Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
02/28/2012 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): State Medical Board | |
| HB310 | |
| HB218 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 310 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 218 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 310-STATE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM
3:42:28 PM
CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 310, "An Act temporarily reinstating the child
and adult immunization program in the Department of Health and
Social Services; and providing for an effective date."
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON moved to adopt Amendment A.1, labeled 27-
LS1273\A.1, Luckhaupt/Mischel, 2/28/12, which read:
Page 1, line 12:
Delete "recommended"
Page 1, line 13:
Delete "recommended"
Page 3, line 1:
Delete "recommended"
Page 3, lines 3 - 8:
Delete all material and insert:
"(f) The vaccines included in the program
(1) for a child under 19 years of age are
all vaccines required for school attendance under
AS 14.30.125 and influenza and pneumococcal vaccines;"
Page 3, line 13, following "standards":
Insert ", the recommendations of the federal
advisory committee on immunization practices,"
CHAIR KELLER objected for discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON explained that proposed Amendment A.1
would delete "recommended" as it was a hard word to define.
Referring to page 3, lines 3-8, he explained that all the
vaccines approved by the commissioner [Department of Health and
Social Services] for school attendance would now be included.
He listed the required immunizations for school attendance to be
diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, measles, mumps, Hepatitis
A and B, rubella, and varicella.
3:44:48 PM
CHAIR KELLER asked if the Department of Health and Social
Services (DHSS) had reviewed the proposed amendment and if it
had any impact to the fiscal note. He clarified that public
testimony was still open from the previous meeting [February 14,
2012].
3:45:18 PM
JILL LEWIS, Deputy Director-Juneau, Central Office, Division of
Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services,
acknowledged that DHSS had reviewed the proposed amendment, and
had not found there to be any impact on the fiscal note.
3:45:55 PM
WARD HURLBURT, MD, Chief Medical Officer/Director, Division of
Public Health, Central Office, Department of Health and Social
Services, expressed his agreement with Ms. Lewis, and stated
that the proposed amendment clarified the use of the most cost
effective vaccines, and offered flexibility to DHSS.
3:46:56 PM
MARIE DARLIN, Coordinator, AARP Capital City Task Force, stated
that AARP supported proposed HB 310. Speaking from the
standpoint of the older citizens, she said that AARP recognized
that providing free vaccines for adults was "a good effective
public health measure" and a good preventative issue. She
declared support for the immunization of children, as well. She
pointed to the large number of AARP members, who, as
grandparents, were raising grandchildren.
3:48:18 PM
DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging,
Division of Senior and Disabilities Services, Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS), testified in support of
proposed HB 310. She stated that prevention and vaccinations
were good health measures for every one of every age, and were
especially important for older people as immune systems weakened
with age. These programs enhanced a person's health and
independence. She reminded the committee that Alaska was the
leader in the rate of senior population growth, and declared the
importance for immunizations, vaccines, and healthy behaviors to
maintain good health. She pointed out that many seniors,
including those who had lived a subsistence life style, were
uninsured or ineligible for Medicare, and would benefit from
proposed HB 310. She asked that the committee consider the
addition of an immunization for shingles. She described
shingles as a painful rash that, if in contact with the eyes,
could lead to blindness. She pointed out that the risk of
shingles increased with age. She declared support for proposed
HB 310.
3:51:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked if shingles fit into a nationally
recognized public health standard, so that DHSS could add this
to the list of vaccinations.
3:52:29 PM
DR. HURLBURT said that proposed HB 310 would allow the
flexibility to add a vaccination for shingles. He pointed out
that it was an expensive vaccine, but that an efficient use of
funding would allow the addition of vaccinations for rotavirus
and shingles as the next cost effective vaccines.
3:53:26 PM
CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony and asked the committee if
there were any more questions on the proposed amendment.
3:53:55 PM
CHAIR KELLER removed his objection to Amendment A.1. There
being no further objection, Amendment A.1 was passed.
3:54:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER asked if it was necessary to add shingles
to the language in proposed HB 310.
CHAIR KELLER replied that he was satisfied that DHSS would
support the inclusion of the shingles vaccination, and that it
did not need to be mandated in the proposed bill.
3:54:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK moved to report HB 310, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 310(HSS) was
reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee.