04/02/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

         HB 344-MEDICAL ASSIST. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:52:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  announced the consideration  of HOUSE BILL  NO. 344                                                               
"An  Act relating  to medical  assistance demonstration  projects                                                               
established by the Department of Health."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON stated SB 241 was the companion bill to [HB 344].                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:53:28 PM                                                                                                                    
EMILY   RICCI,  Deputy   Commissioner,   Department  of   Health,                                                               
Anchorage,  Alaska, provided  a  brief overview  of  HB 344.  She                                                               
thanked the committee  for hearing HB 344 and SB  241, which give                                                               
permission  to the  Department of  Health to  apply for  a waiver                                                               
with the Centers for Medicare  and Medicaid Services. The waivers                                                               
allow DOH to  explore the unmet needs of the  most frequent users                                                               
of the services.  The goal is to improve  healthcare outcomes and                                                               
the investments made in supporting their care.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:54:22 PM                                                                                                                    
ANNE  ZINK, M.D.,  Chief Medical  Officer, Department  of Health,                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska, expressed deep  gratitude to the committee for                                                               
hearing  HB 344  and  their  effort in  helping  DOH achieve  its                                                               
mission   of  promoting   the  health,   well-being,  and   self-                                                               
sufficiency of  Alaskans. HB 344 is  a critical tool to  help DOH                                                               
manage Medicaid in Alaska.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:54:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON found  no further discussion and  solicited the will                                                               
of the committee.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:54:48 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAUFMAN moved  to report HB 344,  work order 33-GH2517\A,                                                               
from the  committee with individual recommendations  and attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:55:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  found no objection  and HB [344] was  reported from                                                               
the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.