Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
03/05/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB343 | |
| HB344 | |
| HB371 | |
| SSCR2 | |
| HB196 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SSCR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 343 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 344 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 371 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 196 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 5, 2024
3:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Prax, Chair
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
Representative CJ McCormick
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Jesse Sumner
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Genevieve Mina
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 343
"An Act relating to medical assistance coverage for
rehabilitative, mandatory, and optional services furnished or
paid for by a school district on behalf of certain children."
- MOVED HB 343 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 344
"An Act relating to medical assistance demonstration projects
established by the Department of Health."
- MOVED HB 344 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 371
"An Act relating to medical review organizations; relating to
the definitions of 'health care provider' and 'review
organization'; and relating to the duties of the chief medical
officer in the Department of Health."
- MOVED HB 371 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE SPECIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2
Disapproving Executive Order No. 125.
- CONSIDERED
HOUSE BILL NO. 196
"An Act relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance
program; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 196 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 343
SHORT TITLE: SCHOOL DISTRICT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) HSS
02/27/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/27/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 02/29/24>
02/29/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/29/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/29/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/05/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 344
SHORT TITLE: MEDICAL ASSIST. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) HSS
02/29/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/29/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/29/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/05/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 371
SHORT TITLE: MEDICAL REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS
SPONSOR(s): RUFFRIDGE BY REQUEST
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) HSS
02/29/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/29/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/29/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/05/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
BILL: SSCR 2
SHORT TITLE: DISAPPROVE EO 125
SPONSOR(s): RULES
02/12/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/12/24 (S) HSS
02/15/24 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/15/24 (S) Moved SSCR 2 Out of Committee
02/15/24 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
02/19/24 (S) HSS RPT 3DNP 2NR
02/19/24 (S) DNP: WILSON, DUNBAR, GIESSEL
02/19/24 (S) NR: TOBIN, KAUFMAN
02/19/24 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
02/19/24 (S) VERSION: SSCR 2
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) HSS
03/05/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 196
SHORT TITLE: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY
SPONSOR(s): MINA
05/08/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/08/23 (H) HSS, FIN
02/22/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/22/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 02/24/24>
02/24/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/24/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/24/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/05/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
EMILY RICCI, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered committee questions on HB 343.
LEAH VAN KIRK, Health Care Policy Advisor
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered committee questions on HB 343.
EMILY RICCI, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 344.
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 371 to the
committee.
HEIDI HEDBERG, Commissioner
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on SSCR 2.
GENE WISEMAN, Section Chief
Rural Community Health
Department of Health
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on SSCR 2.
REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE MINA
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed HB 196 before the committee.
KATY GIORGIO, Staff
Representative Genevieve Mina
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered committee questions on HB 196.
DEB ETHERIDGE, Director
Division of Public Assistance
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered committee questions on HB 196.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:03:42 PM
CHAIR PRAX called the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. Representatives Sumner,
Fields, Saddler, Mina, Ruffridge, and Prax were present at the
call to order. Representative McCormick arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
HB 343-SCHOOL DISTRICT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
3:06:24 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 343, "An Act relating to medical assistance
coverage for rehabilitative, mandatory, and optional services
furnished or paid for by a school district on behalf of certain
children."
3:07:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked a clarifying question related to
the fiscal note for HB 343.
EMILY RICCI, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health, answered
committee questions on HB 343. She said the Department of
Health (DOH) does not anticipate a need for an increase in
funding for any services outlined under HB 343 that utilize
Medicaid.
3:09:11 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked whether medical services given to a child would
still require parental consent if HB 343 were to become law.
LEAH VAN KIRK, Health Care Policy Advisor, Department of Health,
answered committee questions on HB 343. She said that parental
consent is always required to give care to a child and
emphasized that HB 343 wouldn't change that requirement.
3:09:59 PM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 343 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 343 was reported out of the House
Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
3:10:27 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:10 p.m. to 3:13 p.m.
HB 344-MEDICAL ASSIST. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
3:13:16 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 344, "An Act relating to medical assistance
demonstration projects established by the Department of Health."
3:13:52 PM
EMILY RICCI, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health, gave
invited testimony on HB 344. She said HB 344 would provide
authorization to the DOH to apply for an 1115 demonstration
project and added that HB 344 supports the DOH's goal of moving
from patient's acute healthcare needs to prevention and
stabilization of patients chronic or ongoing healthcare needs.
3:15:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked if the DOH had considered the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD)'s recent
unveiling of the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator
(HSPA) and its implications for a piece of legislation like HB
344.
MS. RICCI responded that the DOH has not directly considered the
DHUD's new HSPA program but said that the department is in
conversation with multiple national groups to identify
opportunities to leverage.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked for clarification as to how a 1115
waiver works and how it correlates to health-related needs in
Alaska.
MS. RICCI explained that the 1115 waiver is a tool used by the
DOH to achieve specific policy/programmatic goals and said that
there is ample statutory language to currently to explore
federal opportunities related to federal re-entry care. She
emphasized that any budgetary impacts must be approved by the
legislature.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked why there is a focus on the re-entry
provision of HB 344.
MS. RICCI answered that the focus on the re-entry provision is
largely in areas of healthcare, behavioral health, and substance
use disorders.
3:19:54 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked when the legislature could expect to see the
application of the re-entry provision of HB 344.
MS. RICCI explained that the DOH would first need contractors to
complete the technical developmental work and said the DOH would
anticipate substantial community engagement and tribal
consultation
3:21:55 PM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 344 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 344 was reported from the House
Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
3:22:28 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:22 p.m. to 3:24 p.m.
HB 371-MEDICAL REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS
3:24:54 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 371, "An Act relating to medical review
organizations; relating to the definitions of 'health care
provider' and 'review organization'; and relating to the duties
of the chief medical officer in the Department of Health."
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, introduced HB 371 to the committee. He explained
that HB 371 would seek to update older statutory language to
allow medical review organizations to obtain multiple different
personnel types to review medical data.
3:26:48 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked about the rationale behind HB 371.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE explained that HB 371 would allow an
individual chief medical officer in DOH to make a decision on
the capacity of a medical review organization quicker than the
Alaska Board of Medicine could.
CHAIR PRAX asked whether medical review organizations have any
regulatory authority.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE replied that medical review
organizations do not have any regulatory authority and said that
those organizations exist primarily to bring forward
recommendations to other entities that perform regulatory
procedures.
3:29:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 371 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER objected, then withdrew his objection.
There being no further objection, HB 371 was reported from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
3:29:52 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:29 p.m. to 3:33 p.m.
SSCR 2-DISAPPROVE EO 125
3:33:24 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be
SSCR 2, "Disapproving Executive Order No. 125."
3:34:18 PM
HEIDI HEDBERG, Commissioner, Department of Health, gave invited
testimony on SSCR 2. She explained that Executive Order 125
would remove the Alaska Council for Emergency Medical Services
(ACEMS) and transfer its statutory authority to DOH. She said
even though there would be new advisory committees formed within
DOH, there would still be a need for ACEMS to provide
recommendations to DOH.
3:35:57 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked how council members are appointed to ACEMS.
3:36:35 PM
MS. HEDBERG answered that individuals can submit an application
to the Office of Boards and Commissions.
CHAIR PRAX asked how DOH would gather the individuals needed to
serve on the committee.
MS. HEDBERG gave multiple examples of professions not
represented on the council and explained how the vetting process
would work.
CHAIR PRAX asked whether regulatory changes could be made by
ACEMS.
MS. HEDBERG replied that ACEMS provides only recommendations to
DOH.
3:38:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked what the timeline of creating a new
council would look like.
MS. HEDBERG answered that the State Emergency Medical Services
Office has the administrative support to provide the services
and functions of setting up new emergency medical service (EMS)
advisory committees in a timely manner.
3:38:53 PM
GENE WISEMAN, Section Chief, Rural Community Health, Department
of Health, gave invited testimony on SSCR 2. He explained that
there are many underrepresented professions related to emergency
medical services and said that Executive Order 125 would allow
DOH to expand and contract advisory boards as necessary.
CHAIR PRAX asked whether there has been general public
participation in DOH advisory board hearings.
MR. WISEMAN said that there isn't a lot of public activity or
interest in advisory board meetings and ACEMS has "been
struggling to find its place" since its inception in 1977.
3:42:16 PM
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on SSCR 2. After
ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, he closed
public testimony.
CHAIR PRAX explained the implications of legislator's votes
towards SSCR 2 and how they would affect Executive Order 125.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether SSCR 2 could move to the
House floor if it was not passed in committee.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained that it would move to the House
floor regardless of whether it was passed out of committee.
3:44:58 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:44 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
3:45:24 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the House Health and Social Services
Standing Committee had reviewed SSCR 2 and sent it to the full
legislature for consideration.
HB 196-FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY
3:46:28 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 196, "An Act relating to the supplemental
nutrition assistance program; and providing for an effective
date."
3:47:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE MINA, Alaska State Legislature,
reviewed HB 196 before the committee. She explained that the
goal of HB 196 is to improve food security in Alaska by focusing
on improving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) in Alaska. She explained that HB 196 would pursue a
federal flexibility known as broad base categorical eligibility
(BBCE) that would allow the Department of Health (DOH) to
increase the federal poverty income limit for SNAP benefits from
100 percent to 200 percent of the federal limit and to allow DOH
to waive the asset requirement of SNAP.
3:49:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for an estimation of the increase
of people that would utilize SNAP benefits due to the increase
in the federal poverty income limit.
KATY GIORGIO, Staff, Representative Genevieve Mina, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Mina, prime sponsor of
HB 196, said that the Congressional Budget Office's has data
related to the expansion of SNAP recipients.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked how many recipients of SNAP
benefits are individual versus family recipients.
3:50:57 PM
DEB ETHERIDGE, Director, Division of Public Assistance (DPA),
Department of Health, answered that DPA measures the definition
of a family recipient as a group with 2.5 individuals per
household and said that she does not have current data on the
difference between individuals and families utilizing SNAP
benefits.
3:52:24 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked whether there is any data as to how successful
raising the federal poverty income limit would be.
MS. ETHERIDGE answered that other states that have utilized the
same strategy to increase SNAP benefit qualification have seen
increased self-sufficiency and job security.
3:54:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked when the 60-month enrollment limit
on SNAP begins.
MS. ETHERIDGE said she would get back to the committee with
answers later.
3:55:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA gave closing remarks regarding the efficacy
of BBCE and said that it encourages work and relieves many
families of basic living expenses to allow them to save and move
forward financially. She explained that currently, there are
many people who can't accept a 50-cent raise because they would
no longer qualify for benefits and lose more in the long run.
She explained how SNAP benefits are determined and said that
most states have pursued BBCE because it encourages and allows
people to progress in their careers. She elaborated further on
the intricacies of federal assistance programs and how
recipients are chosen. She noted that there is a lot of work
being done in Alaska to address food insecurity and expressed
her gratitude to DPA for its interest in HB 196.
4:00:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 196 from committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 196 was reported from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
4:01:19 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 4:01.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 344 Support Letters 3.2.24.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 J Pistotnik Letter of Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 AK Municipal League Testimony.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 ACEH Letter of Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 ANHB Letter of Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 Food Bank of Alaska Testimony.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 LOS - Moda Health .pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 McCoy Testimony.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 343 AASB Testimony.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 343 |
| EO 125 Testimony.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
EO 125 SSCR 2 |
| HB 343 AHHA Letter of Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 343 |
| HB 344 LOS Polaris House.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 MCDR Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 Matsu Health Foundation Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 Providence Supports.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 Catholic Social Services Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |
| HB 344 Support-AFPC.pdf |
HHSS 3/5/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 344 |