HJR 10 - VETERANS' HEALTH CARE CHAIR GATTO announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10, Urging the United States Congress to improve health care for veterans. 1:10:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HJR 10, Version 26-LS0313\E, Bailey, 2/24/09, as the work draft. There being no objection, Version E was before the committee. 1:11:20 PM CHRIS REID, intern to Representative David Guttenberg, Alaska State Legislature, introduced HJR 10 on behalf of Representative Guttenberg, prime sponsor. Ms. Reid said HJR 10 encourages the U.S. Congress to improve health care for U. S. veterans. Although there are many programs available for veterans, the existing programs need improvement, especially for veterans living in rural areas of Alaska. Furthermore, HJR 10 encourages the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to partner with community health care services. She addressed the changes in Version E of the resolution and explained the fifth "Whereas" now includes a reference to "post-traumatic stress syndrome." In addition, after research indicated that having a VA hospital in Alaska would require all veterans to travel there for care, even though it may be better for veterans to remain in their communities with family, the reference to a VA hospital was deleted from the sixth "Whereas." Ms. Reid then pointed out that the last nine "Whereas" clauses have been incorporated into HJR 10 with the recommendation of Shelley Hughes, Government Affairs Director, Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA). 1:15:04 PM SHELLEY HUGHES, Government Affairs Director, Alaska Primary Care Association, informed the committee that her husband is a Vietnam veteran and her son served three tours in Iraq. She then relayed that clinics across the state are caring for veterans in outlying areas who do not have access to their earned health care. The criteria for approval of veteran's travel prevent veterans from obtaining health care in veteran facilities; therefore, community clinics are providing care without reimbursement. The APCA is trying to resolve this problem, but progress is slow and mired in federal red tape. She explained that the APCA is of the opinion that there needs to be collaboration at the federal level between the VA, community health centers, and Tribal health clinics. For example, one of the barriers has been the VA's use of the Computerized Patient Records System (CPRS). Ms. Hughes also emphasized the need for health care for current returning veterans and for aging veterans with increasing health needs. She reiterated her agency's support of the resolution. 1:17:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH, noting that a new VA facility is under construction at Elmendorf Air Force Base, asked how that facility would be defined, and also asked for its functions and capabilities. 1:18:26 PM MCHUGH PIERRE, Legislative Liaison, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, explained that the new facility is a veteran's hospital/clinic, but is not a full-scale hospital like those in the Lower 48. The facility will be joined by the existing new base hospital that serves Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Army Base service members. The two facilities will be connected via a sky bridge in order to share care. Mr. Pierre pointed out the new facility is the first of its kind in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH offered his understanding the VA is recognized as a leader in medical recordkeeping; in fact, because of the transient nature of its patients, it has established and maintained a quality recordkeeping system. He noted his personal experience with the VA and acknowledged the success of that component. He disclosed a possible conflict of interest in that he has been a beneficiary of services through the VA. Representative Buch opined the issue is not only finding veterans, but informing them of the connections already available in the state. 1:22:35 PM CHAIR GATTO, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HJR 10. 1:22:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, which read [original punctuation provided]: Page 2, lines 5 and 6, following "services for Alaska's veterans," Delete: "but Alaska remains [one] of three states that does not have a veteran's hospital that provides acute care inpatient services" Page 2, line 23, following "Alaska Native health system" Delete: ", which is" Insert: "and Community Health Centers, which are" Page 2, line 25, following "Alaska Native health" Delete: "system's" Insert: "system and Community Health Centers'" Page 3, line 25, following "the existing" Delete: "community" Insert: "Community Health Center" Page 3, lines 28 and 29, following "with individual" Delete: "community or tribal health centers" Insert: "Community Health Centers or tribal clinics" Page 3, line 30, following "Whereas" Delete: "community" Insert: "Community Health Centers" Page 4, lines 1 and 2, following "and populations" Delete: "and to uninsured and underinsured individuals, low-income families, veterans, seniors, seasonal workers, and non-English speaking individuals" Insert: "including veterans who do not reside in the vicinity of a VA health care facil[i]ty" Page 4, line 18, following "quality health care, including" Insert: "at Community Health Centers," Page 4, line 18, following "substance abuse treatment centers," Delete: "and" Page 4, line 19, following "tribal health organizations" Insert: ["] and other appropriate local providers" REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS objected. REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI, after reading Amendment 1, explained that Amendment 1 is a technical clean up in nature. 1:25:39 PM MS. REID said [Amendment 1] is important and works with the original resolution. 1:26:20 PM MS. HUGHES added that the APCA supports Amendment 1. CHAIR GATTO, after stating that the objection had been removed, announced that Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:26:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS moved to report the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HJR 10, Version 26-LS0313\E, Bailey, 2/24/09, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 10(MLV) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.