SSHB 284: "An Act requiring the Department of Health and Social Services to accept federal prescription drug benefits or to provide comparable benefits for residents of the Alaska Pioneers' Home, including residents eligible for discount or free benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Indian Health Service of the United States Department of Health and Human Services."
00 SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 284 01 "An Act requiring the Department of Health and Social Services to accept federal 02 prescription drug benefits or to provide comparable benefits for residents of the Alaska 03 Pioneers' Home, including residents eligible for discount or free benefits from the 04 United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Indian Health Service of the United 05 States Department of Health and Human Services." 06 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 07 * Section 1. AS 47.55.010(c) is amended to read: 08 (c) The department shall 09 (1) cooperate with the federal government in matters pertaining to the 10 welfare of Alaska pioneers and of veterans who reside in the homes operated under 11 this chapter, make the reports in the form and containing the information the federal 12 government from time to time desires, and accept money and prescription drug 13 benefits allotted by the federal government, its agencies, or its instrumentalities in
01 establishing, extending, and strengthening services for pioneers and veterans who 02 reside in a home operated under this chapter; 03 (2) adopt regulations necessary to conduct business and to carry out 04 the provisions of this chapter, require bonds and undertakings from persons employed 05 by a home as in its judgment are necessary, and pay the premiums on them, and 06 establish regional and local offices and the advisory groups that are necessary or 07 considered expedient to carry out or assist in carrying out a duty or authority assigned 08 to it; 09 (3) perform all executive or administrative duties necessary and 10 advisable to carry out the purpose of this chapter, including the power to make 11 contracts and to make disbursements on vouchers against appropriations for the 12 purpose of this chapter, within the limit of appropriations available; 13 (4) study the needs of pioneers and veterans of this state who reside in 14 the homes operated under this chapter and submit recommendations for new 15 regulations and proposed legislation. 16 * Sec. 2. AS 47.55.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 17 (f) Instead of accepting federal prescription drug benefits under 18 AS 47.55.010(c)(1), including benefits to residents eligible for discount or free 19 benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Indian Health 20 Service of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the 21 department may adopt regulations to provide comparable prescription drug benefits to 22 pioneers and veterans who reside in the Alaska Pioneers' Home operated under this 23 chapter and who are eligible for federal prescription drug benefits.