Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/25/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB219 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 219 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 25, 2024
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator David Wilson, Chair
Senator James Kaufman, Vice Chair
Senator Forrest Dunbar
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Cathy Giessel
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 219
"An Act relating to utilization review entities; exempting
certain health care providers from making preauthorization
requests for certain services; and providing for an effective
date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 219
SHORT TITLE: PRIOR AUTH EXEMPT FOR HEALTH PROVIDERS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WILSON
02/07/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/07/24 (S) L&C, HSS
03/13/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/13/24 (S) Heard & Held
03/13/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/08/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/08/24 (S) Heard & Held
04/08/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/10/24 (S) L&C WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE
23
04/10/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/10/24 (S) Moved SB 219 Out of Committee
04/10/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/15/24 (S) L&C RPT 3DP 1NR
04/15/24 (S) DP: BJORKMAN, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON
04/15/24 (S) NR: MERRICK
04/16/24 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/16/24 (S) Heard & Held
04/16/24 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
04/25/24 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
JULIA FONOV, Staff
Senator David Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 219 and delivered
a summary of changes from version A to B.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:33:22 PM
CHAIR DAVID WILSON called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Dunbar, Kaufman, and Chair Wilson.
SB 219-PRIOR AUTH EXEMPT FOR HEALTH PROVIDERS
3:34:02 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 219
"An Act relating to utilization review entities; exempting
certain health care providers from making preauthorization
requests for certain services; and providing for an effective
date."
3:34:20 PM
CHAIR WILSON stated his office worked with stakeholders and
created a committee substitute for SB 219.
3:34:45 PM
JULIA FONOV, Staff, Senator David Wilson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said SB 219 allows providers with a
proven track record of approved prior authorizations to be
exempt from the lengthy process of requesting authorization from
insurance companies. SB 219 would reduce wait times for patients
to receive services and reduce the time providers spend
performing prior authorizations. Physicians spend an average of
two business days a week dedicated to working on prior
authorizations. Under SB 219 providers that qualify for
exemption would receive a list of services and the duration.
3:35:42 PM
CHAIR WILSON solicited a motion.
3:35:56 PM
CHAIR WILSON moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for SB
219, work order 33-LS1302\B, as the working document.
3:36:02 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
3:36:08 PM
MS. FONOV provided a summary of changes for SB 219 from version
A to B:
[Original punctuation provided.]
CSSB 219 (HSS)
"An Act relating to utilization review entities;
exempting certain health care providers from making
preauthorization requests for certain services; and
providing for an effective date."
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Version A to Version B
Section 1:
Version B raises the approval rate to 90% for prior
authorization requests that health care providers must
have to be exempt from preauthorization requirements,
instead of 80% in Version A.
Version B adds that the approval rate for prior
authorization requests is determined after the appeal
process.
Section 2:
Version B adds a definition for health care provider,
which is a person licensed in this state or another
state of the United States to provide medical care
services, a health care facility, or a health care
institution.
3:37:22 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if there was further discussion, finding none
he asked if objection to the adoption of the CS was maintained.
3:38:02 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN removed his objection.
3:38:03 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if there was further objection to the
adoption of the CS for SB 219.
3:38:14 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated he did not have an objection to the
adoption of the CS but asked if there could be discussion after
its adoption.
3:38:17 PM
CHAIR WILSON found no further objection and CSSB 219 was adopted
as the working document.
3:38:25 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked whether the "gold card" would apply to
specific providers versus groups of providers. He asked if the
provision existed in the prior version of SB 219.
3:38:48 PM
CHAIR WILSON replied it is a forthcoming change that is not
currently in SB 219.
3:38:54 PM
MS. FONOV stated that it is in the definition section for health
care provider and can be applied under the CSSB 219. She
referenced work draft SB 219, version B, page 3, line 27,
"'health care provider' means a person licensed in this state or
another state of the United States to provide medical care
services, a health care facility, or a health care institution."
She stated this definition was not in SB 219, version A.
Providers and insurance companies recommended including the
definition.
3:40:07 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR opined that a legal and practical distinction
exists between a facility or institution functioning as one
entity and a group of providers. He noted that while the
providers are not independent contractors, their operations
differ from a hospital group. He questioned whether the two
groups should be treated the same and suggested further
consideration of the issue before SB 219 is heard again.
CHAIR WILSON said he is willing to work on the language used in
the definition.
3:41:07 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN stated he would reserve his questions for a
later hearing of SB 219.
3:41:15 PM
CHAIR WILSON held SB 219 in committee.
3:42:13 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Wilson adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting at 3:42 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CS SB 291(HHS) v B.pdf |
SHSS 4/25/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 291 |
| SB 219 LOS - Alaska Regional Hospital.pdf |
SHSS 4/25/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 219 |
| DCCED-DOI Response to SHSS re SB 219 4.19.24.pdf |
SHSS 4/25/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 219 |
| SB 219 Premera letter to Senator Wilson.pdf |
SHSS 4/25/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 219 |
| CSSB 219(HSS) - Summary of Changes.pdf |
SHSS 4/25/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 219 |