Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106
04/06/2016 03:30 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB345 | |
| HB334 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 345 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 334 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 345-INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CONTRACEPTIVES
3:34:37 PM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 345, "An Act relating to insurance coverage for
contraceptives and related services; relating to medical
assistance coverage for contraceptives and related services; and
providing for an effective date." [In front of the committee
was the proposed CS for HB 345, labeled 29-LS1503\H, adopted as
the working draft on April 5, 2016.]
3:35:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO, pointing out that the State of Alaska,
as an employer, had the ability to set the health benefits that
it provided, asked if the state employees were included in the
proposed bill.
REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN, Alaska State Legislature, replied
that it was the intent of the proposed bill to include them.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO asked if there was any change to the
non-Medicaid population for what could be prescribed or the
length of the prescriptions, or was the proposed bill an attempt
to ensure that payment came from insurance coverage rather than
the individual.
3:36:47 PM
MEGHAN CAVANAUGH, Staff, Representative Matt Claman, Alaska
State Legislature, asked if he could repeat the question.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO directed attention to page 2, lines 10 -
12, of the proposed bill. He asked if any copayments or
deductibles had been eliminated which were required in the
health insurance policy.
MS. CAVANAUGH replied that copayments were not being limited or
changed under the proposed bill. She said that Department of
Health and Social Services would be instructed to change its
plan for Medicaid recipients. It was not a change for who was
covered for prescriptive contraceptives, but only for how much
could be received at any given time.
3:38:25 PM
CHAIR SEATON asked for clarification that for an insurer which
provided coverage for oral contraceptives, the proposed bill
would allow the recipient to receive a year's worth of coverage;
however, if an insurer did not offer coverage for oral
contraceptives, this would not change the coverage.
MS. CAVANAUGH relayed that under the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (PPACA), prescriptive contraceptive coverage
was mandated, so that this proposed bill was also mandating the
coverage.
3:39:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked about the length of the prescription,
as it was currently limited to three months.
MS. CAVANAUGH replied that this was correct.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL mused that the proposed bill would allow
coverage for a year; thereby, doctors could prescribe for a
year. He asked if a person had to pick up the full year
prescription at one time, or could they return for further
refills, without another prescription, until that full year
prescription had been filled.
MS. CAVANAUGH explained that the purpose was for the insured to
pick up the entire prescription at one time; however, it was
acceptable to only receive a shorter prescription.
3:41:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked if, under the current law, a person
would need a new prescription in three months if they only
picked up a three month prescription. He asked if there could
be a year prescription that was filled at three month intervals.
MS. CAVANAUGH replied that the doctor could prescribe for
refills, but the person would need to return to the pharmacy for
the refill.
3:41:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN stated that there was a practical matter
to a 12-month prescription which the pharmacy only filled for 6
months, as most pharmacies did not keep track of unfilled
prescriptions.
3:43:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO moved to report CSHB 345, Version 20-
LS1503\H, Wallace, 3/22/16, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 345(HSS) was reported out of the House Health
and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| House HSS letter to the House Judiciary Committee-HB 334-4.10.2016.pdf |
HHSS 4/6/2016 3:30:00 PM |
HB 334 |