STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTY-THIRD 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-third meeting to order at 8:24 a.m. on Friday, March 10, 2006 in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The Clerk noted the roll.
Members present:
BRADLEY, Fran, Chair
FINSTAD, Brad, Vice Chair PEPPIN, Joyce
ABELER, Jim POWELL, Duke
DEAN, Matt SAMUELSON, Char
EMMER, Tom THAO, Cy
GOODWIN, Barb THISSEN, Paul
HUNTLEY, Tom WALKER, Neva
OTREMBA, Mary Ellen WILKIN, Tim
Members excused: EKEN, Kent
A quorum was present.
Rep. Bradley announced the Committee members are invited to a tour of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Department of Health new building on Monday evening, March 13, 2006.
HF3097 (Walker) Fee-for-service health care delivery expanded under medical assistance, general assistance, and MinnesotaCare; and delivery of services to state health care program enrollees by prepaid health plans eliminated.
Rep. Walker moved HF 3097 be recommended to pass.
Proponents and opponents were given 20 minutes each to testify on HF3097.
Testifying in support of the bill:
Kip Sullivan, Universal Health Care Coalition
Bob Salisbury, Greater MN Health Care Coalition
Testifying in opposition to the bill:
Kevin Goodno, Commissioner, MN Department of Human Services
Julie Brunner, Executive Director, MN Council of Health Plans
Mr. David Johnson, CEO, Metropolitan Health Plan
Ms. Ghita Worcester, VP of Public Affairs and Development, UCare Minnesota
Rep. Walker moved to amend HF 3097 (See Amendment H3097A2 attached).
Randall Chun, House Research Analyst, gave a brief explanation of the amendment.
A vote was taken on Amendment H3097A2. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Rep. Walker moved to amend HF 3097 as follows:
Page 2, delete lines 2.4-2.12
Page 2, lines 2.24 and 2.25, after "programs" delete “and to eliminate the use of prior
authorization and other utilization controls"
Testifying to the amendment:
Kip Sullivan, Universal Health Care Coalition
A vote was taken on Rep. Walker's oral amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in response to members questions:
Kevin Goodno, Commissioner, MN Department of Human Services
Randall Chun, House Research Analyst, responded to members' questions.
Rep. Peppin requested a Roll Call vote.
Rep. Walker requested the bill be tabled.
Rep. Walker withdrew the bill. Therefore, no vote was taken on HF 3097.
At 9:50 a.m., the Chair called a ten-minute recess.
The Chair reconvened the meeting at 10:05 a.m.
HF3106 (Walker) Universal health care system provided, preventive care
focus required, comprehensive benefits and cost reduction provided, and constitutional amendment proposed.
Rep. Walker withdrew HF 3106.
After discussion by the committee, the Chair announced that testimony would be taken on the subject of universal health care.
Proponents and opponents were given 30 minutes each to testify on HF3106.
Testifying in opposition to the bill:
Stanley Kurisko, MD, Eden Prairie, Radiologist
Peter Boosalis, MD, Stillwater, Anesthesiologist
Toby Pearson, Catholic Health Association, St. Paul
Testifying in support of the bill:
John Schwarz, Director, United Health System, St. Paul
Testifying in opposition to the bill:
Erin Sexton, MN Chamber of Commerce
Beth Hartwig, MN Business Partnership
Twila Brase, R.N., Citizens' Council on Health Care
The Chair called a short recess at 12:26 p.m. The Chair reconvened the meeting at 12:44 p.m.
HF2691 (Sieben) State health coverage offered to individuals and small
employers at their own expense, and MinnesotaCare coverage offered at full cost.
Rep. Bradley moved HF 2691 be recommended to pass.
Rep. Sieben and Rep. Huntley presented HF 2691.
Rep. Huntley moved to amend HF 2691 (see Amendment H2691A1 attached). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Rep. Huntley moved to amend HF 2691 (see Amendment H2691A2 attached).
Rep. Huntley briefly explained the amendment. A vote was taken on Amendment H2691A2. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Proponents and opponents were given 20 minutes each to testify on HF2691.
Testifying in support the bill:
Steve Fox, Emily's Bakery, Hastings
Tom Austin, Minneapolis
Joel Albers, Pharmacist, MN Universal Health Care Action Network, Minneapolis
Testifying in opposition to the bill:
Erin Sexton, MN Chamber of Commerce
Brian Osberg, Assistant Commissioner, DHS
Liz Houlding, Manager of SEGIP, DOER
Geoff Bartsch, HealthPartners
Rep. Goodwin requested a Roll Call vote.
ROLL CALL VOTE ON HF 2691, AS AMENDED
___YES___ _________NO_______________
Goodwin Bradley Peppin
Huntley Finstad Powell
Otremba Abeler Samuelson
Thao Dean Wilkin
Walker Emmer
There being 5 yes votes and 9 no votes, the motion did not prevail.
HF2573 (Mullery) Fair Share Health Care Act adopted, fund established, employer payments required, and criminal penalties imposed.
Rep. Bradley moved HF 2573 be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce & Financial Institutions.
Rep. Mullery presented HF 2573.
Rep. Bradley moved to amend HF 2573 (see Rep. Mullery's oral amendment on page 4) as follows:
Pg. 4, line 4.13, after “of a" insert “gross"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Proponents and opponents were given 20 minutes each to testify on HF2573.
Testifying in support of the bill:
Brad Lehto, Legislative Director, MN AFL-CIO
Bernie Hess, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 789
Rick Varka, Service Employees International Union Local 113
Testifying in opposition to the bill:
Buzz Anderson, MN Retail Merchants Association
Beth Hartwig, MN Business Partnership
Erin Sexton, MN Chamber of Commerce
Twila Brase, R.N., Citizens' Council on Health Care
Randall Chun, House Research Analyst, spoke to clarify language in the bill.
Rep. Bradley renewed his motion that HF 2573, as amended, be recommended to pass and be rereferred to the Committee on Commerce and Financial Institutions.
Rep. Wilkin requested a Roll Call vote.
ROLL CALL VOTE ON HF 2573, AS AMENDED
___YES____________ _________NO_______________
Goodwin Thao Bradley Powell
Huntley Walker Dean Samuelson
Otremba Emmer Wilkin
There being 5 yes votes and 6 no votes, the motion did not prevail.
The next meeting of the Health Policy and Finance Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2006, at 10:15 a.m. in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
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Rep. Fran Bradley, Chairman
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Cheryl Burke, Committee Legislative Assistant