04/12/2010 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB277 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 277 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 12, 2010
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Joe Paskvan, Vice Chair
Senator Fred Dyson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Joe Thomas
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 277(HSS)
"An Act requiring the Department of Health and Social Services
to adopt standards for the approval of and to approve certain
training programs relating to the possession of epinephrine and
the administration of epinephrine in emergency situations; and
authorizing certain individuals to obtain a prescription for
epinephrine, purchase epinephrine, and administer epinephrine in
emergency situations."
- MOVED CSHB 277(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 277
SHORT TITLE: EMERGENCY USE OF EPINEPHRINE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) P.WILSON, LYNN
01/15/10 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/15/10
01/19/10 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/10 (H) HSS
03/30/10 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
03/30/10 (H) Moved CSHB 277(HSS) Out of Committee
03/30/10 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/31/10 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) NT 4DP 3NR
03/31/10 (H) DP: HOLMES, SEATON, LYNN, CISSNA
03/31/10 (H) NR: T.WILSON, KELLER, HERRON
04/05/10 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/05/10 (H) VERSION: CSHB 277(HSS)
04/06/10 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/06/10 (S) HSS
04/09/10 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/09/10 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/12/10 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 277
JILL LEWIS, Deputy Director
Division of Public Health
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that the department is neutral on
HB 277.
MICHAEL DUNNING, Intern
for Representative Peggy Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Was available for questions on HB 277.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:33:20 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Paskvan, Dyson, and Davis.
HB 277-EMERGENCY USE OF EPINEPHRINE
1:33:39 PM
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of HB 277. [CSHB 277(HSS)
was before the committee.] She said her intent was to move the
bill from committee once public testimony was closed.
1:34:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, sponsor of HB 277 said this bill
allows individuals who have successfully passed a program
approved by the [Department of Health and Social Services
(DHSS)] to purchase and administer epinephrine in an emergency
situation. Currently in Alaska only persons who have an allergy
can receive a prescription for an "epi pen," but individuals who
are responsible for others such as camp councilors, wilderness
guides, and bus drivers don't have that option.
1:35:16 PM
JILL LEWIS, Deputy Director, Division of Public Health,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said the
administration's position on HB 277 is neutral. She informed the
committee that epinephrine is inherently safe especially when
administered by auto injector, which is commonly known as the
epi pen. These are routinely prescribed to persons with a
history of severe allergic reactions and the expectation is that
they will administer it to themselves. Special training is not
required but initial demonstrations and instructions are
commonly Epinephrine ampoules are currently used by wilderness
medical associates for mountain guides in part due to the lower
cost and portability.
Under HB 277 DHSS would adopt standards for approval for
training programs to use epinephrine in emergency situations.
The standards will be different for using epi pens versus
ampoules. Several national training programs already exist
including those provided by the American Red Cross, American
Heart Association, and Wilderness Medical Associates. The
program would provide training on symptom recognition, proper
storage of the drug, and emergency follow-up procedures. People
who pass an approved training program could then obtain a
prescription. DHSS submitted a zero fiscal note because the
Division of Public Health already has an emergency medical
services unit that approves similar programs for EMTs and
instructors. This existing resource could be used and would add
little to the workload.
1:37:59 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN questioned why, given the reason for the zero
fiscal note, the administration has taken a neutral position on
the bill.
MS. LEWIS replied, "That's the position of the administration."
SENATOR PASKVAN said he doesn't understand.
MS. LEWIS responded this would be for non professionals so it
would be a little different than what they're currently doing.
1:39:17 PM
DON HUDSON, Emergency Room Doctor, said he trains a lot of EMTS
and he sits on the ACEMS Board that looks at what the Alaska
Council on Emergency Medicine advises the governor about. He
said he's been prescribing this drug for years and believes it's
a good idea to put it in statute. While the ampoules are lighter
both are very simple to use and the chance of someone doing
anything that could cause harm is infinitesimally small. There's
nothing worse than watching someone who has never been allergic
to anything get a bee sting or eat something they're allergic to
and then swell up to the point they can't breathe. Having an
ampoule or epi pen available in these situations isn't a bad
idea, he said.
1:41:12 PM
MICHAEL DUNNING, Intern for Representative Peggy Wilson, said
that it sounds as if others have covered everything he would
have said about the bill. He said he wanted to voice his support
for the bill.
1:42:14 PM
CHAIR DAVIS closed public testimony and asked the will of the
committee.
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CS for HB 277 from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
There being no objection, CSHB 277(HSS) moved from the Senate
Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
1:42:38 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Davis adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee hearing at 1:42 p.m.
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