02/01/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB242 | |
| HB260 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 260 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 242 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 1, 2024
3:04 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Prax, Chair
Representative CJ McCormick
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Jesse Sumner
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Genevieve Mina
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 242
"An Act extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program;
and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 260
"An Act repealing programs for catastrophic illness assistance
and medical assistance for chronic and acute medical
conditions."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 242
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) VANCE
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) HSS, FIN
02/01/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 260
SHORT TITLE: CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS/MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STAPP
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) HSS, FIN
02/01/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 242.
ROBERT BALLINGER, Staff
Representative Sarah Vance
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Sarah Vance,
prime sponsor, answered questions about HB 242.
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 260.
HONOUR MILLER-AUSTIN, Staff
Representative Will Stapp
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the prime sponsor,
Representative Will Stapp, provided background and the sectional
analysis for HB 260.
DEB ETHERIDGE, Director
Division of Public Assistance
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about HB 260.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:03:34 PM
CHAIR PRAX called the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Representatives Prax,
Saddler, Sumner, Fields, and Mina were present at the call to
order. Representative McCormick arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
HB 242-EXTEND SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
3:05:03 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 242, "An Act extending the Alaska senior benefits
payment program; and providing for an effective date."
3:05:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 242. She explained that HB 242 would
extend the sunset date on the Senior Benefits Payment Program by
10 years until June 2034. Alaska has a long-standing commitment
to its senior population, and this bill is especially crucial as
the cost of living rises. The support of seniors dates back to
1915. In 1950 Alaska paid bonuses of 12 dollars a year for
those who had lived in the state for a decade, acknowledging the
pioneers who had contributed to the building of the state. With
the oil boom in the 1970s, the longevity bonus program was
introduced. In 2003 the program changed to a needs-based
program with additional changes in 2004 and in 2007. The
income-based eligibility is tied to the federal poverty
guidelines, and the program addresses the rising costs to
seniors on fixed incomes. This program reaffirms the state's
dedication to assisting those who have contributed to Alaska's
rich history.
3:08:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether payment amounts would be
adjusted with inflation if the date is extended by 10 years.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE explained that adjusting for inflation is
already part of the program.
3:09:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired about the net result for the
state of Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE explained that as a fiscal conservative,
she believes every dollar counts. However, with the rising cost
of food and medical services, this specifically would go to low-
income elders who need an extra hand. She referred the
committee to the packet which shows the level of payment
depending on income which provides extra assistance for the
purchase of food or medicine. She explained that in her
district a third of her constituents are seniors, a majority of
whom rely on social security. Legislators consistently agree on
this program.
3:11:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented that this program is one of
several and that most of the recipients are likely to qualify
for Medicaid and additional low-income benefits. This is not
the only support for Alaska seniors.
3:11:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked whether there are other states that
have state-funded senior benefit programs similar to Alaska's.
ROBERT BALLINGER, Staff, Representative Sarah Vance, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Vance, prime
sponsor of HB 242, explained that there are no other states with
a program exactly like Alaska's although three other states have
similar programs.
3:12:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE, in response to questions from the
committee, explained that 10 years was chosen as a surety to the
seniors that the program would not go away. The Senate bill has
an eight-year extension, she noted.
3:13:39 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that HB 242 was held over.
HB 260-CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS/MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
3:13:43 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 260, "An Act repealing programs for catastrophic
illness assistance and medical assistance for chronic and acute
medical conditions."
3:14:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 260, explaining that he believes in
results-based budgeting and efficient operations. This would be
a straight repeal of a program called "Catastrophic and Acute
Medical Assistance" (CAMA), which has a long history in Alaska.
However, since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was adopted and
Alaska expanded Medicaid, there have been no recipients of this
assistance in the two previous years, and prior to that, there
were only two people in the program. Approximately $150,000 is
appropriated for the program, but that doesn't represent the
entire cost of administering the program. He consulted with
management and eligibility technicians at the Division of Public
Assistance (DPA) to see what the legislature could do to help
streamline the application process, and this bill addresses that
issue.
3:18:43 PM
HONOUR MILLER-AUSTIN, Staff, Representative Will Stapp, Alaska
State Legislature, discussed the history of the CAMA program and
its original recipients. She presented the sectional analysis
for HB 260 to the committee [included in the committee packet],
which reads as follows [original punctuation provided]:
1 AS 36.30.850(b)(11) Deletes reference to
Catastrophic Illness Assistance from service providers
2 AS 47.05.085 Deletes reference to Catastrophic
Illness Assistance from evidence in connection with
investigation under the administration
3 AS 47.05.200(d) Deletes Catastrophic Illness
Assistance from obtaining payment from providers
4 AS 47.05.210(a) Deletes reference to Catastrophic
Illness Assistance from medical assistance fraud
5 AS 47.05.240 Deletes reference to Catastrophic
Illness Assistance commissioner excluding applicant
from medical assistance program
6 AS 47.05.290(9) Deletes Catastrophic Illness
Assistance from the definition of "medical assistance
program"
7 AS 47.05.290(10) Deletes Catastrophic Illness
Assistance from the definition of "medical assistance
provider"
8 AS 47.05.290(17) Deletes Catastrophic Illness
Assistance from the definition of "medical assistance
services"
9 AS 47.05.330(a) Amend Modifies reference to
Catastrophic Illness Assistance as "former"
10 (a) AS 47.08.010 47.08.140 Repels all references
to Catastrophic Illness Assistance within statute
10 (b) AS 47.08.150 Repeal reference to Medical
Assistance for Chronic or Acute Medical Conditions
within statute
11 Uncodified Law Add new section Allows the
Department of Health to create an initial case if
fraud is found within previous program of Assistance
for Catastrophic Illness and Chronic or Acute Medical
Conditions
12 Uncodified Law Add new section Allows the
Department of Health to issue subpoenas and further
investigate with necessary records or evidence
3:20:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked Representative Stapp whether he had
considered changing the program to be state referral only in the
event the federal government radically changes health coverage.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP explained he did not believe there would be
any major changes in Medicaid expansion. The department is
doing Medicaid re-determinations, and when recipients aren't
eligible for Medicaid, they are referred to the health care
marketplace. That type of procedure is already a part of the
process.
3:22:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked about two individuals who were legal
immigrants and who had received CAMA. She questioned why they
had not been referred to the ACA. She suggested that people who
received CAMA might be waiting for the five-year eligibility
period for people who are legal immigrants.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP responded that people who are legal
residents in the U.S. are eligible for ACA coverage and can
enroll on healthcare.gov. He did not know whether they were
referred by Public Assistance.
3:23:42 PM
DEB ETHERIDGE, Director, Division of Public Assistance,
Department of Health, addressed Representative Mina's question
about the two CAMA recipients. She explained that it is the
practice to refer people to the federal marketplace, but there
may have been a gap during that time.
3:24:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA followed up with a question about the
definition of a catastrophic illness and whether it is a chronic
illness or an emergency situation.
MS. ETHERIDGE responded that there are specific categories and
listed those categories.
3:25:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP referred the committee to the coverages
provided under minimum essential coverages under Medicaid and
pointed out that Medicaid covers far more than the state statute
covered under CAMA.
3:25:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked for clarity regarding Sections 11 and
12 on page 5, lines 6 through 24, of HB 260.
3:26:04 PM
MS. MILLER-AUSTIN explained that those sections would allow the
Department of Health to continue investigating and prosecuting
cases within the CAMA application process for fraud.
3:26:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA questioned how instances of fraud would
occur in a program that has been repealed.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP replied that he did not think the Joint
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee would audit a program no
one is on, but the provision is in the bill to continue with the
standard and customary practices. He commented that HB 260
would help modernize the processes of the Division of Public
Assistance to ensure that every Alaskan can get their needs met
in the most efficient way possible.
3:28:33 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that HB 260 was held over.
3:29:07 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 3:29.