04/28/1998 03:15 PM House HES

CSSCR 11(FIN) - LONG-TERM CARE TASK FORCE                                      
                                                                               
Number 1460                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was CSSCR 11              
(FIN), Creating the Long-Term Care Task Force.  He asked Marilyn               
Wilson to come forward to present CSSCR 11(FIN).                               
                                                                               
Number 1450                                                                    
                                                                               
MARILYN WILSON, Legislative Assistant to Senator Bert Sharp, Alaska            
State Legislature, read the following sponsor statement into the               
record:  "As Alaska's senior community grows, it is necessary that             
we plan for the long-term care and needs of these citizens.  While             
it is the desirable goal of most families to provide home care for             
their elderly parents, the reality is that most will live in a                 
long-term care facility.  Either way, the costs of providing long-             
term care is becoming insurmountable to the state and to our                   
private citizens.  In an effort to assure our senior citizens are              
getting the best care possible, the legislature in 1996,                       
established a working group to analyze long-term care services                 
available in the state and their projected costs.  Senate                      
Concurrent Resolution 11 will create a long-term care task force.              
Their mission is to review the findings of the working group and to            
develop an equitable plan for providing an actuarially sound and               
affordable long-term care options for all of Alaska's senior                   
citizens.  I urge your support in passing this very important and              
necessary resolution."                                                         
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE asked if there were questions of the sponsor's                  
representative.                                                                
                                                                               
Number 1527                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE said the legislature passed a moratorium on               
long-term care a couple years ago and there was a provision within             
that bill that established yet another long-term care task force.              
He asked how the working group established in CSSCR 11 related to              
the findings of the previous task force.                                       
                                                                               
MS. WILSON asked if Representative Brice was referring to the long-            
term care working group?                                                       
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE affirmed that.                                            
                                                                               
MS. WILSON said, "This is the findings that the task force has to              
look at and take into consideration."                                          
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE asked Marie Darlin to come before the committee to              
present her testimony at this time.                                            
                                                                               
Number 1575                                                                    
                                                                               
MARIE DARLIN, Legislative Chairman, National Association of Retired            
Federal Employees, testified in support of CSSCR 11(FIN).  She said            
resolutions had been passed at the last two statewide conventions              
in support of this legislation.  It is the association's position              
that the study done in 1996 was merely the beginning and this needs            
to go forward in the establishment of the state's plan for long-               
term care for the senior population.  She pointed out there are                
other individuals besides senior citizens who need long-term care.             
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE thanked Ms. Darlin for her comments and asked Vera              
Gazaway to present her comments at this time.                                  
                                                                               
Number 1630                                                                    
                                                                               
VERA GAZAWAY, Representative, Older Persons Action Group, said the             
Older Persons Action Group has also studied in-home health care and            
endorses almost to the word, the comments of the previous speaker.             
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE thanked Ms. Gazaway and asked if there was further              
testimony on CSSCR 11(FIN).  Hearing none, he closed public                    
testimony.                                                                     
                                                                               
Number 1687                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE said the Governor's Council on Special                    
Education Disabilities is considered the coordinating council for              
the state of Alaska for individuals with disabilities.  He asked               
what that council's involvement is with the long-term task force?              
                                                                               
MS. WILSON said the Commissioner of the Department of Health and               
Social Services serves as a nonvoting member of the Long-Term Care             
Task Force and while it's not addressed in CSSCR 11(FIN), she                  
thought it would be up to the commissioner to make that decision.              
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN BUNDE asked if there were further questions.  Hearing                 
none, he asked the wishes of the committee.                                    
                                                                               
Number 1750                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN made a motion to move CSSCR 11(FIN) from              
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal                  
notes.  There being no objection, CSSCR 11(FIN) moved from the                 
House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.