00                            SENATE BILL NO. 3006                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to utilization review requirements; making temporary changes to state                                  
02 law in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); relating to telemedicine                                   
03 and telehealth; relating to background checks; and providing for an effective date."                                    
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                         
06 to read:                                                                                                                
07       PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to provide for mitigation measures that will                                  
08 enhance the state's ongoing efforts to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus disease                               
09 (COVID-19).                                                                                                             
10    * Sec. 2.  AS 21.06.080 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                             
11 (f)  During a recognized federal or state public health disaster or emergency,                                          
12 the director may order health care insurers to waive utilization review requirements,                                   
13 including preauthorization requirements for medical services, concurrent review for                                     
14 inpatient hospital services, retrospective review of inpatient and outpatient services,                                 
01 emergency services and payment of claims, and requirements for placements of policy                                     
02 holders in post-acute facilities. In this subsection, "utilization review" has the meaning                              
03       given in AS 21.07.250.                                                                                            
04    * Sec. 3.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
05 read:                                                                                                                   
06 TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of                                                 
07 law, beginning from the effective date of this Act and until July 1, 2022, the provisions of                            
08 AS 08.64.170 and AS 08.68.160 do not apply to a health care provider who is providing                                   
09 treatment, rendering a diagnosis, or prescribing, dispensing, or administering a prescription,                          
10 excluding a controlled substance listed under AS 11.71.140 - 11.71.190, through telehealth as                           
11 defined in AS 47.05.270(e), without first conducting an in person physical examination, if                              
12 (1)  the health care provider is licensed, permitted, or certified to provide                                           
13 health care services in another jurisdiction and is in good standing in the jurisdiction that                           
14 issued the license, permit, or certification;                                                                           
15 (2)  the health care services provided without an in-person physical                                                    
16 examination are within the health care provider's authorized scope of practice in the                                   
17 jurisdiction that issued the health care provider's license, permit, or certification;                                  
18 (3)  in the event that the health care provider determines that the encounter will                                      
19 extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services described in this section, the health                          
20 care provider advises the patient that the health care provider is not authorized to provide the                        
21 services to the patient, recommends that the patient contact a health care provider licensed in                         
22 the state, and terminates the encounter.                                                                                
23 (b)  The amount charged by a health care provider for services provided under this                                      
24 section must be reasonable and consistent with the ordinary fees typically charged for that                             
25 service and may not be more than the ordinary fees typically charged for that service. A health                         
26 care provider who is required to terminate an encounter under (a)(3) of this section may not                            
27 charge for any services provided during the encounter.                                                                  
28 (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning from the effective date of                                   
29 this Act and until July 1, 2022, the commissioner of health and social services may waive any                           
30 state law or regulation if compliance would substantially prevent or impede the provision of                            
31 health care services under this section. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to                                 
01 abrogate authority granted to the commissioner of health and social services under                                      
02 AS 18.15.390.                                                                                                           
03       (d)  In this section, "health care provider" has the meaning given in AS 18.15.395 and                            
04 includes a person that provides behavioral health care services.                                                        
05    * Sec. 4.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
06 read:                                                                                                                   
07 BACKGROUND CHECKS; APPLICABILITY. Notwithstanding any other provision                                                   
08 of law, beginning from the effective date of this Act and until July 1, 2022, the requirement                           
09 for hospitals and nursing facilities to seek background checks from the Department of Health                            
10 and Social Services is suspended. Hospitals and nursing facilities shall provide sufficient                             
11 information to attest to the hiring process for all employees at the facility and confirm that a                        
12 background check has been conducted as part of that hiring process.                                                     
13    * Sec. 5.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).