The 2nd meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance was held on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, at 10:00 AM, in Room 154 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Tommy Thompson, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Representative Tommy Thompson, Co-Chair; Ernie Harris, Gerald A. Neal, Dorsey Ridley; James R. Comer Jr, Ron Crimm, Robert R. Damron, Mike Denham, Ted Edmonds, Tim Firkins, Danny Ford, Jim Gooch Jr, J. R. Gray, Jeff Greer, Dennis Horlander, Dennis Keene, Adam Koenig, Rick Rand, Steve Riggs, Brandon Smith, John Tilley, Ken Upchurch, Ron Weston, and Susan Westrom.
Guests: Representative Dennis Keene, Dr. Andrew Slovic, Dr. Larry Tinius, Dr. Dick Broeg; Kentucky Association of Chiropractors, Dustin Miller, Kentucky Association of Health Plans, Julie McPeak, Executive Director, Kentucky Office of Insurance.
LRC Staff: Greg Freedman, Rhonda Franklin and Jamie Griffin.
Rep. Tommy Thompson, Chairman, called the meeting to order and asked for a roll call. The minutes of the June 26, 2007, meeting were approved.
Rep. Dennis Keene stated that 2007 House Bill 352 would have required health benefit plans to adopt current, reasonable, and fair reimbursement schedules for services and procedures performed by chiropractors and to be reimbursed at no less than the fee schedule for worker's compensation. He stated that there has been no negotiation or agreement reached at this time. He stated that many chiropractors are having to relocate or retire.
Andrew Slovic stated that he is a chiropractor who has a practice in Lexington, Kentucky. He stated that he has seen a significant decrease in reimbursements from insurance companies in the last 10 years. He stated that the Kentucky Association of Chiropractors is asking for support on this legislation in order to have the same fair, current and reasonable reimbursement from insurers as the Commonwealth requires for its injured citizens.
Rep. J. R. Gray stated that he has had personal experience with chiropractors and views it as a highly respected profession.
Rep. Tim Firkins stated he too has personal experience with the profession and also respects what the chiropractors profession. He stated that he was under the impression that there had been an agreement for both sides to meet and work out the differences regarding the legislation. He stated that he is looking for an open honest solution to the problem.
Rep. Adam Koenig stated that he encouraged both sides to work this out.
Rep. Bob Damron pointed out that the Office of Insurance is limited by statute as to how much they can intervene.
Rep. Steve Riggs stated that the association might need to be more aggressive in their lobbying efforts.
Dustin Miller, Executive Director, Kentucky Association of Health Plans, stated that his group opposes House Bill 352 because they feel it represents government involvement in provider contracting, irresponsibly ties chiropractor reimbursements to the inflation index, takes away the health plans ability to manage care and will impact the costs of Medicaid, Kentucky Access, public employees' insurance and association groups. Mr. Miller stated that his association did agree to meet with the Kentucky Chiropractors Association, but was not successful in that effort.
Julie McPeak, Executive Director, Kentucky Office of Insurance, stated that as previously stated by Rep. Damron, her office has no statutory authority to negotiate reimbursements for the chiropractors. She stated that her office takes complaints very seriously and would try to assist in the meetings between the interested parties.
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned.