Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/06/1995 10:15 AM Senate HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
March 6, 1995
10:15 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Judy Salo
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 100
"An Act relating to unfair discrimination against a physician
assistant or acupuncturist under a group health insurance policy."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 39(JUD)
"An Act relating to the authority of mobile intensive care
paramedics, physician assistants, and emergency medical technicians
to pronounce death under certain circumstances."
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18 am
Relating to medical savings account legislation.
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Jack Heesch
Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants
P.O. Box 201608
Anchorage, Alaska 99520
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed SB 100.
David Ford
Acupuncturist
2490 E 42nd Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed acupuncture.
Representative Therriault
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Prime sponsor of HB 39.
Mark Johnson, Chief
Emergency Medical Services
Department of Health & Social Services
P.O. Box 110616
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0616
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 39.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-10, SIDE A
SHES - 3/6/95
SB 100 DISCRIMINATION UNDER GROUP HEALTH INS.
Number 005
CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 10:15 a.m. and introduced
SB 100 as the first order of business before the committee.
JACK HEESCH, Alaska Academy of Physicians Assistants, stated that
SB 100 prevents discrimination against physicians assistants and
acupuncturists. He explained that under SB 100 a state licensed
practitioner who is covered under a group insurance policy would
require that the group insurer cover all similarly licensed
practitioners. The bill does not mandate that such services be
covered, SB 100 merely says that if the service is covered then all
such services should be covered.
Mr. Heesch pointed out that a physician assistant can provide
approximately 75-80 percent of the same services as their principle
physician. Physician assistants are trained to provide similar
medical services as the doctors with whom they work and their
training is less expensive. He stated that physician assistants
are more willingly to work in remote areas; this would provide some
solution to the access problems in rural Alaska.
Mr. Heesch noted support for SB 100 for physician assistants by the
Alaska Health Care Coalition. He discussed the support this
legislation received last year and said that many groups had been
asked to provide letters of support. He explained that since
SB 100 does not mandate or require service, it would not effect
anyone fiscally. The Department of Administration, Division of
Retirement and Benefits has provided a zero fiscal note. An AETNA
representative did not believe that SB 100 would not effect them
fiscally. Mr. Heesch pointed out that last year the Department of
Labor, Worker's Compensation, and the Department of Commerce,
Division of Insurance, provided zero fiscal notes to this
legislation.
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if anyone was in opposition to SB 100. Upon
hearing no opposition, Chairman Green stated that she intended to
move SB 100 out of committee. She asked if anyone would like to
waive the right to testify in order to move forward with this
legislation.
Number 090
DAVID FORD, Acupuncturist, stated that he had practiced in Alaska
for 11 years and nationally for 21 years. He related his
experience that acupuncturists treat those patients at the end of
the road. Eighty-five percent of the patients of acupuncturists
have either complete remission of their symptoms or remission to
the point of living comfortably with their condition. This has
been confirmed in a January 30, 1995 article in the Wall Street
Journal which stated that individuals receiving acupuncture saved
the American West Life Insurance Company 30-70 percent over those
only receiving medical practice. He noted the various insurance
companies that currently cover acupuncture.
Mr. Ford pointed out that three states have mandated drug courts
which allow the choice of drug offenders and abusers to either go
to jail or receive acupuncture. This program has a 75 percent
long-term success rate with those who receive acupuncture versus a
15 percent success rate with those who receive other treatment
methods. He indicated that Alaska could save money by setting up
such a program; Anchorage spends $30,000 per drunk per year. This
program could save money while helping those individuals to reenter
society as productive members.
SENATOR MILLER moved that SB 100 be moved out of committee with
individual recommendations. SENATOR SALO objected.
SENATOR SALO pointed out that last year there was an attempt to add
marital and family therapists to the list of providers. She noted
that SB 100 did not have marital and family therapists on the list.
She offered an amendment to add marital and family therapists to
the list of acceptable providers.
SENATOR MILLER said that SB 100 would be forwarded to the Senate
Labor & Commerce Committee of which Senator Salo is a member. He
suggested that perhaps, Senator Salo could have a written amendment
prepared for the Labor & Commerce Committee, the last committee of
referral for SB 100.
SENATOR SALO indicated that would be appropriate and she removed
her objection.
CHAIRMAN GREEN stated that without objections, SB 100 would be
forwarded out of committee with individual recommendations.
SHES - 3/6/95
HB 39 AUTHORITY TO PRONOUNCE DEATH
Number 192
CHAIRMAN GREEN introduced HB 39 as the next order of business
before the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE THERRIAULT, prime sponsor, explained that HB 39
would allow mobile intensive care paramedics, physicians
assistants, and emergency medical technicians (EMT) to pronounce
death under specified circumstances. They would pronounce death
after determining that a person has suffered irreversible cessation
of circulatory and respiratory functions when a physician is not
immediately available by radio or telephone.
Representative Therriault noted that currently when a member of an
emergency medical service begins CPR, they are required to continue
CPR until the person recovers, the EMT or physicians assistant are
relieved by a medical facility or a physician, the responding
parties become physically exhausted, or a physician pronounces the
person dead. Often in rural areas where physicians and medical
facilities are not immediately available, emergency medical
response members are required to continue unproductive
resuscitation. Representative Therriault reviewed Sections 1 and
2 and the last page of HB 39 which specifies the situations in
which emergency medical response members could pronounce death.
HB 39 is practically identical to last year's legislation.
MARK JOHNSON, Chief of the Emergency Medical Services, supported
HB 39. Sometimes emergency medical responders in rural areas are
forced to do fruitless resuscitation. He offered to answer any
questions from the committee.
SENATOR SALO supported HB 39, however, is the 60 minutes of
resuscitation required with hypothermia adequate. MARK JOHNSON
said that few persons could last longer than 20 or 30 minutes, 60
minutes was chosen in order to encompass the possibility of
miracles. Those persons who have survived extended periods of
resuscitation have been near treatment facilities.
Number 284
CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to rigor mortis and post mortem lividity
being used as the basis of death. She noted that this was a
question from physicians who had contacted her office. MARK
JOHNSON informed the committee that he had discussions with Dr.
Nakimora and Dr. Probst regarding this issue. Mr. Johnson pointed
out that an amendment had been adopted on page 2, line 20 in which
the language "cardiac arrest, accompanied by post mortem lividity"
addresses the concerns of this issue. Mr. Johnson commented that
in previous testimony, various emergency response members indicated
that lividity would not be the only determinant of death; it would
be a combination of circumstances.
CHAIRMAN GREEN stated that she intended to move this legislation.
SENATOR LEMAN moved that CS HB 39(JUD) be moved out of committee
with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so
ordered.
SHES - 3/6/95
HJR 18 SUPPORT MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCT LEGISLATION
Number 325
CHAIRMAN GREEN introduced HJR 18 as the next order of business
before the committee and called an at ease at 10:36 a.m.
At 10:37 a.m. Chairman Green called the committee back to order.
She noted that there was no one available to testify from
Representative Kott's office and she asked if anyone present wanted
to testify.
SENATOR MILLER moved that HJR 18 am be moved out of committee with
individual recommendations. Hearing no objections, it was so
ordered.
There being no further business before the committee, the meeting
adjourned at 10:39 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|