04/27/2006 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR19 | |
| HB396 | |
| HCR31 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 235 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 396 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HCR 31 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 27, 2006
3:08 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Carl Gatto
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Vice Chair
Representative Tom Anderson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19(FIN)
Relating to creating the Task Force to Assess Public Reporting
of Health Care Associated Infections.
- MOVED CSSJR 19(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 396
"An Act establishing the Alaska Commission on Health Care; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 396 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 31
Relating to an integrated statewide information and referral
system.
- HEARD AND HELD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 235(FIN)
"An Act relating to a public school performance incentive
program; and providing for an effective date."
- PENDING REFERRAL
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 19
SHORT TITLE: TASK FORCE ON HOSPITAL INFECTIONS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS G
02/14/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/14/06 (S) HES, FIN
02/27/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/27/06 (S) Moved SJR 19 Out of Committee
02/27/06 (S) MINUTE(HES)
03/01/06 (S) HES RPT 3DP 1NR
03/01/06 (S) DP: DYSON, WILKEN, OLSON
03/01/06 (S) NR: ELTON
04/20/06 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/20/06 (S) Moved SJR 19 Out of Committee
04/20/06 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/21/06 (S) FIN RPT CS 3DP 2NR SAME TITLE
04/21/06 (S) DP: WILKEN, GREEN, DYSON
04/21/06 (S) NR: OLSON, STEDMAN
04/25/06 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/25/06 (S) VERSION: CSSJR 19(FIN)
04/26/06 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/26/06 (H) HES
04/27/06 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 396
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA COMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) BERKOWITZ
01/25/06 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/25/06 (H) HES, FIN
04/25/06 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/25/06 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/27/06 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HCR 31
SHORT TITLE: HEALTH INFORMATION & REFERRAL SYSTEM
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CISSNA
02/13/06 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/13/06 (H) HES, L&C
04/25/06 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/25/06 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/27/06 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
DOUG LETCH, Staff
to Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 19 on behalf of the sponsor,
Senator Gary Stevens.
JAY BUTLER, MD, Chief
Epidemiology Section
Division of Public Health
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SJR 19.
REPRESENTATIVE ETHAN BERKOWITZ
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of HB 396.
DWAYNE PEEPLES, Director
Division of Health Care Services (DHCS)
Department of Health and Social Services
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During discussion of HB 396, related areas
in which the department is focusing.
LORI CARINI, Staff
to Representative Sharon Cissna
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HCR 31 on behalf of the sponsor,
Representative Cissna.
MICHELE BROWN, President
United Way of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided background information on HCR 31.
TED ISRAELSON, Manager
Information Technology Services
Department of Health and Social Services
POSITION STATEMENT: During hearing of HCR 31, answered
questions regarding the fiscal note.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:08:09 PM.
Representatives Gatto, Kohring, Gardner, and Wilson were present
at the call to order. Representative Cissna arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
3:08:45 PM
SJR 19-TASK FORCE ON HOSPITAL INFECTIONS
CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19(FIN), Relating to creating
the Task Force to Assess Public Reporting of Health Care
Associated Infections.
3:09:17 PM
DOUG LETCH, Staff to Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SJR 19, Version G, on behalf of Senator
Stevens, Sponsor, paraphrasing from a statement which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Senate Joint Resolution 19 creates the Task Force to
Assess Public Reporting of Health Care Associated
Infections. This 10 member panel will consist of two
senators, two representatives, the Chief of
Epidemiology for the State of Alaska, one healthcare
consumer from rural Alaska, one healthcare consumer
from urban Alaska, a representative of the Alaska
Native Tribal Health Consortium, a representative from
the Alaska Chapter of the Association of Professionals
in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and a
representative of the Alaska State Hospital and
Nursing Home Association.
During the 2006 Legislative Interim, the Task Force
will be asked to:
Review experience to date with public reporting
of hospital-associated infections.
Develop a white paper to be used for drafting
legislation for reporting of healthcare
associated infections. The white paper will
address the unique healthcare challenges of
Alaska and would encompass:
Mechanism(s) for reporting;
Identifying data sources and possible
outcome and process measures to be reported;
Timeline for implementation;
Infrastructure needs for supporting a robust
ongoing reporting system for dissemination
of accurate data.
Some 2 million infections a year are acquired in
hospitals and an estimated 90,000 people die as a
result of these infections, making it the sixth-
leading cause of death in the country. The cost to
the consumers is between $4.5 and $11 billion a year.
Given these alarming statistics, it is vital for
consumers to have full knowledge of how medical
facilities fare with infection rates. Passage of SJR
19 can help accomplish this goal by providing
lawmakers, state health officials and medical
professions the opportunity to craft workable
legislative recommendations for the collection of data
on hospital-acquired infection rates.
3:12:42 PM
CHAIR WILSON pointed out the attached zero fiscal note.
3:12:51 PM
MR. LETCH explained that the Senate Finance Committee deemed it
appropriate and advisable to cover the travel costs of panel
members to Anchorage, where the meetings will presumably occur.
This should encourage individuals from beyond the "road system"
to sit on the panel. Additionally, he said the Legislative
Affairs Agency would provide teleconferencing support. He
indicated that being an internal fiscal note, it represents a
zero fiscal note for the bill.
3:13:40 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked whether staph bacterium [Staphylococcus
aureus] is the major cause of the infections surrounding this
issue.
MR. LETCH responded that staph bacterium is the infection which
is most publicized.
3:14:35 PM
JAY BUTLER, MD, Chief, Epidemiology Section, Division of Public
Health, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated
that although methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
is the most publicized, there are other health care associated
infections. The magnitude of these infections is large, with an
estimated 5-10 percent of hospitalized patients developing a
minimum of one infection associated with their health care
during hospitalization. The most common types of infections are
infections of the blood stream related to intravenous catheters,
surgical site infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract
infections. The aforementioned account for approximately 80
percent of all health care associated infections. He explained
that besides the MRSAs, other antibiotic resistant bacteria can
cause health care associated infections. There are a number of
challenges when addressing this issue in Alaska, including the
small hospitals in Alaska and the best manner in which to access
quality indicators for patients. The timing of this bill is
very good, he said, as other states are also taking action in
this direction and Alaska will benefit from their experiences.
3:18:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER read [page 2, lines 17-18], which says:
"persons appointed as consumers of health care are entitled to
reimbursement for lodging and travel expenses," and pointed out
that there will also be two state senators and two state
representatives. She asked whether that would limit those
individuals to urban statesman.
3:19:20 PM
MR. LETCH answered that such travel would be approved as
official state business by the presiding officers of each body.
3:19:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO inquired as to whether that would require a
fiscal note.
CHAIR WILSON interjected, "That would not require it."
3:19:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA related her understanding that when
legislators are members of various committees they are
fulfilling legislative responsibilities, and as such these type
of expenses are covered.
3:20:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER referenced a book [Wall of Science]
regarding the medical industry and this issue. She recommended
it to the committee.
3:21:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved to report CSSJR 19(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSJR 19(FIN) was
reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services
Standing Committee.
HB 396-ALASKA COMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE
3:24:33 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 396, "An Act establishing the Alaska Commission
on Health Care; and providing for an effective date."
3:24:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved to adopt HB 396, Version 24-
LS1266\Y. There being no objection, HB 396 was before the
committee.
3:25:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ETHAN BERKOWITZ, Alaska State Legislature,
sponsor of HB 396, said that he introduced HB 396 because
although there has been much discussion about health care,
nothing has been done directly about what can be done to
decrease the cost of medical care in the state. Alaska has one
of the highest cost and the poorest rates of public
participation with insurance. This legislation attempts to
bring together the various interest groups to develop an action
plan. He noted that he did a lot of work with Representative
Cissna, who has been a champion of health care in this state.
Representative Berkowitz pointed out that included in HB 396 are
a couple of his own pet projects, including improving access to
health care cost information, doing more with information
technology, and moving from the tort reform [perspective] to the
health care court. He explained that a health care court would
have trained judges and experts who would act quickly in
resolving health care issues. The aforementioned will allow the
legal system to help the medical system identify issues, resolve
issues quickly, and ensure that injured parties receive quick
compensation.
3:28:59 PM
CHAIR WILSON requested more detailed information on the health
care court.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ pointed out that the following website
www.cgood.org provides much good information, including
information for health care courts.
3:29:56 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if the judges would be appointed or would
sitting judges be trained to do this work.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said that it's similar to the workers'
compensation system. However, there would be a different level
and qualification for these judges. Ideally, the judge would be
legally and medically trained. Furthermore, there would be a
reservoir of experts that the court could rely upon in order to
avoid the current situation in which there are dueling experts.
He informed the committee that only about 4 percent of
negligence cases end up in the court system because most people
don't pursue a remedy for the injury they've suffered. Due to
the aforementioned, the medical profession isn't as quick in
spotting and resolving problems that might be occurring. The
aforementioned places everyone in a reactive mode rather than a
proactive mode that could reduce costs.
3:31:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER referred to page 4, line 1, which
specifies that the commission should address the public
availability of health care cost information. She asked if that
language is the beginning of the debate of hospitals reporting
and posting their charges.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ replied yes, and opined that the more
informed the consumer is the better.
3:32:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA opined that having the proper information
about what is available can result in a well-made decision for
which one can spend his/her money wisely. However, currently
the consumer doesn't have that information.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said that one of the predicates for the
capitalist system is for the consumer to have perfect knowledge
and help consumers hold down unnecessary costs.
3:33:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO turned attention to the fiscal note and
highlighted that it calls for an executive director at a Range
22, which earns about $96,000.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated, "This fiscal note is clearly
the result of an administration that's not anxious to move one
of my bills, and so I think that's what it reflects." He said
he expected that if the legislation were ever to move that the
fiscal note would be brought down to a more manageable level.
He noted that he wasn't consulted with regard to how the fiscal
note was drafted. However, he further noted that the salaries
specified include the benefits. In further response to
Representative Gatto, Representative Berkowitz said it would
depend on who is hired as to what benefits would attach.
3:34:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA pointed out that one issue is that
different groups have reviewed the problem and developed
different solutions. However, when groups have come together at
the various conferences, everyone has agreed that all parts of
the system have to be included in order to develop a compromise
and solution.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ highlighted that almost 125,000
Alaskans don't have health care insurance, which is
unacceptable. He then highlighted the situation in
Massachusetts where the problem is being aggressively addressed.
The fact that a bipartisan solution arose seems to indicate that
where there is the will to address the problem, it can be done.
Massachusetts used largely a free market solution. The
Massachusetts governor has pointed out that "we" pay for the
uninsured whether it's in the emergency room or through [higher]
insurance costs. Therefore, the Massachusetts governor opined
that there needs to be a better way of allocating the same
dollars. Representative Berkowitz said that as long as Alaska
is trapped in these high costs of medical care, insurance and
medical care can't be provided. He stressed the need for
legislators to do what they can to ensure that as many Alaskans
as possible have access to health care.
3:38:23 PM
CHAIR WILSON opined that one of the largest challenges in Alaska
is the size of the state and the logistics involved in providing
health care to its population. The aforementioned contributes
to health care costs in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ highlighted that Alaska's telemedicine
capabilities allow a medical professional with a particular
expertise to review cases in rural areas. He stressed that
there is economic potential in telemedicine because it can be
used worldwide for analysis and consultation. He emphasized the
need for Alaska to take advantage of its position on the globe
and the technology already utilized and that can be further
utilized.
CHAIR WILSON noted that she has requested $1 million for
radiology technology for 12 hospitals that are located
throughout the state.
3:41:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO informed the committee that Massachusetts
recently passed legislation mandating that every private company
will provide insurance for its employees. That requirement is a
double-edged sword because small businesses may have to decide
whether to stay in business, but individuals with insurance
usually seek treatment from a physician while the uninsured most
often seek treatment in an emergency room.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ related that Massachusetts is very
concerned with the ability of small businesses to come together
to find insurance packages that work for everyone. In relation
to the Massachusetts situation, it has been noted that not only
have the very small businesses had a difficult time acquiring
insurance, the insurance companies have a difficult time
developing a package that suits small businesses.
Representative Berkowitz said that he became frustrated and
aggravated to hear only about benefit cuts in relation to health
care. Benefit cuts are merely a cost shift because someone will
pay for it somewhere and efficiencies and economies of scale are
lost when the state is involved. Representative Berkowitz then
related a quote from Mario Cuomo, as follows: "It's not
government's job to do the job, it's government's job to make
sure the job gets done." The legislature, he opined, has the
responsibility of ensuring that everyone has access to health
care.
3:45:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING moved to report HB 396 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO objected due to the fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ reminded the committee that the fiscal
note is the responsibility of the House Finance Committee while
the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing
Committee addresses any of the substantive issues of the
legislation. He said that he could accept the committee holding
the legislation due to substantive issues, but he indicated his
disagreement with holding the legislation because of the fiscal
note.
CHAIR WILSON reminded the committee of her announcement at an
earlier meeting, that the committee would not report out any
House legislation, but rather utilize remaining House
legislation for ideas for next year.
3:48:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA, drawing upon her experience as a
Democrat, related that Democrats go to an enormous amount of
work on good ideas that would save the state money. However,
such legislation is often pushed to the bottom of the list.
CHAIR WILSON interjected that the aforementioned is why she
chose to make this a working committee to make recommendations.
Chair Wilson asked if Representative Kohring would withdraw his
motion.
3:49:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING sustained his motion.
CHAIR WILSON announced that the motion would be left pending
while testimony from the department is taken.
3:50:35 PM
DWAYNE PEEPLES, Director, Division of Health Care Services
(DHCS), Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), noted
that the committee should be in possession of a memorandum dated
February 21, 2006, from the department regarding some of the
issues that the department is addressing related to health care.
He offered to respond to questions.
3:51:15 PM
MR. PEEPLES specified that the department has been trying to
address various issues, including what is occurring with
Medicare, financing, and Medicaid services. The department has
also been reviewing the possibility of revising the certificate
of need, tweaking Denali KidCare, and trying to bring on more
programs. There was also a recent revision of State Public
Health laws. Furthermore, the department has worked closely
with the Denali Commission in regard to developing health care
facilities and health care services. Mr. Peeples highlighted
that the largest area of focus is chronic disease management and
ways to improve disease prevention and control so as to use it
as a reimbursable service. For example, tobacco cessation is a
reimbursable service under Medicaid. Moreover, the department
is also working to maintain and recruit in the health care
positions in which there are shortages. There has also been
work to coordinate benefits with health care insurance. The
commission as proposed by HB 396 would provide a higher level of
interest in trying to resolve some of the health care issues and
the associated costs.
3:53:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA inquired as to what the state is doing to
ensure that the environment is appropriate for the market to do
its job. She further inquired as to what the state is doing for
the uninsured. She also inquired as to whether the state is
doing anything similar to what is proposed in HB 396.
MR. PEEPLES replied no.
The committee took an at-ease from 3:55:30 PM to 3:56:11 PM.
3:56:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING restated his motion to report HB 396 out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 396 was
reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services
Standing Committee. [Representative Gatto's earlier objection
was treated as withdrawn.]
The committee took an at-ease from 3:56:57 PM to 3:56:57 PM.
HCR 31-HEALTH INFORMATION & REFERRAL SYSTEM
3:57:44 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 31, Relating to an integrated
statewide information and referral system.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA moved to adopt HCR 31. There being no
objection, HCR 31 was before the committee.
3:58:05 PM
LORI CARINI, Staff to Representative Sharon Cissna, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced HCR 31, on behalf of Representative
Cissna, prime sponsor, paraphrasing from a statement which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
This resolution advocates for the development of a
health-related, integrated information and referral
system in Alaska.
Before I describe how this information service might
work, I would like to briefly explain those factors
that exit in Alaska that point to a need for an
information and referral system which would be
available to anyone with a phone.
Currently in Alaska 19% of the population is
uninsured - ISER Study and Combine the issue of
the uninsured with those who are actually
underinsured, then numbers increase even more for
those whose health care dollars are really
stretched and health care options are restricted.
3:59:34 PM
MS. CARINI continued:
Besides access issues, this committee heard the
Lewin Group report which stated the senior
population is growing at an increased rate, and
the HSS budget subcommittee overview indicated
that on a per capita basis have the second
fastest growing senior population in the nation.
And this population is finding it more difficult
to find doctors who will accept Medicare
patients.
One report by Commonwealth North placed Alaska as
one of the top five states in terms of the cost
of medical and surgical procedures
This same report described the doctor shortage
since ½ the doctors in Alaska are over 50
and getting closer to retirement age. This
shortage will only increase in the future.
*Rough estimate of bankruptcies 70% nationwide
due to health-related debt - (One study
indicated)
So all these factors, access to affordable healthcare
and the limited availability of resources, not to
mention the remoteness of some of Alaska's
communities, points to a need for a service that
matches people with health and social service
providers.
An Information and Referral service, with a
corresponding searchable website helps, people through
the maze of health and human service agencies. This
information line could:
Provide various types of information and referral
services, but all have a health care/social
service referral emphasis and usually connect
people with volunteer opportunities
Provide links to appropriate agencies/services
with one number, most states using a dedicated 2-
1-1 line.
The concept behind HCR 31 does not advocate
medical advice being provided or becoming a
database for storing people's personal
information
Other states have already started this process:
Included Connecticut and California
Some of these examples from their websites show
that this 2-1-1 system, which is easy to remember
could actually be used to coordinate services and
volunteers during natural/manmade disasters.
Currently two bills (referred to as the "Calling
for the 2-1-1 Act House and Senate) going through
Congress that would dedicate Federal funds (150
mil) to support states in starting-up or
expanding these services.
2-1-1 is found to be most effective when built on
solid public/private partnerships with a diverse
and sustainable funding base
Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIR
standards and certification process)
Most states are participate in this certification
process for training those manning the infolines and
maintaining the database
As of March 2006, 2-1-1 information and referral
system served over 168 million Americans through
187 active 2-1-1 systems in 38 states, Washington
DC and Puerto Rico.
Usually funding is though public and private
partnership and the United Way is the non-profit
organization, in most instances, used to
implement the program statewide.
United Way America commissioned a study to assess
the expected costs and benefits of a nationwide
system. University of Texas at Austin found it
would ultimately provide American taxpayers up to
$1.1 billion in net value over the next 10 years
(unitedway.org)
One of the main points I would like to leave you with
that instead of people using the emergency rooms as
their primary form of medical care or waiting until an
illness reaches the crisis level, a 2-1-1 system could
help them find the appropriate assistance earlier.
Basically provides options for "who" to call and
ultimately saves communities/hospitals money.
Really this resolution is highlighting a very basic
economic principal that in order for consumers to
maximize their purchasing power, especially where
resources of goods and services are limited, then they
need to have adequate and reliable information before
making these purchasing decisions.
4:07:30 PM
MICHELE BROWN, President, United Way of Anchorage, informed the
committee that for many years United Way of Anchorage has
operated "AK Info", which was a limited information and referral
system. The AK Info system was designed jointly with the state
in order to ensure that information regarding Denali KidCare and
WIC [Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants
and Children] locations are readily available. That limited
system has been fielding about 500 calls per month for
assistance. She highlighted the mobile population that exists
between rural and urban Alaska, which results in individuals who
arrive in the state's major communities not knowing where to
obtain help. Therefore, the United Ways in the state wanted to
expand the system such that it's a statewide information and
referral system so that there would only be one number to know.
U.S. Senator Ted Stevens provided a grant through the federal
Department of Health and Social Services to begin an expanded
statewide system that would match the 2-1-1 requirements. This
system will begin in the urban areas where information and
referral systems already exist and can be built upon. In other
states the aforementioned has saved much money due to a
centralized database.
MS. BROWN pointed out that currently the databases are being
created, expanded, and linked. This system will be both a
telephone and web-based system. This system, she opined, has
proven to be enormously responsive in other states. In fact,
about 50 percent of the nation now has access to a 2-1-1 line.
Although this system was very useful during Hurricane Katrina,
it is also useful on a daily basis for connecting people to food
banks, rent assistance, mental and physical health resources, et
cetera. What has been discovered is that often the most
difficult thing is for an individual to find the help needed
because when people can be connected quickly, the amount of
services necessary in each location can be determined. Ms.
Brown related that she expected for a call center to be in place
by next fall.
4:12:18 PM
MS. BROWN, in response to Chair Wilson, clarified that this
system won't be statewide this fall, but that is the ultimate
goal. In further response to Chair Wilson, Ms. Brown specified
that this call center will provide referrals for services
related to the caller's needs.
4:13:13 PM
TED ISRAELSON, Manager, Information Technology Services,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), turned to the
indeterminate fiscal note. He explained that he looked at this
creation of an integrated database from a technical perspective.
With the information at hand and reviewing how a database such
as this would become a statewide-integrated database, a higher
level of research and analysis would be required in order to
make any type of reasonable estimate as to the fiscal impact.
4:14:42 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if the department will work with the United
Way on this.
MR. ISRAELSON replied yes, and echoed Ms. Brown's testimony that
this is a state/private partnership.
4:15:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA related her understanding that one of the
concepts is that the providers will pay a nominal amount. She
also noted that there are other ways in which to bring in
private sector funding. There is the notion that all of the
aforementioned would benefit the state, and she asked if Mr.
Israelson believed that to be true.
MR. ISRAELSON answered that he agreed that the benefits will be
there for the state to capitalize on this. Furthermore, the
providers will want to participate, perhaps even with money, as
this may offer a competitive advantage.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA recalled the pandemic summit in Anchorage
during which there was discussion brought forward with regard to
the need for people to isolate themselves in their own home.
She opined that this 2-1-1 system could possibly assist [in a
pandemic situation].
MR. ISRAELSON agreed that this proposed system could partner to
address a situation requiring coordination. The volunteer
aspect of this service, he opined, is essential, especially
given a situation like a pandemic. Any type of a disaster, he
said, calls for a means of coordinating people who can provide
medical assistance.
4:18:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA mentioned that this proposal is a means
for the state to help the private sector work more efficiently.
She pointed out that obtaining basic health care information,
which requires the use of long distance phone calls can be a
burden on individuals.
[HCR 31 was held over.]
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 4:20:27 PM.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|