Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
04/09/2018 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| HB193 | |
| HB358 | |
| HB376 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 358 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 376 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 358-INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEHEALTH
4:11:39 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 358, "An Act relating to insurance coverage for
benefits provided through telehealth; and providing for an
effective date."
4:11:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB
358 as prime sponsor. She paraphrased the sponsor statement
[included in committee packet], which reads as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
HB 358 will enhance access to health care services,
primarily mental health and primary care, for Alaskans
who have insurance plans with Moda, Premera Blue
Cross, United Healthcare, and Aetna Life Insurance, to
name a few. HB 358 does this by requiring the insurers
previously listed to provide insurance coverage for
health care services provided through telehealth.
Increasing access to health care services throughout
Alaska is crucial. Because of our unique
geographical landscape and our rural and aging
communities spread out across the state,
telehealth can enhance access to health care and
improve clinical outcomes.
Here are some of the advantages of telehealth:
• Better access and privacy in rural, remote, and
urban areas of Alaska
• Early intervention which can lead to savings
• Greater access for referrals to providers who
specialize in treating specific health issues
• Better, and potentially quicker, access means a
potential reduction in suicides, domestic
violence and other serious events
• Zero impact on state budget
Under HB 358, telehealth benefits for all covered
health care services, including mental health
benefits, will be reimbursable for health care
providers licensed in the state without an initial in-
person appointment. Depending on the patient's needs,
a telehealth appointment can provide education,
reviewing of prescriptions and checking symptoms, all
at a distance on a secure system.
Health care services delivered via telehealth is
happening all over the country, and Alaska is at the
forefront of providing telehealth services for urban,
rural, aging, and the underserved communities across
the state.
4:13:10 PM
BERNICE NESBITT, Staff, Representative Spohnholz, testified on
HB 358 on behalf of Representative Spohnholz, prime sponsor.
She paraphrased the sectional analysis, which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
Section 1.
AS 21.42.422 has been amended to require insurance
coverage for benefits provided via telehealth.
Section 2.
AS 21.42.422 is a new subsection that defines health
care insurer as a person transacting the business of
health care insurance except for a nonfederal
governmental plan. It also adds the definition of
telehealth under 47.05.270(e) as the practice of
health care delivery, evaluation, diagnosis,
consultation, or treatment, using the transfer of
health care data through audio, visual, or data
communications, performed over two or more locations
between providers who are physically separated from
the recipient or from each other or between a provider
and a recipient who are physically separated from each
other.
Section 3
The changes to Section 1 of this bill applies to
health care insurance plans that are offered, issued,
delivered, or renewed on or after the effective date.
Section 4
The effective date is July 1, 2019.
MS. NESBITT shared that she had heard from the major
providers in the state, and none had expressed opposition
to the proposed legislation.
4:15:52 PM
VICTORIA KNAPP, CEO, Mat-Su Health Services, testified in
support of HB 358. She stated there is a need for psychiatric
providers in the state. She said the demand is higher than the
availability. She explained that the company had moved towards
telehealth to meet that need. She said often patients go
without evaluations because their provider will not pay for
evaluations via telehealth.
4:17:55 PM
LYNN FREEMAN, MD, testified in support of HB 358. She indicated
she was testifying from the private provider perspective. She
described her patient pool. She said some are in chronic pain
and were facing surgery. She said pain can be made worse by
having to drive to appointments.
4:20:25 PM
CHAIR KITO opened public testimony on HB 358.
CHAIR KITO held over HB 358.