2008-01-22                     House Journal                      Page 1764
HB 337                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 337 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the Alaska Health Care Commission and the                                                             
     Alaska health care information office; relating to health care                                                             
     planning and information; repealing the certificate of need                                                                
     program for certain health care facilities and relating to the repeal;                                                     
     annulling certain regulations required for implementation of the                                                           
     certificate of need program for certain health care facilities; and                                                        
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education & Social                                                          
Services and Finance Committees.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Indeterminate, Dept. of Health & Social Services                                                                            
2.  Fiscal, Dept. of Health & Social Services                                                                                   
3.  Fiscal, Dept. of Health & Social Services                                                                                   
4.  Fiscal, Dept. of Health & Social Services                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 18, 2008, follows:                                                              
                                                                                                                                

2008-01-22                     House Journal                      Page 1765
"Dear Speaker Harris:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18 of the Alaska Constitution, I am                                                       
transmitting a bill to further the provision of affordable and quality                                                          
health care services for all Alaskans.  This bill is my administration's                                                        
Alaska Health Care Transparency Act.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Access to affordable, quality health care services is one of the most                                                           
pressing issues facing Alaska families.  Providing these services in                                                            
Alaska is particularly challenging, given our small population and                                                              
wide geographic area to be served.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Dynamic health care planning, that involves both the public and                                                                 
private sectors, is essential to providing affordable, quality health care                                                      
services.  This bill would further health care planning by establishing                                                         
an Alaska Health Care Commission to look at health care services                                                                
from a statewide perspective.  It would encourage non-traditional                                                               
stakeholders, including businesses and civic organizations, to share                                                            
their expertise to address the important issues facing the provision of                                                         
these essential services.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Finally, now is the time to recognize that market mechanisms, not                                                               
static governmental restrictions, are the best way to ensure that proper                                                        
business decision-making guides the development of health care                                                                  
services.  Therefore, to allow business decision-making to take place                                                           
more efficiently, this bill would repeal the certificate of need program.                                                       
The bill would also establish an Alaska health care information office                                                          
to give consumers factually based information on quality, cost, and                                                             
other important matters to make better informed decisions about health                                                          
care facilities in the state.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Alaska families deserve the best health care that Alaska can offer.                                                             
This bill would play a major role in improving the health care system                                                           
in Alaska.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable consideration of this bill.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                Sincerely,                                                                                     
                                /s/                                                                                             
                               Sarah Palin                                                                                     
                                Governor"