02/22/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
      HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                     
                       February 22, 2024                                                                                        
                           3:03 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Prax, Chair                                                                                                 
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair                                                                                     
Representative CJ McCormick                                                                                                     
Representative Dan Saddler                                                                                                      
Representative Zack Fields                                                                                                      
Representative Genevieve Mina                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Jesse Sumner                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Board of Examiners of Optometry                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Ethan Arndt - Wasilla                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ETHAN ARNDT, OD, Appointee                                                                                                      
Board of Examiners of Optometry                                                                                                 
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified as appointee to the Board of                                                                   
Examiners of Optometry.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CARL SEUTTER, representing self                                                                                                 
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of the appointment of                                                               
Ethan Arndt to the Board of Examiners of Optometry.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DAWN HARMS, OD, representing self                                                                                               
Eagle River, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified in support of  the appointment of                                                             
Ethan Arndt to the Board of Examiners of Optometry.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:03:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX called  the House Health and  Social Services Standing                                                               
Committee  meeting  to  order  at   3:03  p.m.    Representatives                                                               
McCormick, Mina,  Sadler, and  Prax were present  at the  call to                                                               
order.    Representatives Fields  and  Ruffridge  arrived as  the                                                               
meeting was in progress.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                                       
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                
^Board of Examiners of Optometry                                                                                                
                Board of Examiners of Optometry                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:04:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  announced that  the only order  of business  would be                                                               
consideration  of  the  governor's  appointee  to  the  Board  of                                                               
Examiners of Optometry.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:05:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:05:06 to 3:05:31 p.m.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:05:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ETHAN  ARNDT, OD,  Appointee, Board  of  Examiners of  Optometry,                                                               
provided his background  and resume related to his  position as a                                                               
specialist  in optometry.   He  explained that  his certification                                                               
included  a specialty  in ocular  disease.   He has  provided eye                                                               
care in many  parts of Alaska including remote areas,  and he has                                                               
been  involved   in  different   types  of   optometry  practices                                                               
including hospitals and  clinical practices.  He noted  that as a                                                               
member of  the Board of  Examiners, his range of  knowledge would                                                               
enable him  to emphasize the  highest standard  of care.   He has                                                               
already  stepped into  the position  for several  months, and  he                                                               
would like to continue to do so.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:08:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  opened public testimony  on the  confirmation hearing                                                               
for  the  governor's  appointee  to the  Board  of  Examiners  of                                                               
Optometry.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:08:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CARL SEUTTER,  representing self,  Wasilla, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support  of  the appointment  of  Ethan  Arndt  to the  Board  of                                                               
Examiners of  Optometry.   He explained that  he has  worked with                                                               
Dr. Arndt  for the  past five  years and finds  that his  work is                                                               
impeccable.   His concern  for patient care  and optometry  is of                                                               
the highest standard.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:09:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAWN HARMS,  OD, representing self,  testified in support  of the                                                               
appointment  of  Ethan  Arndt  to   the  Board  of  Examiners  of                                                               
Optometry.  She has been a  friend and colleague for 11 years and                                                               
finds Dr.  Arndt to  be an  intelligent, kind,  and compassionate                                                               
optometrist.  He  would be a valuable asset to  Alaska's Board of                                                               
Optometry.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:10:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   SADDLER   questioned   Dr.   Arndt   about   the                                                               
differences  between  practicing  optometry   in  a  health  care                                                               
facility and in a private practice.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DR.  ARNDT  said he  sees  collaboration  as being  the  greatest                                                               
difference between  working in a private  practice and practicing                                                               
in a health care facility.   Private practice is more challenging                                                               
in terms of getting related or emergency care for patients.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what Dr.  Arndt sees as the greatest                                                               
challenge facing the profession of optometry in Alaska.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
DR. ARNDT  explained that  the greatest  challenge of  working in                                                               
Alaska  is  access  to  specialty  care.    Some  issues  he  has                                                               
encountered  related  to access  are  the  need for  patients  to                                                               
travel and affordability of care.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:12:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX closed public testimony on the confirmation hearing.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  announced that the  House Health and  Social Services                                                               
Committee  has  reviewed  the qualifications  of  the  governor's                                                               
appointees and  recommends that the following  names be forwarded                                                               
to a joint session for consideration:   Ethan Arndt, OD, Board of                                                               
Examiners of  Optometry.   He said  signing the  report regarding                                                               
boards and commissions in no  way reflects an individual member's                                                               
approval  or  disapproval of  the  appointee;  the nomination  is                                                               
merely  forwarded to  the full  legislature  for confirmation  or                                                               
rejection.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:13:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX announced that the hearings for HB 275, HB 264, and                                                                  
HB 196 would be postponed to 02/24/24.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:14:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting was                                                                       
adjourned at 3:14 p.m.