2002-01-16                     House Journal                      Page 1969
HB 322                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 322 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                       
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
     "An Act relating to an optional group of persons eligible for                                  
     medical assistance who require treatment for breast or cervical                                
     cancer."                                                                                       
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education & Social                              
Services and Finance Committees.                                                                    
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                 
                                                                                                    
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Health & Social Services                                                       
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 14, 2002, appears                                   
below:                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
Last year, I signed into law a bill that offered life saving health care                            
for low-income women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.                                      
Today I am asking that you make this treatment available                                            
permanently.                                                                                        
                                                                                                    
The Legislature made the unfortunate decision last year to offer this                               
cancer treatment through the Medicaid program for only two years.                                   
That means a woman could literally be midstream in her cancer                                       
treatment and suddenly get cut off simply because the program is now                                
destined to end on June 26, 2003.  Imagine being caught in this                                     
circumstance: you are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer; you                                 
are eligible for Medicaid services for treatment under this new                                     
program; you are uncertain whether the treatment can be completed                                   
because the program will end.  I can't fathom why we would want to                                  
place a woman and her loved ones in this untenable position.                                        

2002-01-16                     House Journal                      Page 1970
This program offers cancer treatment to uninsured women who have                                    
been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer under a federally                                     
financed screening program -- the Center for Disease Control's (CDC)                                
early detection program. Established by Congress in 1990, the CDC                                   
program provides screening exams to millions of persons throughout                                  
the country each year.  In Alaska, there are currently four CDC                                     
grantees providing clinical breast exams, pelvic exams, and                                         
mammograms to medically under-served Alaskans meeting the                                           
requisite eligibility guidelines.                                                                   
                                                                                                    
In fiscal year 2001, the CDC grantees diagnosed 24 cases of breast                                  
cancer and 105 cases of cervical cancer in Alaska.  Those women who                                 
are otherwise uninsured and eligible for these Medicaid services could                              
receive treatment for their disease.  This literally means the difference                           
between life and death for these women.                                                             
                                                                                                    
When I signed into law the bill last year that allowed Alaska to offer                              
this new Medicaid option, I pledged I would do everything possible                                  
this year to remove the sunset placed on the program.  I look forward                               
to the support of those legislators, about two-thirds of your joint                                 
membership, who vocally opposed the sunset provision but allowed it                                 
to go forward so the program could be put in place as soon as possible.                             
In the interest of women's health in Alaska, I urge your prompt and                                 
favorable action on this measure.                                                                   
                                                                                                    
                                 Sincerely,                                                        
                                 /s/                                                                
                                 Tony Knowles                                                       
                                  Governor"