Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
03/17/2010 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB193 | |
| SB172 | |
| SB295 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 295 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 172 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 172-ALASKA HEALTH CARE COMMISSION
1:43:54 PM
Chair Davis announced consideration of SB 172. It was heard
previously.
DENISE LICCIOLI, Staff to Senator Donald Olson, sponsor of SB
172, said the sponsor has seen the proposed committee substitute
and has no objection.
CHAIR DAVIS moved to adopt the work draft committee substitute
(CS) for SB 172, labeled 26-LS0790\P as the working document.
There being no objection, version P was before the committee.
1:47:04 PM
BILL HOGAN, Commissioner, Department of Health and Social
Services (DHSS), spoke in favor of CSSB 172 to create the Alaska
Health Care Commission in statute. The temporary commission has
been focusing on how to improve access to the health care
system, contain the growth of cost, improve quality and safety,
and put increased emphasis on prevention programs like tobacco
cessation and obesity prevention. He stated his belief that
having the Alaska Health Care Commission in place will help
position the state to address costs related to the Medicaid
budget and to prepare for the national health care reform.
1:48:43 PM
D. TYRELL MCGIRT, Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA), said
he is also a board member with the Iliuliuk Family & Health
Services Clinic Inc., the community health care (CHC) center in
Unalaska/Dutch Harbor. While APCA believes the committee has
done an outstanding job identifying different health care
representatives to sit on the commission, they would point out
that specific representation by community health care centers is
missing and could offer a great deal. Community health centers
are a proven model of primary and preventative care in Alaska
and nationwide. They never turn patients away, 42 percent of
their users are uninsured, and 72 percent of their users are low
income. Alaska has 26 CHCs with 146 sites and in rural Alaska
they are often the only option for primary and preventative
health care. He reiterated support for a seat on the commission
specifically for community health centers.
1:51:44 PM
MARIE DARLIN, AARP Capital City Taskforce, Juneau, Alaska, said
AARP adds its voice to those supporting SB 172 to make permanent
the Alaska Health Care Commission. Not all of the decisions
regarding health care will be made in Washington DC; Alaska has
to decide how national health care will be applied here so that
it works for everybody.
1:53:38 PM
J. KATE BURKHART, Executive Director, Alaska Mental Health Board
(AMHB) and the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
(ABADA), thanked the committee for including a representative of
the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority in the CS and echoed
previous testimony from the Primary Care Association regarding
the importance of dedicating a specific seat to community health
centers. Most indigent Alaskans receive health care through CHCs
so having someone familiar with practicing in that context will
be imperative to addressing the issue of rising health care
costs, particularly the Medicaid budget.
1:55:27 PM
SONIA HANDFORTH-KOME, Acting President, Alaska Primary Care
Association (APCA), and Executive Director, Iliuliuk Family &
Health Services Clinic Inc. in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, said she
is speaking in favor of SB 172 but she believes that there has
been a little oversight in not providing a specific seat for
community health centers. The commission is looking for varied
view points and ways to reduce health care costs and CHCs have a
proven track record for doing that on a national level. Their
perspective is different than the hospital perspective, the
tribal perspective, or the for-profit perspective so it would be
useful for the commission to have this representation. In Alaska
CHCs see 1 in 9 patients in 142 sites so they're a solution that
works. APCA would like that to be represented on this
commission, she concluded.
1:57:21 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked how many of the 142 sites are tribal
health community sites.
MS. HANDFORTH-KOME replied she isn't sure, but 13 of the 26
community health center organizations are tribal.
SENATOR ELLIS commented that he went to Unalaska 18 years ago
when the clinic opened and last fall he visited again and was
impressed with their outstanding work in the community.
MS. HANDFORTH-KOME said they're getting ready to do a community
health needs assessment in an effort to do more with less.
SENATOR DYSON commented that they must have the world's most
interesting clientele.
MS. HANDFORTH-KOME agreed; providers actually visit because of
the interesting clientele, she said.
1:59:24 PM
CHAIR DAVIS closed public testimony. She stated that while she
agrees with the statements about the community health centers
she believes that can be addressed in a subsequent committee.
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CSSB 172, labeled 26-LS0790\P,
from the committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSSB 172 (HSS) moved
from Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
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