Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/06/2010 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB168 | |
| HCR22 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HCR 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 168 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 168
"An Act relating to state certification and
designation of trauma centers; creating the
uncompensated trauma care fund to offset uncompensated
trauma care provided at certified and designated
trauma centers; and providing for an effective date."
1:40:56 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze noted that public testimony had been
closed. He solicited amendments to the bill.
1:41:11 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze observed the new fiscal note.
CO-CHAIR MIKE HAWKER explained that the legislation was
ineffective without the associated funding. He relayed that
upon first introduction, the bill had be accompanied by
request for an appropriation of $5 million. A parallel bill
had moved through the Senate, which also had a $5 million
fiscal note attached to it. Discussions had concluded that
if the bill were to pass, an appropriation would be needed
in order to fund the legislation. He thought that the cost
associated with the legislation would become a long term
operating budget item. The fiscal note reflected a request
of $5 million in FY 11 operating budget, all future years
were indeterminate. The funding source was 50 percent
federal receipts, and 50 percent general funds, based on
the understanding that at those levels there would be
disproportionate hospital share authority available under
Medicaid.
Co-Chair Stoltze agreed that the fiscal note reflected
significant fiscal impact.
1:46:02 PM
Representative Austerman expressed appreciation for the
candid discussion concerning increasing the cost of the
operating budget.
1:46:58 PM
Representative Austerman understood the need for the trauma
centers, but he felt that placing an emphasis on trauma
prevention would be more beneficial. He thought that adding
more troopers along highways to arrest drunk drivers would
save lives, preventing the need for increased trauma
centers. He thought that trauma prevention should be
addressed as well.
Representative Foster cited Page 1, Line 14:
(b) The fund consists of money appropriated to it by
the legislature, including donations, recoveries of or
reimbursements for awards made from activities under this
chapter.
Representative Foster asked if the fund would need to be
replenished from year-to-year, and by how much. He said if
each year 25 percent of the fund was being spent, the
entire appropriation would be spent in four to five years.
1:49:48 PM
SENATOR JOHN COGHILL, SPONSOR, answered that he did not
know. The general area of cost was known due looking at
similar programs in other states. He said that there were
federal grants and local programs that could be willing to
contribute. He directed attention to Tab 4 of the "Trauma
Care in Alaska: Creating a Trauma Care Fund" book. In order
for Trauma Level 2 status to be achieved, alcohol screening
and brief intervention was necessary. He argued that this
would create a system that had an intervention component
that would provide for teachable moments in people's lives.
He agreed that safety issues on the road should be
examined.
1:52:46 PM
Co-Chair Hawker reminded the committee that the legislative
proposal had been discussed for over two years. He
expressed concern that the proposal was expensive to create
and maintain, and could force the state back into deficit
spending. However, he felt that the proposal was
compelling, and believed that the importance of immediate
trauma treatment regardless of the location of the accident
should be a priority. He agreed that a stronger state
trooper presence along the Seward Highway could be helpful.
He stated that the goal should be to build the resources
within the state to care for the "innocent victims of
stupidity". He offered that Alaska was a high risk state,
and that simply living here posed a higher risk than living
in other states. He announced support for the legislation
and acknowledged the fiscal note associated with the bill.
He believed that there was a greater good served by moving
the bill forward despite continuing fiscal concerns. He
felt that the public understood that the programs would
continue for only as long as there was money available to
fund them. He recognized that passing the bill would
inevitably create financial trauma for the state in the
future.
1:56:52 PM
Representative Kelly expressed concern that the state would
be accepting liability for trauma victims, and that the
legislation imposed the responsibility of health care on
the state. He agreed with the concept of the bill, but
harbored deep concern for the financial responsibility.
1:59:47 PM
Representative Salmon disagreed. He believed that the state
needed to begin improvements in the area of trauma
response. He argued that lives in rural Alaska could be
saved by establishing trauma centers closer to villages to
assist in the "golden hour". In emergency medicine, the
"golden hour" refers to the time period lasting from a few
minutes to several hours following traumatic injury being
sustained by a casualty, during which there is the highest
likelihood that prompt medical treatment will prevent
death.
2:01:17 PM
Vice-Chair Thomas MOVED to report CS HB 168(FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CS HB 168(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with no
recommendation and with new fiscal note from the Department
of Health and Social Services and previously published zero
fiscal note: FN2 (REV)
2:01:49 PM AT EASE
2:14:44 PM RECONVENED