Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/11/2017 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB79 | |
| HB111 | |
| SB34 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 111 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 79
"An Act relating to the prescription of opioids;
establishing the Voluntary Nonopioid Directive Act;
relating to the controlled substance prescription
database; relating to the practice of dentistry;
relating to the practice of medicine; relating to the
practice of podiatry; relating to the practice of
osteopathy; relating to the practice of nursing;
relating to the practice of optometry; relating to the
practice of veterinary medicine; related to the duties
of the Board of Pharmacy; and providing for an
effective date."
9:14:56 AM
DOCTOR JAY BUTLER, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, DIVISION OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES,
(DHSS) explained the reason for the legislation. He shared
that more than 90 Alaskans died of an opioid overdose the
year prior, which was more than twice the number of
Alaskans who died of AIDS at the peak of the HIV epidemic.
He stated that an opioid overdose represented nearly one in
every forty deaths that occurred in the state the year
prior. He shared that two-thirds of those deaths involved a
prescription opioid. He remarked that the majority of those
people who use heroin and other illicit opioids report that
they first became addicted using prescription opioids. He
stressed that often the opioids were obtained from a
trusted and well-meaning health care provider. He stressed
that the state was responding to the opioid epidemic
through community coalitions, citizen action, and state
government. He shared that SB 91 was passed and signed into
law in March 2017, which authorized increased access to the
life-saving drug Naloxone.
Co-Chair MacKinnon acknowledged Senator Giessel's
participation in the bill process.
9:16:59 AM
Dr. Butler echoed stated that there were many people who
were saved by the Naloxone kits. He remarked that the kits,
however, did not address some of the underlying issues
surrounding the opioid epidemic. He stated that the kits
did not support those in recovery who wanted to maintain
their sobriety. He remarked that the kits also did not
address some of the underlying factors in the increase of
opioid use and addiction.
9:33:19 AM
Senator von Imhof wondered what happened to the reports,
and what occurred with a pattern and whether there was
action on those trends. Dr. Butler replied that the intent
of the bill was for authorization for the Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) to
issue the report card. He stressed that there was currently
no legal authority to issue that report. He stated that the
information to the provider was solely for that provider.
Senator von Imhof surmised that the bill would create a
database that showed all the prescriptive drug behavior for
all health care providers in the state. Dr. Butler replied
that there would not be a new database, but enhancing the
existing database. He stated that the database was for
controlled substances only.
9:36:22 AM
Senator Hughes expressed concern about the opioid epidemic
in the state. She wanted to ensure that the bill was
addressed the real problem. She felt that there might be "a
few bad apples" in the state who were over-prescribing. She
remarked that the Division of Public Health did not have
the authority to forward names to the board, but rather
could only recognize trends. She wondered whether the data
showed that most prescribers were contributing to the
problem, or was it only a few prescribers. She wondered
whether the suspicious activity should be investigated, and
then forward that information to the appropriate boards.
Dr. Butler agreed that there were remarkable efforts and a
robust recovery community in the Mat-Su. He stated that the
broader nationwide data showed that more than half of the
prescribed opioids came from primary care providers. He
stated that the authority to pursue problematic providers
was within the boards in DCCED.
9:42:16 AM
Senator Hughes wondered whether the various boards could
look at the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to
determine the outliers. She understood that the boards did
not have that authority. Dr. Butler replied that there was
an issue with staffing. The PDMP manager was currently in
recruitment. He stated that there were red flagged criteria
for behavior related to the number of prescribers and the
number of pharmacies visited over a set period of time.
Senator Hughes felt that there needed to be an examination
of the over-prescribers that were shown in the database.
She wondered whether there needed to be a specific name
assigned in the database, rather than locations and trends.
Dr. Butler deferred to Ms. Chambers.
9:45:08 AM
SARA CHAMBERS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, responded
that the boards were recently given authority to get the
high-level trending non-specific information, and authority
to issue license discipline if the prescription drugs were
not used within generally safe practices. She agreed that
that the boards did not have the ability to view the PDMP
and transmit the information on a specific prescriber,
unless there was a subpoena. She stated that the
legislation expanded the ability to provide information,
through a subpoena, to a law enforcement agency. She
stressed that the PDMP was not currently used as a punitive
investigative tool, but remarked that it could change with
a policy change.
Senator Hughes surmised that the board could only pursue an
individual person after a filed complaint. She wondered
whether the courts were ever used in investigating a
complaint. Ms. Chambers replied in the affirmative.
Senator Hughes hoped that there would be a report to see
whether the PDMP manager could have greater investigative
authority.
Senator Micciche felt that the most valuable aspect of the
bill was the daily prescription limit. He queried more
information about the four-day and seven-day limits. He
remarked that there was data showing that a ten-day
prescription could result in addiction. Ms. Chambers
replied that the Optometry Board currently had a four-day
limit in statute, so that board was not included in the
bill. She stated that the seven-day limit extended to all
other practitioners, except for veterinarians.
Senator Micciche felt that the limit could be successful.
9:52:20 AM
Vice-Chair Bishop wondered whether the bill would be
addressed in the afternoon. Co-Chair MacKinnon replied in
the negative.
Vice-Chair Bishop queried the background of opioids. Dr.
Butler responded that opium had been used medicinally for
thousands of years. He remarked, however, that opium had
been known to result in addiction and physical dependency
for thousands of years. He stated that there was approval
in the 1990s that were introduced.
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed committee business.
Senator Olson requested more information about the boards.
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
SB 79 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
10:00:36 AM
RECESSED
2:18:10 PM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 111 Work Draft version B.pdf |
SFIN 5/11/2017 9:00:00 AM |
HB 111 |
| HB 111 v B Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SFIN 5/11/2017 9:00:00 AM |
HB 111 |
| CS SB 34 v.T Explanation.pdf |
SFIN 5/11/2017 9:00:00 AM |
SB 34 |
| SB 34 CS SB 34 v.T.pdf |
SFIN 5/11/2017 9:00:00 AM |
SB 34 |
| SB 34 Air Force Letter - Real ID.pdf |
SFIN 5/11/2017 9:00:00 AM |
SB 34 |
| HB 111 Public Testimony Letters 4.pdf |
SFIN 5/11/2017 9:00:00 AM |
HB 111 |