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Wyoming 2008 Legislative Budget Session Health Care Issues Report #1 2/13/08 Wendy H. Lowe 643 East 3rd Street Casper, Wyoming 82601 307-267-6218
A bill that would ban smoking in public places state wide, H.B. 87, is pending introduction, while the sponsors try to garner enough votes. A two-thirds vote during a budget session is necessary to introduce the bill. As of this report, they believe they have 38 votes. Under the proposal bars would be exempt until January 1, 2009. I spoke with one of the sponsors Rep. Lori Millin and she vowed to sponsor the bill at the 2009 General Legislative session, should it not gain introduction this year.
The bill that would extend the payment program to hospitals for unreimbursed trauma care is also pending introduction. This applies to hospitals such as Wyoming Medical Center. The proposal to increase the beer tax to fund substance abuse programs is also pending introduction.
If you email legislators always be polite and professional and offer to provide relevant information, E-Mail Your Legislator. I have listed a wide variety of health care related bills with which I think you may have an interest. To view the bill use control plus click on the blue highlighted title. A total bill listing can be viewed by going to 2008 Bill Information.
BILLS OF INTEREST FILED TO DATE
H.B. No. 0002 Alcohol taxes to treat substance abuse. Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services AN ACT relating to taxation and public health; increasing a tax on alcohol; providing for earmarking of funds for substance abuse programs; appropriating funds and providing for future budgeting of earmarked funds; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0013 Psychologist licensure. Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services AN ACT relating to the Wyoming state board of psychology; amending the psychologists licensing act; providing for application of licensing act; removing separate licensing requirements related to school psychologists; revising the composition of the state board of psychology as specified; providing for issuance of temporary licenses to practice psychology as specified; revising the grounds and evidentiary standard for disciplinary actions as specified; authorizing the state board to employ specified personnel; amending and adding definitions; and providing for an effective date. IN HOUSE LABOR COMMITTEE
H.B. No. 0031 Medical safety event reporting. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to public health and safety; authorizing the department of health to define safety events for purposes of mandatory reporting by health care facilities as specified; granting rulemaking authority; repealing a list of reportable safety events; and providing for an effective date. IN HOUSE LABOR COMMITTEE
H.B. No. 0035 Underage drinking. Sponsored by: GINGERY AN ACT relating to alcohol; creating an offense for persons under age twenty-one (21) years who attempt or gain admittance to liquor dispensing rooms or drive-in liquor areas as specified; expanding offenses for persons under the age of twenty-one (21) years who possess or consume alcohol; providing penalties; providing for prima facie evidence; providing a definition; limiting possession or consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of twenty-one (21) years in the presence of a parent or guardian as specified; and providing for an effective date. FAILED INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0038 Medicaid-provider reimbursements. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to Medicaid; providing for regular revision of provider reimbursement schedules as specified; and providing for an effective date. APPROVED BY HOUSE LABOR COMMITTEE ON HOUSE GENERAL FILE
H.B. No. 0041 Cigarette wholesalers. Sponsored by: LANDON AN ACT relating to taxation and revenue; amending the discount of cigarette stamps sold to wholesalers as specified; and providing for an effective date. IN HOUSE REVENUE COMMITTEE
H.B. No. 0043 Penalties for domestic violence. Sponsored by: BERGER AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; increasing penalties for domestic violence offenses as specified; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0047 Long term care access. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to the Wyoming Long Term Care Choices Act; authorizing a statewide network of aging and disability resource centers as specified; granting rulemaking authority; authorizing amendments to the state Medicaid plan; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date. FAILED INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0052 Developmental programs-cost based reimbursements. Sponsored by: Select Committee on Developmental Programs AN ACT relating to Medicaid; authorizing a cost based payment system for providers of services and supplies under home and community based waiver programs for persons with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injury; granting rulemaking authority; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date. IN HOUSE LABOR COMMITTEE
H.B. No. 0058 Safety belt violations. Sponsored by: IEKEL AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; removing restriction on stopping motor vehicles solely for safety belt violations; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0070 Distracted driving. Sponsored by: ESQUIBEL,F AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; prohibiting the use of wireless communications devices by specified licensees while driving; providing exceptions; providing definitions; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
Sponsored by: MERCER AN ACT relating to driving while under the influence; amending penalties for driving while under the influence as specified; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0082 Trauma care services. Sponsored by: LOCKHART AN ACT relating to medical care; extending payment program to hospitals for unreimbursed trauma care as specified; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0087 Smoke free-enclosed public places. Sponsored by: MILLIN AN ACT relating to public health and safety; prohibiting smoking in enclosed public places as specified; requiring posting of public notices; providing definitions; providing exceptions; granting rulemaking authority; providing penalties; authorizing local regulation; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0093 Universal health insurance. Sponsored by: ESQUIBEL,F AN ACT relating to public health and insurance; providing for Wyoming health care commission to solicit and review proposals for expanded health insurance coverage as specified; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date. PRNDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0094 Use of wireless communications devices while driving. Sponsored by: ESQUIBEL,F AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; prohibiting the use of wireless communications devices while driving; providing exceptions; providing definitions; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0095 Costs of emergency detention and hospitalization. Sponsored by: WARREN AN ACT relating to emergency detention costs; limiting authority to seek recovery of costs from patients as specified; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0098 Speech pathologists licensing. Sponsored by: ESQUIBEL,K AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; amending the licensing act for speech pathologists and audiologists; making the act applicable to persons practicing through telephonic or other remote means; amending educational requirements for licenses as specified; repealing obsolete provisions; repealing authorization for temporary unlicensed practice; providing for a provisional license; amending license renewal requirements; amending maximum fines for violations; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0127 Prescription drugs-physician shopping. Sponsored by: SIMPSON AN ACT relating to controlled substances; amending the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971 to further specify illegal means of obtaining and dispensing controlled substances or obtaining prescriptions for controlled substances; amending penalties; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0138 Denturists licensing board. Sponsored by: QUARBERG AN ACT relating to the licensure of denturists; creating a board of denturists; regulating the practice of denturism; providing for licensing, fees, examinations and other regulation of denturists; repealing prohibition on soliciting for denturism services; providing criminal penalties for violations of denturist act; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0140 Optional alcoholic beverage tax. Sponsored by: PHILP AN ACT relating to taxation and revenue; providing for the optional imposition of an excise tax on liquor as specified; providing for procedures; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0144 Speech pathologists-national certification. Sponsored by: MEYER AN ACT relating to education, providing reimbursement for speech pathologists who obtain national certification; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0155 Recruitment of physicians and dentists. Sponsored by: LUBNAU AN ACT relating to health care services; providing a grant program for physician recruitment; providing grant eligibility and payment conditions; granting rulemaking authority; repealing a local matching funds requirement for the physician and dentist loan repayment program; providing appropriations; authorizing a position; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
H.B. No. 0172 Homicide during pregnancy. Sponsored by: HARSHMAN AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; establishing the offense of involuntary termination of pregnancy; imposing a penalty; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0006 Costs for emergency detentions-limitations. Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services AN ACT relating to hospitalization of mentally ill persons; limiting the costs that a county or the state may be required to pay for persons detained to determine whether the person is mentally ill and in need of involuntary hospitalization; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0010 Mental health and substance abuse appropriations. Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services AN ACT relating to mental health and substance abuse appropriations; providing appropriations as specified; specifying conditions; continuing a study of mental health and substance abuse services delivery systems; and providing for effective dates. IN SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0013 Mental Health Professions Practice Act-amendments. Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services AN ACT relating to the Mental Health Professions Practice Act; modifying certification and provisional licensing requirements; clarifying licensure and certification reciprocity; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0014 Small employer health insurance. Sponsored by: CASE AN ACT relating to the small employer health insurance availability act; limiting applicability of the act based upon employer payment of premiums; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE MINERALS COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0024 Health insurance-clinical trials. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to insurance; requiring coverage in health insurance policies and certificates for routine care related to the insured's participation in a clinical trial or study as specified; providing exceptions; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0031 Domestic violence counseling period. Sponsored by: HASTERT AN ACT relating to domestic violence; amending the time period a respondent in a domestic violence incident may be required to participate in counseling or other appropriate treatment; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0034 State health and social welfare institutions. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to the administration of government; providing for a study of the state's health and social welfare institutions; creating a select legislative committee on state institutions; creating a governor's planning committee on state institutions; prescribing duties of the committees; requiring reports; authorizing temporary positions; providing appropriations; providing for a delayed repeal date; and providing for an effective date. FAILED INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0035 Physician and dentist recruitment. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to health care services; providing a grant program for physician recruitment; providing grant eligibility and payment conditions; granting rulemaking authority; repealing a local matching funds requirement for the physician and dentist loan repayment program; providing appropriations; authorizing a position; and providing for an effective date. FAILED INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0036 Public health emergencies-volunteers. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to public health and safety; providing immunity from liability for volunteer health care providers without active licenses as specified; providing for temporary health care provider licensure during a public health emergency; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0057 Hospitals-participation in state retirement. Sponsored by: ANDERSON,J AN ACT relating to the Wyoming retirement system; allowing employees of county memorial hospitals and special hospital districts to participate in the retirement system; prohibiting participation in multiple retirement programs as specified; amending a definition; conditioning implementation upon receipt of required payments; providing for funding; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0059 DUI-mandatory hold upon arrest. Sponsored by: LANDEN AN ACT relating to driving under the influence; requiring a person suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol to be arrested and detained as specified; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0062 Emergency medical technicians. Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee AN ACT relating to emergency medical technicians; creating a volunteer emergency medical technician pension fund as specified; providing for administration; providing for training of ambulance attendants and physician medical directors; granting rulemaking authority; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date. IN SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
S.F. No. 0072 Hospitalization of mentally ill-amendments. Sponsored by: COOPER AN ACT relating to the mentally ill; amending immunity provisions for specified personnel who deal with persons in emergency detention; amending a definition; requiring that specified rules of the Wyoming state hospital be adopted in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act; authorizing specified licensed practitioners to review findings of an examiner, when indicated; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0073 Restroom access-medical conditions. Sponsored by: BEBOUT AN ACT relating to public health and safety; creating the restroom facility access card program as specified; granting card holders access to restroom facilities in all retail businesses as specified; granting rulemaking authority; providing a penalty; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0074 Traditional birth care. Sponsored by: JOHNSON AN ACT relating to the Medical Practice Act; providing an exemption from the Medical Practice Act for the practice of midwifery; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0078 Prescription drug practices. Sponsored by: MOCKLER AN ACT relating to prescription drug practices; creating a fiduciary duty for pharmacy benefit managers; requiring pharmacy benefit managers to pass on any benefits or payments received from drug manufacturers to covered individuals; providing for disclosure of financial information; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0085 Health care reform-pilot project. Sponsored by: SCOTT AN ACT relating to health insurance; providing for an experimental health care insurance reform pool; providing for a plan design commission; providing for design of a benefits package under the reform pool; providing for eligibility; providing definitions; providing for a report; providing for a repeal date; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0090 Workers' compensation-mental injury. Sponsored by: HASTERT AN ACT relating to workers' compensation; amending the definition of injury to authorize coverage of a mental injury as specified; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0092 Medical necessity in insurance contracts. Sponsored by: SESSIONS AN ACT relating to insurance; defining medical necessity; setting requirements for analyzing insurance coverage and benefit payments under a medical necessity standard; setting requirements for denying payment or coverage; allowing the insurance commissioner to request, collect and analyze data; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0091 Welfare drug screening. Sponsored by: BEBOUT AN ACT relating to welfare; providing for drug screening; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION
S.F. No. 0093 Child care facilities certification. Sponsored by: PERKINS AN ACT relating to child care facilities; providing an exception to certification requirements; and providing for an effective date. PENDING INTRODUCTION |