Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106
04/16/2019 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB89 | |
| HB114 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees | |
| Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 114 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 89-OPIOID PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION
3:12:55 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 89, "An Act relating to the prescription
of opioids; relating to the practice of dentistry; relating to
the practice of medicine; relating to the practice of podiatry;
relating to the practice of osteopathy; relating to the practice
of nursing; relating to the practice of optometry; and relating
to the practice of pharmacy."
[Before the committee was the proposed committee substitute (CS)
for HB 89, labeled 31-LS0421\U, Fisher, 4/3/19, adopted as the
working document on 4/4/19.]
3:13:29 PM
MIRANDA DORDAN, Intern, Representative Ivy Spohnholz, Alaska
State Legislature, reviewed HB 89 on behalf of Representative
Spohnholz, sponsor. She said the bill would mitigate the opioid
public health epidemic that Alaska is currently facing. The
bill would do this by increasing patient awareness of opioid
dependence and addiction before the patient receives an opioid
prescription. She paraphrased from the following written
sectional analysis included in the committee packet, which read
[original punctuation provided]:
Section 1. Bill Name is Opioid Addiction Risk
Disclosure. Legislative Findings hold that The State
has a moral, financial, and public health interest in
reducing opioid and heroin addiction in Alaska. There
has been a copious amount of medically document
evidence that shows that opioid prescription drugs are
addictive and can create issues for patients
Section 2. Amends AS 08.36.070 Duties of Opioid
Prescribing Dentists: Inform patients, in provider's
"own words", of potential addiction dangers from
extended opioid use; and any reasonable treatment
alternatives, if they exist, to the recommended opioid
prescription; distribute Department of Health and
Social Services short handout on some potential
dangers.
Regulations/Enforcement of Bill: Board power to
consider discipline for dentists who "habitually"
violate bill requirements; potential board discipline,
but no additional legal civil liability cause of
action created by bill, to protect against hostile
legal relationship between patient and provider.
Section 3. Amends AS 08.64.101(a) Duties of Opioid
Prescribing Medical, Osteopathy and Podiatry
Providers: Inform patients, in provider's "own words",
of potential addiction dangers from extended opioid
use; and any reasonable treatment alternatives, if
they exist, to the recommended opioid prescription;
distribute Department of Health and Social Services
short handout on some potential dangers.
Regulations/Enforcement of Bill: Board power to
consider discipline for medical, osteopathy and
podiatry providers who "habitually" violate bill
requirements; potential board discipline, but no
additional legal civil liability cause of action
created by bill, to protect against hostile legal
relationship between patient and provider.
Section 4. Amends AS 08.68.100(a) Duties of Opioid
Prescribing Registered Nurses: Inform patients, in
provider's "own words", of potential addiction dangers
from extended opioid use; and any reasonable treatment
alternatives, if they exist, to the recommended opioid
prescription; distribute Department of Health and
Social Services short handout on some potential
dangers.
Regulations/Enforcement of Bill: Board power to
consider discipline for registered nurses who
habitually" violate bill requirements; potential
board discipline, but no additional legal civil
liability cause of action created by bill, to protect
against hostile legal relationship between patient and
provider.
Section 5. Amends AS 08.72.050 Duties of Opioid
Prescribing Optometrists: Inform patients, in
provider's "own words", of potential addiction dangers
from extended opioid use; and any reasonable treatment
alternatives, if they exist, to the recommended opioid
prescription; distribute Department of Health and
Social Services short handout on some potential
dangers.
Regulations/Enforcement of Bill: Board power to
consider discipline for registered optometrists who
"habitually" violate bill requirements; potential
board discipline, but no additional legal civil
liability cause of action created by bill, to protect
against hostile legal relationship between patient and
provider.
Section 6. Amends AS 08.80.030(b) Duties of Opioid
Prescribing Pharmacists: Inform patients, in
provider's "own words", of potential addiction dangers
from extended opioid use; and any reasonable treatment
alternatives, if they exist, to the recommended opioid
prescription; distribute Department of Health and
Social Services short handout on some potential
dangers.
Regulations/Enforcement of Bill: Board power to
consider discipline for registered pharmacists who
"habitually" violate bill requirements; potential
board discipline, but no additional legal civil
liability cause of action created by bill, to protect
against hostile legal relationship between patient and
provider.
Section 7. Inserts a new paragraph in AS 47.37.040
under subheading (24) that creates a visual aid for
providers to hand out to patients when they are being
prescribed opioids. This handout will provide easily
understandable and concise information on opioids,
including the inherent addictive and harmful qualities
of opioids. This visual aid also will also provide
information on opioid statistics specific to Alaska.
3:15:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON inquired how HB 89 provides that doctors
would be held accountable.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ replied the bill would allow each of the
governing boards that oversee the practicing providers to
develop and enforce the regulations as the boards see fit.
3:15:55 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony on HB 89.
3:16:23 PM
ROBIN MINARD, Chief Communications Officer, Mat-Su Health
Foundation, testified in support of HB 89. She noted the
foundation shares ownership in the Mat-Su Regional Medical
Center in Wasilla and Palmer, and that the foundation's share of
the profits are invested back into the community to improve the
health and wellness of residents. She continued:
Along with community partners the foundation conducted
a community health needs assessment and it included
data analysis, public polling in 24 community forums
as well as an online forum. Our community ranked
alcohol and substance abuse as the number one health
issue in Mat-Su.
In response to that we completed a behavioral health
environmental scan, and this was a multi-year project
that resulted in three reports and numerous
recommendations. One of those recommendations was
adoption of strict guidelines for prescribing
narcotics. The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
is helping a lot in that arena and HB 89 builds upon a
safer prescribing environment by ensuring that
prescribers educate patients about the dangers
associated with opioids.
There were 10 opioid related overdose deaths in Mat-Su
in 2018 and 114 deaths statewide. That means 114
families lost a child, a father, a mother, a brother,
or a sister. Even one death is too many, especially
when it is entirely preventable. Many individuals
addicted to heroin were first exposed to opioids as a
result of legally written prescriptions for pain
management. They may have made different choices had
they known that the drug prescribed by their doctor
was highly addictive. People occasionally do need
assistance dealing with pain, but when they do, they
should be fully informed about the potential dangers
of opioids.
The impact of drug abuse goes beyond the tragic and
unnecessary loss of life and devastated families. A
2015 report from the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority stated that the estimated cost of drug abuse
to the Alaska economy totaled $1.22 billion. Included
in that figure are productivity loss, traffic
collisions, criminal justice and protective services,
health care, and public assistance and social
services. These costs are borne by state and local
governments, employers, and residents of Alaska. The
devastation to our communities being done by opioids
must end. We believe that HB 89 will help bring that
end.
3:19:12 PM
PATTY OWEN, Member, Board of Directors, Alaska Public Health
Association, testified in support of HB 89. She said the
association is a membership organization of about 150 health
professionals and community members statewide that are dedicated
to improving "the health and wellbeing of Alaska's public
health." The association is an affiliate of the national
American Public Health Association. The association supports HB
89 and subscribes to the multi-pronged approach of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in opioid use and abuse
prevention, which includes better prescribing practices,
supporting the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, and
expanded use of naloxone. She is here today to support patient
education and education in general for providers and the public.
Additionally, the association supports public education in terms
of media campaigns and education in schools and communities.
3:21:09 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ closed public testimony and held over HB 89.
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