CSSB 265(TRA): "An Act relating to physician assistants; providing that a physician assistant is a health care provider covered by certain laws relating to medical malpractice actions; adding physician assistants to the list of providers against whom unfair discrimination relating to health care insurance is prohibited and to the list of providers who can provide proof of disablement or handicap for the purpose of motor vehicle registration or for the purpose of obtaining a special license plate or a special parking permit; and providing for an effective date."
00 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 265(TRA) 01 "An Act relating to physician assistants; providing that a physician assistant is a health 02 care provider covered by certain laws relating to medical malpractice actions; adding 03 physician assistants to the list of providers against whom unfair discrimination relating 04 to health care insurance is prohibited and to the list of providers who can provide proof 05 of disablement or handicap for the purpose of motor vehicle registration or for the 06 purpose of obtaining a special license plate or a special parking permit; and providing 07 for an effective date." 08 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 09 * Section 1. AS 09.55.560(1) is amended to read: 10 (1) "health care provider" means an acupuncturist licensed under 11 AS 08.06; an audiologist or speech-language pathologist licensed under AS 08.11; a 12 chiropractor licensed under AS 08.20; a dental hygienist licensed under AS 08.32; a 13 dentist licensed under AS 08.36; a nurse licensed under AS 08.68; a dispensing
01 optician licensed under AS 08.71; a naturopath licensed under AS 08.45; an 02 optometrist licensed under AS 08.72; a pharmacist licensed under AS 08.80; a 03 physical therapist or occupational therapist licensed under AS 08.84; a physician or 04 physician assistant licensed under AS 08.64; a podiatrist; a psychologist and a 05 psychological associate licensed under AS 08.86; a hospital as defined in 06 AS 18.20.130, including a governmentally owned or operated hospital; an employee 07 of a health care provider acting within the course and scope of employment; an 08 ambulatory surgical facility and other organizations whose primary purpose is the 09 delivery of health care, including a health maintenance organization, individual 10 practice association, integrated delivery system, preferred provider organization or 11 arrangement, and a physical hospital organization; 12 * Sec. 2. AS 21.36.090(d) is amended to read: 13 (d) Except to the extent necessary to comply with AS 21.42.365 and 14 AS 21.56, a person may not practice or permit unfair discrimination against a person 15 who provides a service covered under a group health insurance policy that extends 16 coverage on an expense incurred basis, or under a group service or indemnity type 17 contract issued by a health maintenance organization or a nonprofit corporation, if the 18 service is within the scope of the provider's occupational license. In this subsection, 19 "provider" means a state licensed physician, physician assistant, dentist, osteopath, 20 optometrist, chiropractor, nurse midwife, advanced nurse practitioner, naturopath, 21 physical therapist, occupational therapist, marital and family therapist, psychologist, 22 psychological associate, [OR] licensed clinical social worker, or certified direct-entry 23 midwife. 24 * Sec. 3. AS 28.10.181(d) is amended to read: 25 (d) Vehicles owned by disabled veterans, including persons disabled in the 26 line of duty while serving in the Alaska Territorial Guard, or other persons with 27 disabilities. Upon the request of a person with a disability that limits or impairs the 28 ability to walk, as defined in 23 C.F.R. 1235.2, the department shall (1) register one 29 passenger vehicle in the name of the person without charge; and (2) issue a specially 30 designed registration plate that displays (A) recognition of the disabled veteran if the 31 applicant's disability originated from the applicant's service with the Alaska Territorial
01 Guard or the armed forces of the United States; and (B) the standard symbol of 02 disability (the wheelchair logo). A disabled veteran who is not otherwise qualified 03 under this subsection, but who presents to the department written proof that the person 04 is at least 70 percent disabled or medically handicapped as a consequence of service in 05 the Alaska Territorial Guard or the armed forces of the United States, may register one 06 passenger vehicle without charge, and the department shall issue a specially designed 07 registration plate that displays recognition of the disabled veteran that does not display 08 the standard handicap symbol and does not carry with it special parking privileges. 09 For purposes of this subsection, proof of disability may be provided by a person 10 licensed as a physician or physician assistant under AS 08.64 or as an advanced 11 nurse practitioner under AS 08.68. 12 * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 13 read: 14 APPLICABILITY. AS 21.36.090(d), as amended by sec. 2 of this Act, applies to a 15 policy of insurance or group service or indemnity type contract issued or renewed on or after 16 January 1, 2003. 17 * Sec. 5. Sections 2 and 4 of this Act take effect January 1, 2003.