02/21/2024 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

        HB 57-EMERGENCY MED. SVCS: REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:52:59 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN 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."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
This is  the second hearing  of the  bill. He expressed  that the                                                               
intention  of the  committee is  to recap  the bill,  take public                                                               
testimony, and look to the will of the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:53:39 PM                                                                                                                    
RACHEL  GUNN,   staff,  Senator  Jesse  Bjorkman,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,  gave a recap of HB 57  on behalf of                                                               
the  bill sponsor.  She  stated that  this  legislation seeks  to                                                               
extend  the same  quality assurance  program  protections to  EMS                                                               
workers that fixed healthcare facilities  have benefited from for                                                               
years.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:54:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 57.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:54:36 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:54:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:55:04 PM                                                                                                                    
BRIAN WEBB,  representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support of  HB 57. He stated  that he appreciates the  support of                                                               
the committee  and looks forward  to HB  57 being passed.  It has                                                               
been a long trail to achieve EMS protections.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:56:02 PM                                                                                                                    
DR. JOSEPH LIVENGOOD, Medical Director,  Division of Forestry and                                                               
Fire   Protection,   Department   of  Natural   Resources   (DNR)                                                               
Ketchikan, Alaska, testified in support  of HB 57. He stated that                                                               
this is  a critical need  for EMS  providers in that  it provides                                                               
the  ability   to  discuss  activities   and  case   runs,  while                                                               
identifying  sources of  improvement.  This occurs  in a  setting                                                               
where  individuals can  openly discuss  matters  without fear  of                                                               
discovery,  enabling   them  to  genuinely  pinpoint   areas  for                                                               
improvement in care.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:57:32 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 57.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:57:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:57:51 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  moved to  report  HB  57, work  order  33-                                                               
LS0335\A,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:58:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  found no  objection and HB  57 was  reported from                                                               
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.