ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON IMPACTS OF FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM IMPLEMENTATION
Minutes of the Meeting
Thursday, November 18, 2010
9:30 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 1
Members Present:
|
Senator Sylvia Allen, Co-Chair |
Chris Rohrer |
|
Senator John Nelson, Co-Chair |
Byron Schlomach |
|
Don Hughes |
Dr. Bruce Shelton |
Members Absent:
Bridget Gollogly
Dr. Lynne Pirie
Staff:
Eden Rolland, Senate Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee Analyst
Co-Chairman Nelson called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m. and attendance was noted.
PRESENTATIONS
Impact of Federal Health Care Reform on Behavioral Health
Kim VanPelt, St. Luke's Health Initiatives, distributed "Behavioral Health and Healthcare Reform" (Attachment A), discussed the following points and answered questions posed by the committee:
· Need for behavioral health services
· Expand health coverage
· Better access to private insurance
· More people eligible for AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System)
· Enhance coverage of behavioral health services
· Opportunities to expand the workforce
· Opportunities to improve quality and integrate services
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Emily Jenkins, President, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, discussed the following points and answered questions posed by the committee:
· Title XIX funding
· Integration of physical and mental health care
· Private health insurance
· Electronic medical records
· Inefficiencies
· Workforce shortages
Impact of Federal Health Care Reform on Hospitals
Debbie Johnston, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, discussed the following points and answered questions posed by the committee:
· Medicare payment cuts
· Delivery system reforms
· Oversight to prevent fraud and abuse
· Hospital cuts, current and future
· Inefficiencies and quality vs. quantity
Federal Health Care Reform Provisions Relating to Primary and Preventive Care
Tara Plese, Arizona Association of Community Health Centers, distributed "Members, Arizona Association of Community Health Centers, November 2010" (Attachment B), discussed the following points and answered questions posed by the committee:
· Expanded network of health centers
· Not-for-profit community health centers
· Medical homes
· Provisions for workforce
· Alternative health care centers
· Challenges
Impact of Federal Health Care Reform on Ambulance Service
Jim Broome, President, Arrowhead Mobile Health Care, distributed "The Effect of Federal Health Care Reform on the Arizona Ambulance Industry" (Attachment C), discussed the following points and answered questions posed by the committee:
· Four main areas of industry
· Increase in employee health care premiums
· Medicare payment cuts
· Reimbursement for illegal immigrants
· AHCCCS not paying for non-emergency medical transport
· Who sets rates and how often rates are reviewed
Update on Goldwater Institute Lawsuit and Presentation on the Independent Payment Advisory Board
Nick Dranias, The Goldwater Institute, discussed the following points and answered questions posed by the committee:
Attached is a list noting the individuals who registered their position on the presentations (Attachment D).
Senator Allen stated that the committee would submit the committee minutes to the Arizona Congressional delegation and Governor Jan Brewer. She stated a memorial would be introduced on the subject.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Shelley Ponce
Committee Secretary
(Audio recordings and attachments on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)
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SENATE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON
IMPACTS OF FEDERAL HEALTH CARE
REFORM IMPLEMENTATION
November 18, 2010
Page 1
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