03/19/1997 09:05 AM Senate HES

                                                                               
               SCR  6 ALASKA TELEMEDICINE PROJECT                             
                                                                              
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WILKEN  called the Senate Health, Education & Social                
 Services Committee (HES) to order at 9:05 a.m. and introduced                 
 SCR 6  as the first order of business before the committee.                   
                                                                               
  KATHY BOUCHA ROBERTS , representing the Alaska Telemedicine Project,         
 explained that the main reason for SCR 6 is to provide recognition            
 for the telecommunications and health care partners who have worked           
 on this project for a number of years.  This project has collected            
 data regarding health care needs statewide, demonstrated particular           
 applications, and will be evaluating telemedical activity.  Ms.               
 Boucha Roberts informed the committee that she spent time with                
 Alaska's Congressional staff who expressed the need for a                     
 consortium to form within Alaska.  The staff was pleased to be                
 informed that such a consortium had already been formed.                      
                                                                               
  JORDAN KOKO , intern for Senator Pearce, said that Senator Pearce            
 introduced this legislation in order to recognize the achievements            
 of the Alaska Telemedicine Project.  This legislation would further           
 recognize the project's achievements in providing accessibility to            
 health care to rural areas of Alaska.  The project has done much to           
 demonstrate the needs for health care in rural Alaska.  Mr. Koko              
 pointed out the amendment in the packet which is merely a                     
 housekeeping measure clarifing that AT&T and Alascom are a single             
 unit.                                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 102                                                                    
                                                                               
  SENATOR LEMAN  believed that this project provides information and           
 is available statewide, but the benefits are especially important             
 for rural Alaska.  Senator Leman asked if this electronic                     
 information was available in Anchorage.   JORDAN KOKO  said that the          
 information is available statewide, but is of particular importance           
 in rural Alaska.                                                              
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WILKEN  said that he would entertain a motion to adopt the          
 following amendment:                                                          
                                                                               
   Page 1, line 4:                                                             
   Following "and":                                                            
    Insert "AT&T"                                                              
   Following "Alascom,":                                                       
    Delete "Inc.,"                                                             
                                                                               
 Without objection, the amendment was adopted.                                 
                                                                               
  JOHN WILLIAMS , Mayor of the City of Kenai, noted that his testimony         
 was neither in support or opposition to SCR 6.  Mayor Williams was            
 concerned that the Alaska Telemedicine Project would be recognized            
 as the officially sanctioned telemedicine and telehealth project in           
 Alaska.  Currently in Kenai, construction on a $10.5 million                  
 training center intended to provide distance learning is scheduled.           
 This training project includes statewide education in the EMT field           
 which could be construed as telemedicine.  Mayor Williams expressed           
 concern that if one group is designated as the officially                     
 sanctioned telemedicine and telehealth group, that group could                
 interfere with other groups' ability to obtain grants.                        
                                                                               
 Number 162                                                                    
                                                                               
  KATHY BOUCHA ROBERTS  explained that the purpose of the formation of         
 the organization was to support the independent rural communities             
 granting opportunities.  The granting agencies would like                     
 collaborative efforts within a state.  The Alaska Telemedicine                
 Project would not impose on anyone's independence regarding                   
 granting.  If other projects need evaluators in order to comply               
 with proposal requirements, the Alaska Telemedicine Project has               
 those available now.  The project would like to collect statewide             
 data regarding third party payers and DHSF in order to provide                
 accurate data for the development of policy.  The Alaska                      
 Telemedicine Project would provide services to enhance other                  
 independent projects.  Ms. Boucha Roberts noted that in the future            
 the telecommunications network being developed will partner with              
 the education system, particularly distance delivery education.               
                                                                               
  MAYOR WILLIAMS  believed it worthwhile to add language regarding Ms.         
 Boucha Roberts' comments about partnering.   KATHY BOUCHA ROBERTS             
 interjected that there is also the opportunity for groups such as             
 the one in Kenai to join the Alaska Telemedicine Project as a                 
 member in order to have easy access to the services.                          
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WILKEN  requested that Mayor Williams fax his suggestions           
 to Senator Pearce's office.                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR LEMAN  applauded the efforts of Mayor Williams.  Senator             
 Leman moved to report SCR 6 am out of committee with individual               
 recommendations and accompanying zero fiscal note.  Without                   
 objection, it was so ordered.