Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/04/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| Presentation: Governor's Task Force on Child Care | |
| HB57 | |
| SB240 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 240 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 57-EMERGENCY MED. SVCS: REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS
4:24:56 PM
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 57 "An Act relating to review
organizations and permitting an emergency medical services
provider to establish a review organization; and relating to
patient records."
4:25:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY WRIGHT, District 22, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 57 provided the
following recap:
House Bill 57 introduces legal protections for
confidential EMS peer reviews and quality assurance
discussions, fostering an environment of continuous
learning and safety. It shields EMS providers and
medical directors from legal repercussions, ensuring
that they focus on improving patient care without
fear.
4:26:16 PM
CHAIR WILSON moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 33-
LS0334\A.3, to HB 57.
33-LS0335\A.3
Bergerud
4/3/24
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR WILSON
TO HB 57
Page 1, line 2:
Delete "and"
Following "records":
Insert "; and relating to disclosure and
reporting of health care services, prices, and fee
information"
Page 3, following line 22:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 4. AS 18.23.400(n)(3) is amended to read:
(3) "health care facility municipal, or
state hospital, psychiatric hospital, emergency
department, independent diagnostic testing facility,
residential psychiatric treatment center as defined in
AS 47.32.900, kidney disease treatment center
(including freestanding hemodialysis units), office of
a private physician or dentist whether in individual
or group practice, ambulatory surgical center as
defined in AS 47.32.900, freestanding birth center as
defined in AS 47.32.900, and rural health clinic as
defined in AS 47.32.900; "health care facility" does
not include " means a private,
(A) the Alaska Pioneers' Home and the
Alaska Veterans' Home administered by the
department under AS 47.55;
(B) an assisted living home as defined in
AS 47.33.990;
(C) a nursing facility licensed by the
department to provide long-term care;
(D) a facility operated by an Alaska tribal
health organization;
[AND]
(E) a hospital operated by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs or the
United States Department of Defense, or any other
federally operated hospital or institution; or
(F) a hospital subject to 45 C.F.R. 180 as
that section read on the effective date of this
Act or any other federal price transparency
requirements that are reasonably similar to or
exceed the requirements in this section;"
4:26:23 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
4:26:30 PM
At ease
4:26:45 PM
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and explained that Amendment
1 addresses price transparency and disclosure of healthcare cost
information for providers. Alaska updated its laws in 2018, but
since that time, federal laws have been updated twicefirst with
the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and then with the No Surprises Act
(NSA), which are more rigorous than our state laws. Amendment 1
provides statutory clarity upon those laws and, if passed, would
require hospitals to comply with federal requirements under 45
CFR 180, in addition to state standards found in AS 18.23.400,
if 45 CFR 180 or similar federal hospital transparency
regulations are repealed. This ensures hospitals remain subject
to state reporting requirements, maintaining price transparency
without duplicative reporting obligations. Federal requirements
are currently more stringent than state requirements. Members
have been provided with four relevant items from the Alaska
Hospital and Healthcare Association, Alaska Regional Hospital,
and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. He stated representatives from
these organizations were available to answer questions.
4:29:08 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL acknowledged the efficacy of the amendment but
expressed difficulty understanding its connection to Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) reviews, noting that it feels like an
entirely new topic, perhaps suited for a separate bill. She
requested clarification.
CHAIR WILSON clarified that it is not a separate bill but rather
an amendment to similar sections of law and statutes addressed
by the current bill.
SENATOR GIESSEL replied she understood and noted it.
CHAIR WILSON responded that the premise is to do a legislative
fix to statute. He noted that a title change resolution was also
prepared.
4:30:01 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL stated that she would be interested in hearing
the sponsor's response to this significant amendment.
4:30:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT stated that he had reviewed the amendment
and is open to taking more if it creates positive changes in
similar legislation.
4:30:39 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR noted for the record, and with appreciation to
the Chair, that Amendment 1 as he reads it provides a
"backstop." He stated the purpose of the amendment is to ensure
hospitals adhere to the higher federal standard under 45 CFR
180, or any similar federal price transparency requirement, in
case of future changes. He explained that if federal law were
fully repealed, the amendment would default to the state
standard, serving as a fallback. He emphasized that this is his
interpretation of the amendment and expressed hope that future
readers understand it similarly, commending the Chair's work in
crafting the language.
4:32:27 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked Mr. Kosin to provide comment and background
on the impetus for Amendment 1, as well as some of the
challenges Alaskan hospitals encounter with dueling federal and
state statutes.
4:32:54 PM
JARED KOSIN, President, Alaska Hospital and Healthcare
Association, Anchorage, Alaska, pointed out that Alaska's
requirements require manual data entry into a PDF, while federal
standards are automated and on a much broader scale. Aligning
with federal standards would save both hospitals and the state
considerable time and resources, as it would eliminate redundant
data entry. He expressed appreciation for the amendment,
emphasizing that if federal standards ever fall below Alaska's
current requirements, hospitals will automatically revert to the
state standards. He also highlighted the federal focus on
shoppable services and episodes of care, which provide
practical, consumer-friendly information that state requirements
currently lack.
4:36:51 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if objection was maintained.
4:36:59 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN removed his objection.
4:37:00 PM
CHAIR WILSON found no further objection and Amendment 1 was
adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT thanked the committee for hearing HB 57.
4:37:26 PM
CHAIR WILSON solicited the will of the committee.
4:37:29 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN moved to report HB 57, work order 33-LS0335\A,
as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
4:37:42 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if there was objection.
4:37:48 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR objected for purposes of discussion.
SENATOR DUNBAR stated there was mention of a title change.
CHAIR WILSON explained that Legislative Legal Services would
provide a title change resolution that will be read across the
floor and then go to the Senate Secretaries office until HB 57
is taken up.
4:38:09 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR removed his objection.
4:38:12 PM
CHAIR WILSON found no further objection and SCS HB 57(HSS) was
reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing
Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Eric Nimmo Med Board App_Redacted.pdf |
SHSS 4/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SHSS 4.4.24 Consideration of Governor's Appointees - Eric Nimmo, State Medical Board |
| Eric Nimmo Medical Board Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SHSS 4/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SHSS 4.4.24 - Consideration of Governor's Appointees - Eric Nimmo, State Medical Board |
| SHSS GTFCC Presentation 4.4.24.pdf |
SHSS 4/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SHSS 4.4.24 DOH Governor's Task Force on Child Care Presentation |
| SB 240 DOH on Age of Consent Amdnmt.pdf |
SHSS 4/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 240 |
| HB 57 Amdmt Wilson A.3.pdf |
SHSS 4/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 57 |
| SHSS 4.4.24 December 2023 Governor's Task Force on Child Care Report.pdf |
SHSS 4/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SHSS 4.4.24 DOH Presentation on Governor's Task Force on Child Care |
| SB 240 Amdmt 1 - Adopted.pdf |
SHSS 4/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 240 |