STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FOURTH 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 4, 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.
Representative Fritz moved that the minutes of March 4, 2009 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF384 (Thissen) Technology standards and tools developed to exchange information electronically between groups, and benefit assignment for health and medical savings accounts required
Representative Thissen brought HF384 up for consideration.
Representative Thissen moved to amend HF384 as follows:
Page 2, delete Section 2.
THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Thissen moved that HF384 be laid on the table. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF286 (Clark) Acupuncture equal access provided and services required by certain group policies and subscriber contracts, Edith R. Davis memorial provided, claim determinations required regarding acupuncture services made or reviewed by acupuncture practitioners, and acupuncture referral reporting required to acupuncture practitioners and reimbursement rates
Representative Thissen moved that HF286 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Providing testimony in support of the bill:
Kimberly Fritz, President, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association of Minnesota
Charles Sawyer, Vice President, Northwestern Health Science University
Michael Green, M.D.
Providing testimony in opposition to the bill:
Health Care and Human Services
Policy and Oversight Committee
March 5, 2009
Page 2
Dannette Coleman, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations, Medica, Minnesota Council of Health Plans
Mike Hickey, State Director, National Federation of Independent Business
Representative Thissen renewed his motion that HF286 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF705 (Loeffler) Preventive health care promoted by requiring high deductible health plans used with a health savings account to cover preventive care with no deductible as permitted by federal law
Representative Loeffler moved that HF705 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Providing testimony on the bill:
David Arons, Director, Government Relations, American Cancer Society
Dave Renner, Director, State & Federal Legislation, Minnesota Medical Association
Providing testimony in opposition to the bill:
Phil Griffin, Minnesota Council of Health Plans
Mike Hickey, State Director, National Federation of Independent Business
Tom Hesse, Vice President, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Twila Brase, President, Citizens' Council on Health Care
Maggy Kottman
Robert W. Geist, M.D.
Representative Loeffler renewed her motion that HF705 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 P.M.
Rep. Paul Thissen, CHAIR
Urszula Gryska
Committee Legislative Assistant