Part 2: Thank some Legislators!

[plugger]

Well, it worked so well the first time!  Part 1: Thank some Legislators!  How about we try it again!

Now that we are are out of the Colorado state House, we now have the Colorado state Senate Health and Human Services to get through:

Where:
Colorado State Capitol
200 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO  80203

Senate Committee Room 356

When:
Thursday, March 15th
1:30pm

Why:
Support bill HB1204, state bill for the certification of hemodialysis techs.

From what I understand there is only a sponsor on the bill on the Senate side and co-sponsors might come later?

So the Sponsor to thank is Colorado State Senator Betty Boyd, Chair of the Health and Human Services committee and President Pro Tempore:  betty.boyd.senate*at*state.co.us  ph. 303-866-4857   

And while we are at it, I think Senator Bob Bacon ought to be thanked for his work on the 2007 bill!  His work got us the critical vote to get us out of committee by one vote back in 2007!  And who knows, maybe we could hint we wouldn't mind seeing him as a co-sponsor!  Senator Bob Bacon, bob.bacon.senate*at*state.co.us ph 303-866-4841

REASONS FOR THE BILL:     
1) This state bill ties in tech certification with a dialysis clinic’s license. Tech certification is checked at the start of a clinic, during the annual license renewal, and during state inspections - other states don't do this!  California for example only checks every 3 years!  We believe this may allow clinics to be less tempted to hire less qualified individuals.
2) This bill is a backup – think of it as insurance – if the feds weaken or abolish current regulations.
3) Abolishing this bill might encourage those who favor a less-qualified labor force to bring in a watered-down tech certification such as California's CDC program
4) Little fiscal impact: ($1,818 in 2010)
5) DORA now recommends it (change from 2007): http://www.dora.state.co.us/opr/archive/2011HemodialysisTechnicians.pdf


Objections:
1) Duplicates the federal regulations.   Answer: see above
2) If home dialysis caregivers don't require certification, why do techs?  Answer: A caregiver specializes in one patient, a tech is required to help a group of people with different reasons for kidney disease - who have other illnesses many times.  Also home dialysis patients are usually healthier than the general dialysis population.

[plugger]

To repeat some reasons to vote for the bill and some additional reasons:
1) Checks tech certification every year with the renewal of the license vs. other states like California which check every 3 years (if that).  We are hearing clinic managers are less likely to try and use less-qualified staff.
2) Infections like sepsis, a potentially lethal infection of the blood, took a significant dip in 2008-2009 when the state tech program was starting to be implemented - California continued to climb, their tech certification hadn't been implemented yet.
3) Stopping this bill could lead to a watered-down version of tech certification which California has with their CDC program - good only in California.  I should note California appears to have higher rates of infections (sepsis was very notable!)
4) A retired dialysis nurse testified about the case of someone who couldn't pass the company test, but was allowed on the floor anyway jeopardizing the safety of patients.  Had there been state or federal certification, she felt there was less of chance of this person getting out on the floor - or even being hired.
5) A lady who had been on dialysis eleven years testified she met a tech who was allowed on the floor after two weeks!  Would you trust a mechanic working on your brakes if they had just picked up a wrench two weeks ago?
6) A current dialysis patient testified how he had seen staff short-handed.  Would you want that already short-handed staff to be also poorly-trained?
7) Low fiscal impact
Clinic managers report less turn-over with certification.

[cassandra]

Still going the right way Plugger, keep strong and good luck




 
         

[plugger]

Thanks!  And I should mention you don't have to be a Coloradoan to write or call for this phase of things.

[cassandra]

Done, and thanks again, love Cas

[plugger]

HB1204, the Colorado bill for the certification of hemodialysis techs, passed out of the Health and Human Services committee 9-0!!!!!!!!!  About the only things we have left now are to pass the state Senate floor and get signed by the Governor.

[cassandra]

Wow congrats, who do I mail now?

[Joe]

Great news Plugger! Does it look like there will be a problem in the Senate, or do you think it's a straight shot to Hickenlooper's desk?

[plugger]

Wow congrats, who do I mail now?

Thanks!  Suppose it couldn't hurt to write the Governor:
http://www.colorado.gov/apps/oit/governor/citizen/assistanceUtility/welcome.jsf

Great news Plugger! Does it look like there will be a problem in the Senate, or do you think it's a straight shot to Hickenlooper's desk?

I would be very, very surprised if we run into problems at this point.  But I will be writing my state Senator and the Governor just in case.

[Joe]

I'll shoot them both a note too. (Well, my Senator, not yours...

[plugger]

Hey! Write them all if you feeling the fire!     (ok, even I'm not doing that one)

Anyway, here is the audio of the Senate hearing:

http://dialysisethics2.org/open_images/audio/coloradoga_senate_2012.mp3

[plugger]

Colorado bill HB1204 passed the Senate floor 28-7!!!!!!!!!!!  State Senators Aguilar, Foster, Newell and Tochtrop were added as Co-sponsors!

All that is left is the Governor, give him a holler!
http://www.colorado.gov/govhdir/requests/opinion-leg.html

[cassandra]

well done, and will do

[Joe]

Done!

[plugger]

Governor signed the bill!!!!  (I didn't even get a pen, but I'll get over it - had to find something to whine about)

HB1204
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=GovHickenlooper%2FCBONLayout&cid=1251621316251&pagename=CBONWrapper

(And thanks for all the help!!!)

[Joe]

Hickenlooper is a good guy. Glad it's all through.

[cassandra]

congrats!