04/04/2011 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 87                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act establishing  a program  in the  Department of                                                                    
     Commerce,  Community,  and   Economic  Development  for                                                                    
     payment of grants to health  care providers for care of                                                                    
     patients who are 65 years of age or older."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:40:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH,  explained SB 87. He  stated that the                                                                    
bill  was  designed  to  close the  Medicare  gap  that  had                                                                    
emerged over  the few years  prior. There was a  gap between                                                                    
what  Medicare pays  and what  it  actually costs  to see  a                                                                    
doctor. He remarked  that because of that  gap, some doctors                                                                    
had  stopped  seeing patients,  to  the  detriment of  those                                                                    
individuals. The bill  seeks to address the  gap through new                                                                    
grants,  which   were  allowed  in   an  amendment   in  the                                                                    
Affordable Care Act.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   referred  to  the  first   hearing,  and                                                                    
specifically  Senator Olson's  question regarding  access to                                                                    
dental care  and prescription drug coverage.  He stated that                                                                    
Senator French had provided a  written letter in response to                                                                    
that inquiry.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the new fiscal note                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  McGuire requested  that the  program be  evaluated,                                                                    
and  a  report  be  provided  to the  committee  as  to  the                                                                    
effectiveness  of the  program.  Senator  French felt  there                                                                    
would be no problem obtaining that report.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman MOVED  to report  SB 87  out of  Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB  87  was REPORTED  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation and  with accompanying  fiscal note  from the                                                                    
Senate Finance Committee-Department  of Commerce, Community,                                                                    
and Economic Development.