Legislature(2001 - 2002)
2002-01-16 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2002-01-16 Senate Journal Page 1950 SB 234 SENATE BILL NO. 234 BY THE SENATE 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 and Social Services and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Health and Social Services Governor's transmittal letter dated January 14, 2002: Dear President Halford: 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. 2002-01-16 Senate Journal Page 1951 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. 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