Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/22/1997 09:15 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
Senate Bill 96 "An Act regulating hospice care." BENJAMIN BROWN, STAFF, SENATOR TIM KELLY, spoke in support of the legislation. He observed that the legislation was introduced by the Senate Rules Committee in response to a request from Hospice of Anchorage. Mr. Brown noted that the legislation would add a new chapter to Title 18 of Alaska Statutes and would allow the Department of Health and Social Services to regulate and license hospice programs; currently, there were no federal requirements for hospice programs. He added that there were 40 states that licensed hospice programs. Mr. Brown detailed that the need for hospice licensing was brought to Senator Kelly's attention as chair of the Rules Committee by a constituent on the board of Hospice of Anchorage, the largest and most formally organized hospice program in the state. Other hospice programs around the state were either in support of the bill or not in objection. He emphasized that the advantage of licensing hospice programs before any problems occurred was illustrated by the licensing of assisted living homes; prior to licensing, there had been an abusive situation in Anchorage. Mr. Brown informed the committee that Article 1 would establish parameters for licensing hospice programs that were formal businesses. Article 2 would establish standards for volunteer hospice programs. Article 3 would define terms in the bill and provide penalties for violations of the statute. In response to a question by Senator Adams, Mr. Brown observed that the sponsor and hospice programs supported an amendment that would grant limited immunity to volunteers working in volunteer programs. Senator Pearce MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1, which would grant limited immunity to volunteers working in volunteer programs. RUPE ANDREWS, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS (AARP), spoke in support of the legislation. He stressed the importance of hospice organization and standards. Mr. Brown clarified that the legislation was supported by the Alaska State Hospital/Nursing Homes Association (ASHNHA). He noted that part of the potential problem of hospice not being regulated was presented by the growth of managed care and by the provision of hospice programs within existing medical facilities; a large, medical, for-profit institution trying to cut costs could offer a program called hospice that consisted of nothing but pain management. NANCY WELLER, DIVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, noted that the department supported the bill and the amendment. There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was adopted. Senate Adams MOVED to REPORT CSSB 96 (FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 96 (FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a previously published fiscal note from the Department of Health and Social Services.
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