03/28/2014 03:30 PM House L&C

        HB 281-PRESCRIPTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:40:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR OLSON  announced that the  next order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 281, "An Act  relating to prescription of drugs by                                                               
a physician  without a physical examination."  [CSHB 281(HSS) was                                                               
before the committee.]                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  OLSON stated  the  committee has  heard  the bill  several                                                               
times.  During the last hearing  on March 26, 2014, the committee                                                               
experienced  some technical  audio difficulties  yet was  able to                                                               
take testimony.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHNSON moved  to  adopt  the proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)   for  HB  281,  labeled   28-LS1234\N,  Martin,                                                               
3/27/14, as the working document.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR OLSON objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:42:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN  GATTIS, Alaska State Legislature,  said that                                                               
Version  N  will  recognize the  telemedicine  practices  by  the                                                               
Department of Corrections (DOC) and  the Department of Health and                                                               
Social Services (DHSS).                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:43:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON asked  if subparagraph  (B) on  page 1,                                                               
lines 11-14 addresses DOC's concerns.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS answered that it does.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:43:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  OLSON  removed his  objection.    There being  no  further                                                               
objection, Version N was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  OLSON,  after first  determining  no  one else  wished  to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony on HB 281.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON  commented that  he "feels  better about                                                               
this legislation."  He referred to  a March 18, 2014, letter from                                                               
the  state  medical  board  and  he was  unsure  of  the  board's                                                               
concerns, whether the board is "a  tough nut to crack", but he is                                                               
somewhat more comfortable with the bill.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:44:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHNSON moved  to report  the proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS) for  HB 281,  Version N,  out of  committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations  and  the accompanying  fiscal  note.                                                               
There being  no objection,  the CSHB  281(L&C) was  reported from                                                               
the House Labor & Commerce Standing Committee.