03/12/1996 03:03 PM House HES

 HB 480 - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS                                                
                                                                              
 Number 855                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced the next bill to come before the committee           
 was HB 480.  He asked Representative Therriault's Legislative                 
 Assistant to come forward to address the bill.                                
                                                                               
 WILDA WHITAKER, Legislative Administrative Assistant, said                    
 Representative Therriault's top priority was Sections 1, 2 and 3 of           
 HB 480.                                                                       
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY moved to adopt Amendment 1.                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON objected.                                             
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked Co-Chair Toohey to speak to her amendment.               
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY said she totally supported the basis for the bill,            
 which allows a physician assistant (PA) to have their nomenclature            
 made simple.  Apparently there are some insurance companies that              
 will not pay physician assistant fees because the statute indicates           
 that physician assistants are registered rather than licensed.  Her           
 concern is with Section 4, which allows a physician assistant to              
 receive physician fees. It as her belief that it would be                     
 irresponsible for the legislature to pass a bill allowing a                   
 physician assistant to collect and bill at the same rate as a                 
 physician.  She acknowledged that physician assistants are needed,            
 but they should not be allowed to charge the same rate as a                   
 physician.  It is her belief that Section 4 should be totally                 
 deleted from the bill.                                                        
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG questioned the information in the bill                
 packet regarding the Blue Cross federal insurance issue.                      
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY explained that in some cases Blue Cross federal               
 insurance would not reimbursement for physician assistants, but the           
 nomenclature change in Sections 1, 2 and 3 would address that                 
 problem.                                                                      
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for a roll call vote.  Voting in favor of the            
 amendment were Representatives Davis, Rokeberg, Vezey, Toohey and             
 Bunde.  Voting against the amendment were Representatives Robinson            
 and Brice.                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG said it had been brought to his attention             
 by a constituent that phlebotomist should be added to the list of             
 people authorized under Section 3, lines 17-18, to draw blood.  He            
 wondered if phlebotomists were certified differently than the other           
 categories listed, or if there was some reluctance to include                 
 phlebotomist?                                                                 
                                                                               
 MS. WHITAKER responded it was her understanding this referred to              
 withdrawing of blood for a test under AS 18.15.300 - 18.15.320                
 which dealt with blood tests for persons charged with sex offenses.           
 She understood that a phlebotomist draws blood as a therapeutic               
 measure, so for the purpose of AS 18.15.300 - 18.15.320, a                    
 phlebotomist did not fit into that category.                                  
                                                                               
 Number 1171                                                                   
                                                                               
 JEANNE CLARK testified via teleconference that Ms. Whitaker was               
 correct.                                                                      
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE said the committee had before them House Bill 480,             
 as amended.  He asked for the wishes of the committee.                        
                                                                               
 Number 1198                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY moved to pass HB 480, as amended with zero fiscal             
 notes and individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was           
 so ordered.