ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

Fifty-first Legislature – First Regular Session

 

SPECIAL JOINT MEETING

 OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND

 HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

 

Minutes of Special Joint Meeting

November 20, 2013

9:00 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 1

 

 

Members Present

Senator Bradley

Representative Brophy McGee

Senator Burges

Representative Gonzales

Senator Hobbs

Representative Lovas

Senator Yee

Representative Meyer

Senator Ward, Vice-Chairman

Representative Steele

Senator Barto, Chairman

Representative Townsend

 

Representative Carter, Chairman

 

 

 

Members Absent

Senator Lopez

Representative Boyer, Vice-Chairman

 

 

Staff

Marianne Yamnik, Senate Research Analyst

Ingrid Garvey, House Research Analyst

Ryan Sullivan, House Assistant Research Analyst

 

 

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Arizona State Ombudsman

            Dennis Wells, Arizona State Ombudsman

            Kate Otting, Investigator and Assistant Ombudsman

           

Arizona Medical Board

            Pat McSorley – Arizona Medical Board Interim Director          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senator Barto called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m. and attendance was taken.

 

OPENING REMARKS

 

Senator Barto gave opening remarks regarding the goals of the Committee.

 

Representative Carter gave opening remarks and stated the Committee would receive comments and suggestions relating to recommended statutory changes for oversight of the Medical Board.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Arizona State Ombudsman Report on the Arizona Medical Board (Case #1202725)

 

Dennis Wells, Arizona State Ombudsman, introduced Joanne MacDonnell, Deputy Ombudsman and Kate Otting, Investigator and Assistant Ombudsman.  Mr. Wells distributed a handout entitled “Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide Office (Attachment A) and an Executive Summary entitled “Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide – Report of Investigation, Arizona Medical Board, Case #1202725” (Attachment B).  Mr. Wells gave a powerpoint presentation.

 

MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Representative Meyer moved to go into Executive Session for legal advice pertaining to the issues being discussed. Representative Brophy McGee seconded the motion.  The motion CARRIED with a voice vote.

 

RECESS

 

At 9:48 a.m. the Committee recessed for executive session.

 

RECONVENE

 

Senator Barto reconvened the Committee at 9:56 a.m. stating the convening of an executive session was out of order.

 

RECESS

 

Senator Barto recessed the Committee at 9:56 a.m.

 

RECONVENE

 

Senator Barto reconvened the Committee at 10:40 a.m.

 

Mr. Wells answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Kate Otting, Investigator, Assistant Arizona Ombudsman, answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Mr. Wells further answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Ms. Otting further answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Debra K. Davenport, Arizona Auditor General, gave an overview of the Auditor General’s Office and answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Arizona Medical Board

 

Pat McSorley, Arizona Medical Board, Interim Director, introduced Dr. Gordi S. Khera,      Chairman, Arizona Medical Board.

 

Dr. Gordi S. Khera, Cardiologist, Chairman, Arizona Medical Board, explained the makeup of the Arizona Medical Board and discussed the results of the Ombudsman report released on           October 20, 2013. Dr. Khera answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Pat McSorley, Arizona Medical Board, Interim Director, responded to the Ombudsman report and answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Celina Shepherd, Manager, Arizona Medical Board Licensing Division, answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Dr. Khera further answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Kate Otting, Investigator, Assistant Ombudsman, further answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Dr. Khera further answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Ms. Shepherd further answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Ms. McSorley further answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Senator Barto stated that the e-mails sent to her with suggestions regarding the Medical Board would be entered into the public record (Attachment C).

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:26 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Toy Brown

Committee Secretary

 

(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azsenate.gov)

 

 

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Special Joint Meeting

Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

and House Committee on Health

November 20, 2013

            2         

 

 

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