03/28/2011 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB5 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 28, 2011
1:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Dennis Egan
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Fred Dyson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 5
"An Act relating to eligibility requirements for medical
assistance for certain children and pregnant women; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 5 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 5
SHORT TITLE: MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS, EGAN, ELLIS, FRENCH, WIELECHOWSKI
01/19/11 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/11
01/19/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/11 (S) HSS, FIN
03/07/11 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/07/11 (S) Heard & Held
03/07/11 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/23/11 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/23/11 (S) Heard & Held
03/23/11 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/28/11 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN SHERWOOD
Medical Assistance Administrator
Department of Health and Social Services
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information regarding SB 5.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:35:03 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Egan, Dyson, Meyer, Ellis, and Chair
Davis.
1:35:30 PM
SB 5-MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY
CHAIR DAVIS announced the first order of business would be SB 5,
the Denali KidCare bill.
JON SHERWOOD, Medical Assistance Administrator, Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS), said he would speak briefly
to two issues. At the last hearing there were some questions
about regulations defining "therapeutic abortion." Those
regulations apply to the old general relief medical program
which has not been funded in 13 years; they do not apply to
Denali KidCare.
Second, DHSS has a process for determining what an "abortion-
related" service is. They look at the procedure code/diagnosis
code combination. There is a wide range of possible
combinations. If necessary they request medical records for
review. The significant point is to confirm that stillbirths and
miscarriages are not included when counting the number of
abortion-related services.
1:38:36 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked, "When was the last time we looked at the
definition of medically necessary?"
MR. SHERWOOD answered it was around 2003; he was not involved so
he doesn't know any details, but there was a bill introduced to
try and define it.
SENATOR MEYER said the definition the committee saw last week
seemed pretty broad. He asked if any counseling services with
regard to adoption are required to be offered by the doctor
prior to performing an abortion.
MR. SHERWOOD said doctors are not required to certify that they
have done any counseling. Basically, case law says "medical
necessity" means to be neutral. The state cannot be restrictive
in terms of what it deems medically necessary.
1:41:05 PM
SENATOR MEYER said he had already voiced his frustration with
the bill, unless the governor's concerns can be addressed. We
would be potentially increasing the number of abortions.
1:41:40 PM
MR. SHERWOOD said we would expand access, but he could not
comment on the absolute number.
1:42:28 PM
CHAIR DAVIS opened the floor for discussion from the committee.
She said she knows members are concerned about the legislation
being vetoed when it reaches the governor's desk. She has talked
with him and members of DHSS staff, and has been assured that
they are trying to reach a solution. She said she was ready to
move the bill.
1:45:38 PM
SENATOR DYSON said he appreciated her attitude and he wanted to
clear up something. The governor did not veto this bill for
political reasons. He had been assured that no state funds would
go to finance elective abortions; then he found out that was not
true. Expansion of Denali KidCare would finance state funded
elective abortions. It was a principled decision by the
governor, not politically motivated. The governor's office has
been trying to find a way out of this dilemma and they are not
optimistic.
1:47:00 PM
CHAIR DAVIS said she appreciated his comments.
SENATOR EGAN moved to report SB 5 from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
SENATOR DYSON objected.
1:48:25 PM
SENATOR MEYER said he would like to speak. He said Denali
KidCare provides a very valuable service, and because of that he
would vote to move the bill forward. He said the legislature
should continue the discussion. He does want to see a resolution
to the concerns he has voiced; however, if the bill just sits in
committee the conversation will stop. He is hopeful that a
resolution will be reached before the bill reaches the Senate
floor.
A roll-call vote was taken. Senators Meyer, Ellis, Egan, and
Chair Davis voted yes. Senator Dyson voted no. In a 4:1 vote, SB
5 was passed from committee.
1:49:56 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Davis adjourned the meeting at 1:50 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 5 Bill.pdf |
SHSS 3/28/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 5 |
| SB 5 Sponsor Statement Rev 1-23-2011.pdf |
SHSS 3/28/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 5 |
| SB005 Fiscal Note Medicaid Services II.pdf |
SHSS 3/28/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 5 |
| SB005 Fiscal Note Medicaid Services.pdf |
SHSS 3/28/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 5 |
| SB005 Fiscal Note Medicaid Services.pdf |
SHSS 3/28/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 5 |