Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/20/2001 03:03 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
March 20, 2001
3:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Fred Dyson, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Sharon Cissna
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Reggie Joule
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 115
"An Act allowing a physician assistant or advanced nurse
practitioner to certify the need for emergency treatment as a
result of intoxication."
- HEARD AND HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 113
"An Act relating to health care insurance payments for hospital
or medical services; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 113(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 124
"An Act prohibiting nursing facilities and assisted living homes
from employing or allowing access by persons with certain
criminal backgrounds, with exceptions."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 115
SHORT TITLE:EMERGENCY COMMITMENT ORDERS
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)KAPSNER
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/07/01 0263 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/07/01 0263 (H) HES
02/07/01 0263 (H) REFERRED TO HES
03/07/01 0501 (H) COSPONSOR(S): DYSON
03/20/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 113
SHORT TITLE:HEALTH CARE INSURANCE PAYMENTS
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)GREEN
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/05/01 0241 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/05/01 0241 (H) L&C, HES
02/26/01 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17
02/26/01 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(L&C)
02/28/01 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17
02/28/01 (H) Moved CSHB 113(L&C) Out of
Committee
MINUTE(L&C)
03/07/01 0496 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 3DP 2NR 1AM
03/07/01 0496 (H) DP: CRAWFORD, HAYES, MEYER;
03/07/01 0496 (H) NR: HALCRO, MURKOWSKI; AM:
ROKEBERG
03/07/01 0496 (H) FN1: ZERO(CED)
03/07/01 0496 (H) FN2: INDETERMINATE(ADM)
03/13/01 0579 (H) COSPONSOR(S): DYSON
03/20/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 424
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 115.
SENATOR DONALD OLSON
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 510
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Cross-sponsor of HB 115.
PAM WATTS, Director
Governor's Advisory Board on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services
PO Box 110608
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 115.
BARBARA CRAVER, Attorney
506 West 9th Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HB 115 on behalf of
herself and Pam Watts.
ANNE HENRY, Special Projects Coordinator
Division of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
Department of Health & Social Services
PO Box 110620
Juneau, Alaska 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 115.
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 403
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 113.
KEVIN JARDELL, Staff
to Representative Joe Green
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 403
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 113 on behalf of the
sponsor.
JIM JORDAN, Executive Director
Alaska State Medical Association
4107 Laurel Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 113.
KATIE CAMPBELL, Actuary Life/Health
Division of Insurance
Department of Community & Economic Development
PO Box 11805
Juneau, Alaska 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 113.
NICOLE BAGBY, Account Executive
Aetna
601 Union Street
Seattle, Washington 98101
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 113.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-30, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.
Members present at the call to order were Representatives Dyson,
Wilson, Coghill, Stevens, and Kohring. Representative Cissna
joined the meeting as it was in progress.
HB 115-EMERGENCY COMMITMENT ORDERS
CHAIR DYSON announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 115, "An Act allowing a physician assistant or
advanced nurse practitioner to certify the need for emergency
treatment as a result of intoxication."
Number 0160
REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER, Alaska State Legislature, came
forth as sponsor of HB 115. She stated that this bill proposes
to change the involuntary commitment statute, Title 47, to allow
midlevel practitioners such as physician assistants and advanced
nurse practitioners to sign medical certificates of necessity
for treatment for individuals with alcohol and drug dependency.
Number 0216
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to adopt the proposed
committee substitute (CS) for HB 115, version 22-LS0059\F, Ford,
2/15/01, as a work draft. There being no objection, proposed
CSHB 115 was before the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER continued, stating that this bill also
expands the definition of mental health professional to include
licensed clinical social workers, licensed marital and family
therapists, and licensed professional counselors. She explained
to the committee the reason she decided to sponsor this bill.
She said:
The requirement that a physician involuntarily commit
patients is quite burdensome, especially in remote and
rural areas of Alaska where physicians aren't readily
accessible in many instances. This results in reduced
access to treatment for those vulnerable Alaskans,
many of whom move through both the criminal justice
system and emergency medical facilities. The proposed
change will allow communities where physicians may not
be present to utilize physician's assistants and
advanced nurse practitioners who staff local clinics
to complete the required certificates of necessity for
treatment.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER remarked that she hasn't met anyone
opposed to this legislation.
Number 0350
SENATOR DONALD OLSON, Alaska State Legislature, came forth as
cross-sponsor of HB 115. He remarked that he is privileged to
be a part of this bill, having gone to medical school and return
to practice health care amongst the people that he was raised
and grew up with in the Nome area. He said the reason he came
back was because there was a significant physician shortage in
Western Alaska and all of the Bush hospitals.
Number 0464
SENATOR OLSON remarked that Nome recognized [the shortage] early
on and fairly aggressively recruited physicians. He shared that
[once] during the shortage he had a lady in the delivery room, a
gunshot victim in the emergency room, a knifing going on in the
village, and he was by himself. He said that the last thing he
wanted to be doing was giving the nod to an evaluation by a
midlevel person saying that he or she wanted to commit a person.
Number 0555
CHAIR DYSON asked Senator Olson if he sees any chances of abuse
[under this bill].
SENATOR OLSON replied that with any type of bill there is
possible abuse. He said he feels that the portion of times that
it has happened has been very minimal. He stated that right
now, especially in rural Alaska, there are midlevel
practitioners who are doing almost the same things that fully
licensed physicians are doing, and they take that responsibility
with a fair amount of weight. He remarked that he had never
seen it abused.
CHAIR DYSON asked if someone in power commits a person, what
rights a person has to appeal.
Number 0685
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked Senator Olson what the process is
when somebody certifies an individual as needing emergency
treatment.
SENATOR OLSON answered that if somebody comes to the emergency
room in the middle of the night while the physician on call is
there and a midlevel practitioner admits the person, there is
usually a protocol for him or her to have emergency treatment.
Mainly, someone from mental health or substance abuse gets
involved. He stated that if a patient is seen out in a rural
setting by somebody who thinks he or she needs to be admitted or
committed, it is the obligation of the physician in charge to
send a "Medivac" with adequate personnel to make sure that the
health and welfare of [the patient] is taken care of. The
person would then go to a hospital, where the same thing would
occur as if he or she had gone to the emergency room.
Number 0830
PAM WATTS, Director, Governor's Advisory Board on Alcoholism &
Drug Abuse (ABADA), Office of the Commissioner, Department of
Health & Social Services, came forth and stated that the [ABADA]
supports HB 115. She said the involuntary commitment statute in
the state requires that a licensed physician in Alaska be able
to sign a certificate of necessity for treatment that must
accompany a petition for commitment. She stated that the
problem is that in rural communities there often are not
physicians available. Although the physician is not generally
the person who is actually applying for the commitment, the
physical examination has to be conducted by a licensed
physician. She remarked that the end result is that many rural
residents who are eligible for involuntary alcohol commitments
keep rotating through the correctional system and don't get the
help they need because there is no one available to sign the
certificates. She added that physicians are understandably
reluctant to sign [following a telephone call], without
physically examining the individual.
CHAIR DYSON asked what civil rights protections the patients
have.
Number 0990
BARBARA CRAVER, Attorney, [speaking on behalf of herself and Pam
Watts] responded that there are actually three different
procedures being dealt with by HB 115. She stated that
according to the title [of the bill], the first part of the Act,
Section 1, talks about a mental health commitment. This is a
special kind of commitment for people who may harm themselves or
others due to a mental health disability or condition. She
stated that she believes that the ex parte commitment is an
initial 72-hour hold. If it is decided that the person is
suitable for a longer commitment of 30 days, he or she will have
an attorney appointed and a judge must issue the commitment
order.
Number 1042
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked who would [issue the commitment
order] in areas such as Wrangell, where there isn't a judge.
MS. CRAVER answered that an ex parte commitment is a 72-hour
hold and she doesn't believe that a judge has to be present in
granting that.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON remarked that she was involved in
something similar to this in Wrangell and a magistrate was
involved.
MS. CRAVER remarked that there may be some kind of a preliminary
judicial involvement in the beginning of the mental health
procedures, but for a short-term situation the judicial
involvement is fairly minimal. She continued, stating that
Sections 2 and 3 deal with an emergency commitment for alcohol
and drug abuse to public treatment facilities, which is a fairly
select group of facilities. She stated that Sections 4 and 5
apply to a long-term commitment for alcohol or drug abuse.
People who are issued an alcohol commitment are entitled to an
attorney and a court-appointed attorney if they are indigent.
They are encouraged within the 48-hour period, in Sections 2 and
3, to have access to legal counsel. She stated that if a 30-day
commitment is sought under [Sections 4 and 5], a person is
entitled to an attorney and a trial before a judge. She added
that there are two opportunities for the petitioner to go back
for 180-day recommitments. She noted that [people who are
involuntarily committed] basically have the same rights as if in
a criminal trial.
Number 1197
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked Ms. Craver to clarify what she said
about Section 1.
MS. CRAVER replied that she has never dealt with a mental health
commitment, but she believes that when a longer hold is issued
an attorney must be appointed to the person.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS remarked that the title [of the bill]
speaks just to intoxication, yet the body talks about mental
health and long-term care. He asked if this is the proper
format and if the title should reflect all of the changes being
requested in the bill.
CHAIR DYSON replied that a [semi] colon on line 2 of the title
makes mental health proceedings separate, in parallel
construction to civil proceedings on line 3.
MS. WATTS stated that the section pertaining to mental health
professionals doesn't change who can commit people for a mental
health commitment. The issue is that a number of mental health
professionals currently do the examinations that are then
reviewed by a psychiatrist prior to a commitment. She stated
that this would amend the statute to broaden the definition of
mental health professional.
Number 1469
ANNE HENRY, Special Projects Coordinator, Division of Mental
Health & Developmental Disabilities, Department of Health &
Social Services, came forth to testify on HB 115. She stated:
The Division of Mental Health & Developmental
Disabilities supports the efforts to expand the pool
of mental health professional available to do mental
health civil commitments as an issue of increasing
consumer health and safety.
When a person with a mental health problem seeks an
evaluation for possible admittance to a mental health
hospital facility, a mental health professional (MHP)
is called upon to conduct the evaluation. The goal of
the evaluation is to determine whether or not the
individual has a mental health illness and, as a
result, is gravely disabled or likely to cause serious
harm to self or others. The goal of that mental
health professional at the time that [he or she is]
doing that evaluation is actually to do the least
restrictive thing for that patient. If the MHP
determines that the individual fits the criteria for
civil commitment, and the individual refuses voluntary
hospitalization, a call is placed to a consulting
psychiatrist or physician. And if that psychiatrist
or physician concurs with the evaluation of the MHP,
then they contact a judge. ... The judge hearing the
results of the evaluation and the concurrence of the
psychiatrist and physician then makes the decision
whether or not to involuntarily commit that person.
There is currently very limited choice of who is
eligible to do these commitments. According to the
current statutes a mental health professional is
defined as a psychiatrist or physician who is licensed
to practice in this state or employed by the federal
government; a clinical psychologist licensed by the
board; a psychological associate trained in clinical
psychology and licensed by the state Board of
Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners;
or a trained nurse with a master's degree in
psychiatric nursing, licensed by the State Board of
Nursing; and a social worker with a master's degree in
social work with substantial experience in the field
of mental illness.
MS. HENRY remarked that this statute was written in 1986 and
since then the state has licensed social workers, marital and
family therapists, and licensed professional counselors.
Number 1594
MS. HENRY continued, stating:
In mental health agencies across the state, there are
approximately 140 mental health clinicians doing
emergency service evaluations. In reality, currently,
about half of these folks fit the legal definition of
who's able to do this MHP evaluation. And in rural
areas this is particularly difficult, to get licensed
folks.
MS. HENRY remarked that the state recognizes all of these
different clinicians as having at least two years' worth of
post-graduate experience and having passed examinations or
rigorous scrutiny from the boards that license them. The
Department of Health & Social Services encourages this
definition change, and the Alaska Mental Health Board supports
the bill. She remarked that requiring licensure and including
all of the master's-level mental health clinicians enlarges the
pool of MHPs who must meet the legislatively mandated standards
of education, experience, and professionalism.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS stated that he understands the logic of
changing the rules of who can commit someone for alcohol [abuse]
in a village or in a difficult situation in which there needs to
be an emergency decision. He asked why this would also be
needed for a long-term situation, since there would be more time
for a physician or psychiatrist to make the decision.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER replied that she doesn't know how much
[the bill] is directly related to just emergency situations.
Midlevel practitioners do a lot of the person-to-person
interaction, and there is a dearth of doctors statewide, so this
would eliminate a middleman.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS remarked that a 30-day involuntary
commitment is such a serious issue he can't imagine that the
rules should be changed for that.
Number 1759
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON shared that when she lived in Tok and
worked in a clinic the only [medical] people there were almost
always advanced practitioners or PAs (physician assistants).
When someone came in who needed help, there was limited [staff].
She stated that sometimes a 30-day program is available right
away. If that person can go right then, when that slot is open,
the [staff needs to act fast].
MS. CRAVER suggested that in Section 4, page 3, line 4, the
words "physician" and "of the examination" could be deleted
because if the section is passed, the bill is expanding the
people who can make the examination to a licensed physician,
physician assistant, or advanced nurse practitioner. She added
that the language could state, "The certificate must set out
the medical examiner's findings."
Number 1880
CHAIR DYSON clarified that the proposed amendment on page 3,
line 4, deletes "physician's" and "of the examination" and
inserts the word "medical examiner's" where the word
"physician's" had been. [No objection was stated, and he
announced that Amendment 1 was adopted.]
MS. CRAVER proposed an amendment that in Section 5, page 3, line
10, "AS 47.37.180(b) or" should be deleted because it refers to
an emergency commitment under AS 47.37.180, which is a distinct
and separate commitment from a 30-day commitment under AS
47.37.190 and AS 47.37.200.
Number 1922
CHAIR DYSON clarified that Amendment 2 would delete on page 3,
line 10, "AS 47.37.180(b) or". [No objection was stated, and he
announced that Amendment 2 was adopted.]
MS. CRAVER proposed an amendment in Section 5, lines 14 and 15,
that "AS.47.37.180(b) or" be deleted so that it would read, "If
the person has refused to be examined under AS 47.37.190(a)".
Number 1962
CHAIR DYSON clarified that Amendment 3 would delete "AS
47.37.180 (b) or". [No objection was stated, and he announced
that Amendment 3 was adopted.]
CHAIR DYSON stated that he was going to hold this bill over in
order for Representative Kapsner to assure the committee,
referring to Representative Stevens' point, that during the 30-
day commitment there is not a licensed physician generally
available. [HB 115 was held over.]
HB 113-HEALTH CARE INSURANCE PAYMENTS
CHAIR DYSON announced that the committee would hear HOUSE BILL
NO. 113, "An Act relating to health care insurance payments for
hospital or medical services; and providing for an effective
date." [Before the committee was CSHB 113(L&C).]
Number 2038
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to adopt the proposed
committee substitute (CS) for HB 113, version O, 22-LS0418\O,
Ford, 3/19/01, as a work draft. There being no objection,
proposed CSHB 113, Version O, was before the committee.
Number 2050
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN, Alaska State Legislature, came forth
as sponsor of HB 113. He stated that HB 113 allows physicians
to be reimbursed from insurance carriers in a reasonable time,
which is 30 calendar days. If for some reason the insurance
company finds a defect in the claim, the physician must provide
a "clean claim," and then there are 15 calendar days, from that
point, for the insurance company to make payment.
CHAIR DYSON asked if the bill allows or requires [the insurance
companies] to promptly pay.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN answered yes, [it requires the insurance
companies to promptly pay].
Number 2120
KEVIN JARDELL, Staff to Representative Joe Green, Alaska State
Legislature, stated that Section 1 requires the director of the
Division of Insurance to place in his or her annual report the
percentage of claims that are meeting the deadlines imposed by
the legislation in order to see how it is having an effect on
the insurance companies and providers. He stated that Section 2
ensures that if insurers receive a clean claim, they have 30
calendar days to pay that. If they do not in fact send that
payment by the 30th day, interest will begin accruing on the
outstanding claim. He said if the claim is not clean, the
physician has 30 days to notify the provider or the insured as
to what items are necessary to complete it as a clean claim and
to make a judgment as to whether or not it is covered.
CHAIR DYSON asked who decides what's clean.
MR. JARDELL replied that there is a standard form that providers
use to send claims to the insurers. Insurers will look at the
claim and decide whether all the necessary information is there
on that claim. If [the insurer] sees that there are items
missing, [the insurer] can send a notification to the provider
or the insured of what certain individual items are needed for
determination. He remarked that in situations in which there is
a "bad faith" action and insurers are saying that things are
necessary that aren't, complaints would be expected to be filed
with the Division of Insurance, which would then appropriately
address them.
Number 2212
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked what a clean claim is.
MR. JARDELL answered that a clean claim is defined in subsection
(k), as, "a claim that does not have a defect, impropriety, or
circumstance requiring special treatment that [precludes] timely
payment on the claim." He stated that definitions similar to
this are used for Medicare payments. He added that he
understands this is a broad definition, which is somewhat
beneficial to the insurers.
Number 2287
JIM JORDAN, Executive Director, Alaska State Medical
Association, testified via teleconference. He clarified that
the bill covers other types of medical care providers besides
physicians such as hospitals, dentists, and nurses.
CHAIR DYSON stated that his wife is a mental health provider; he
asked if this bill would allow her to get paid quicker.
MR. JARDELL responded that it is his understanding that an
insurance claim made for a mental health provider would be
covered.
Number 2341
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS remarked that, in Section 1, the bill
asks something additional of the director of [the Division of]
Insurance. He asked if there is an additional cost that would
be accrued to find these figures.
TAPE 01-30, SIDE B
KEVIN JARDELL answered that it is his understanding that [the
director has such a long report], this would not be burdensome.
Number 2337
KATIE CAMPBELL, Actuary Life/Health, Division of Insurance,
Department of Community & Economic Development, came forth in
support of HB 113. In response to Representative Stevens'
questions, she stated that it shouldn't be an additional
expense. She explained that [the Division of Insurance] sends
out a survey every year to the health insurers.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL remarked that he noticed the effective
date is 2002 and asked if that was to allow for more time to
compile the information.
MR. JARDELL responded that the extended effective date was to
make sure the insurers have time to update their computers and
systems in order to not "get behind the curve".
Number 2259
NICOLE BAGBY, Account Executive, Aetna, testified via
teleconference. She stated that Aetna is a large payer of
health benefit claims in Alaska, in addition to other vendors.
She stated that many customers in Alaska are self-funded, such
as the State of Alaska, and [Aetna] serves as their plan
administrator. Aetna does not profit from any delay in the
payment of claims and, she said, the money to fund the payment
of claims usually resides in the customer's bank account, not
[Aetna's]. She stated that all of [Aetna's] large contracts
with customers already have performance guarantees, which can
financially penalize [Aetna] if it doesn't pay claims within
agreed-upon timeframes. She noted that [the timeframes] are
usually 30 days or less.
MS. BAGBY continued, stating that [Aetna] also fully insures
about 10,000 individuals in the state of Alaska, which is a
small number compared to the total fully insured market segment.
She concluded that with the amendments adopted by the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee and the subsequent changes
suggested by Representative Green, [Aetna] feels this
requirement is in line with and similar to other states'
statutes.
MR. JARDELL, in response to Chair Dyson's earlier question,
stated that he believes if the group insurance policy covered
mental health issues it would be covered under this requirement.
Number 2148
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked why the [requirement] is necessary
if, as Nicole Bagby said, it's in line with similar and other
statutes.
MR. JARDELL replied that he believes it is in line with other
states' statutes, but not Alaska's.
Number 2125
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to move the CS for HB 113,
Version O, [22-LS0418\O, Ford, 3/19/01] from committee with
individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING objected for comments. He asked what
prompted the need for this legislation,
MR. JARDELL responded that a number of providers had approached
Representative Green's office and outlined some of the problems
they were having, when dealing with the insurance companies
under the current statute and regulations, with timely payments
and receipts to those payments. He reported that currently the
statute says an insurer may pay within 30 working days and that
there is a provision that if the insured puts in writing the
requirement, then [the insurer] must pay within 30 working days.
Under the regulations [3] AAC 26.040, there is a ten-day
notification whereby the insurance company is supposed to notify
[the first-party claimant], identifying the person handling the
claim including the person's name, and address, and phone number
,and file number of the claim. Under [3 AAC 26.070] there's a
15-working-day notification requirement to advise, in writing,
of acceptance or denial. If further time is required, the
reasons must be given and then there is a 30-working-day
requirement to pay a complete claim.
MR. JARDELL continued, stating that under [3 AAC 26.050] there
is a 30-working-day requirement to give notification that
specifically states the need and reasons for additional
investigative time. After that, [3 AAC 26.070] says that within
45 working days after initial notification, reasons must be
given if more investigation is needed; after that, [reasons must
be given] every 45 working days until the insurance company
determines whether they should be paid or not. He added that
there's no finality; therefore, without some structure to hold
the insurance companies accountable, it was the belief of the
providers that their intake procedures were not efficient or
effective. He remarked that they have never been forced to be
effective because there is no requirement to pay within a
certain time.
Number 2001
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING remarked that he understands that there
are statutory requirements in place. He stated that he was
wondering if there were any specific examples [of problems].
CHAIR DYSON responded that there certainly are to him. He
remarked that a significant number of medical providers had said
that they were waiting up to four months to be paid.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING added that he sees this legislation as
using the heavy hand of government to force an industry to
operate a certain way.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN suggested that the heavy-handedness is
actually more of a compromise. He stated that [this
legislation] has brought the two factions together, and that
both sides have agreed through this bill.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING removed his objection.
Number 1902
CHAIR DYSON announced that there being no objection, CSHB
113(HES) moved from the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee.
CHAIR DYSON called for an at-ease at 4:03 p.m. in order to hear
the overviews regarding the Alaska Community Health Association
and the American Institute of Full Employment. [The minutes for
the overview on the Alaska Community Health Association are
found in the 4:09 p.m. minutes for the same date, and the
minutes for the overview on the American Institute of Full
Employment are found in the 4:25 p.m. minutes for the same
date.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|