. 199         Pilot Program for Assistance for Children with Disabilities and Complex Medical Conditions (Rep. E. Redd)

 

Rep. Redd explained the bill to the committee and provided a handout, "Talking Points - H. B. 199."

 

Spoke to the bill:        Michael Hales, Deputy Director, Department of Health

 

Spoke for the bill:       Emilee Wagner, parent (handout)

                                   Tristin West, parent (handout)

                                   Jennifer Adams (handout)

 

MOTION:     Rep. Thurston moved to replace H.B. 199 with 1st Substitute H. B. 199, "Pilot Program for Assistance for Children with Disabilities and Complex Medical Conditions." The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Spendlove moved to pass the bill out favorably as substituted. The motion passed unanimously.

 

1st Sub. H.B. 94        Investigational Drug and Device Access for Terminally Ill Patients

(Rep. G. Froerer)

 

Rep. Froerer explained 2nd Substitute H.B. 94 to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Jonathan Johnson, Promote Liberty

Representative Eric Hutchings, District 38

Commissioner Stan Summers, Box Elder County (handout)

Christina Casanova, parent (handout)

                                   Kathleen Kaufmann, Utah Nurses Association

                                   Chris Sloan

 

MOTION:     Rep. Hall moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 94 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 94, "Investigational Drug and Device Access for Terminally Ill Patients". The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Redd moved to amend the bill.

 

1.    Page 9, Lines 257 through 263:      

 

257 (2) A physician, {  medical practitioner assisting the physician  }  other licensed health care providers  , or hospital that treats an

258eligible patient with an investigational drug or investigational device under this chapter may

259not, for any harm done to the eligible patient by the investigational drug or device, be subject

260to:

261 (a) civil liability;

262 (b) criminal liability;

263 (c) licensure sanctions under:

SUBSTITUTE

MOTION:     Rep Ray moved to pass the bill out favorably as substituted. The motion passed unanimously.

 

1st Sub. S.B. 76         Rural Physician Loan Repayment Program (Sen. D. Hinkins)

 

Sen. Hinkins explained 1st Substitute S.B. 76 to the committee with the assistance of Dave Gessell, representing Utah Hospital Association.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Barlow moved to amend the bill as follows:

 

1.    Page 4, Lines 103 through 107:      

 

103 (1) There is created the Rural Physician Loan Repayment Program Advisory

104Committee consisting of the following {  seven  }  eight  members appointed by the executive director:

105 (a) two legislators whose districts include rural counties; and

106 (b) five administrators of rural hospitals nominated by an association representing Utah

107hospitals, no more than two of whom are employed by hospitals affiliated by ownership  ; and

       (c) a physician currently practicing in a rural county  .

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Ward moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

 

S.B. 19            Digital Health Services Commission (Sen. B. Shiozawa)

 

Sen. Shiozawa explained S.B. 19 to the committee.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Barlow moved to pass S.B. 19 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Barlow moved to place S.B. 19 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:     Rep. Barlow moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Chair McIff adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.

 

 

 

_____________________________________

Kay McIff, Chair