Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/11/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR15 | |
| Presentation: Behavorial Health Roadmap for Alaska Youth | |
| HB371 | |
| HB89 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 371 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HCR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 371-MEDICAL REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS
4:09:52 PM
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 371 "An Act relating to medical
review organizations; relating to the definitions of 'health
care provider' and 'review organization'; and relating to the
duties of the chief medical officer in the Department of
Health."
4:10:20 PM
JAMES SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced HB 371 on behalf
of the sponsor, paraphrasing the sponsor statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
HB 371 Sponsor Statement
"An Act relating to medical review organizations;
relating to the definition of 'health care provider'
and 'review organization'; and relating to the duties
of the chief medical officer in the Department of
Health."
The purpose of House Bill 371 is to modify public
health review organizations to improve the review
committee process and prevent and reduce avoidable
deaths, injuries, and illnesses of Alaskans.
Review organizations (also known as review committees)
conduct a thorough review of deaths, injuries, and
illnesses by examining clinical and other records to
identify areas of concern and recommend interventions
and improvements to services to improve health
outcomes of Alaskans. Review organizations that are
recognized in Alaska law (AS 18.23) include hospitals,
clinics, associations of health care providers,
professional standards organizations, the State
Medical Board, health care accreditation
organizations, and those established by the
Commissioner of Health to review public health issues
regarding morbidity and mortality.
This bill clarifies the sharing of information from
the review organizations if it does not violate
federal or state confidentiality laws; provides a
definition of health care provider rather than a
specific list of provider types; changes the
designation of who can approve Department of Health
morbidity or mortality review committees from the
Alaska State Medical Board to the Department of Health
Chief Medical Officer; modifies the membership of
Department of Health review committees by removing the
requirement that composition of the committee be 75
percent health care providers; and allows all
nationally-recognized groups that accredit health care
organizations to have review organizations.
This bill over time will improve the composition of
the review organizations to better inform public
policy and improve Alaskan's health.
Please join me in support of House Bill 371.
4:12:33 PM
SABINA BRAUN, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, a brief presentation for HB
371. She moved to slide 2 discussed the why, how, and who of
medical review organizations:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Medical Review Organizations
Why To review injuries, deaths, and illness in order
to provide insight for public policy and health
interventions to improve Alaskan's health.
How In-depth review of deaths, injuries, and
illnesses by examining clinical records and additional
data.
Who Hospitals, clinics, associations of health care
providers, professional standards organizations, the
State Medical Board, health care accreditation
organizations, and those established by the
Commissioner of Health to review public health issues.
4:13:13 PM
MS. BRAUN moved to slide 3 and said Alaska has 3 medical review
organizations:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Public Health Review Committee
Examples
Maternal Child Death Review Committee
All cases of infant, child, and maternal death.
Overdose Fatality Review Committee
Sample of cases where primary cause of death was drug-
related.
Congenital Syphilis Review Board
Sample of congenital syphilis cases.
4:13:32 PM
MS. BRAUN moved to slide 4 and said the intent of HB 371 is to
streamline the medical review organizations review process
making it more effective, with the goal of reducing avoidable
death and injury among Alaskans:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Intent
Modify public health organizations to improve the
committee process.
Support a more efficient process that ensures
appropriate representation of staff, partners, and
external experts.
Better utilize the review committee process to prevent
and reduce avoidable deaths and injuries.
4:13:43 PM
MS. BRAUN moved to slide 5 and discussed the following point
regarding current statute:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Current Statutes
• Current statute is ambiguous as to whether medical
review organizations can publish reports.
• Current definition of healthcare provider in the bill
is very narrow.
• The Alaska State Medical Board approves medical review
organizations.
• Current statute requires 75 percent of membership be
healthcare providers.
• Current statute only allows one accrediting
organization to accredit medical review organizations.
4:14:36 PM
MS. BRAUN moved to slide 6 and said HB 371 would do the
following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
HB 371
• Allows a review organization to publish a report
containing data or information acquired in the
exercise of its duties, ensuring the report does
not violate federal or state law regarding
confidentiality of a person or decedent.
• This bill removes the current list of healthcare
providers allowed to be on the review committee.
• This bill modifies the requirement of the health
care committee of having 75 percent health care
providers.
• Changes who can approve Department of Health
morbidity or mortality review organizations from
the Alaska State Medical Board to the Chief
Medical Officer in the Department of Health.
• Broadens who can establish review organizations.
4:15:57 PM
CHAIR WILSON clarified that HB 371, on page 2, line 17, proposes
replacing the current, narrow list of healthcare providers with
a broader definition: "a person licensed, certified, or
otherwise permitted by law to provide health care services in
the ordinary course of business or practices of the profession."
He emphasized that this change still applies to healthcare
providers but broadens the definition to include more healthcare
providers. He wanted the public to understand that the intent is
not to expand beyond healthcare professionals to unrelated
fields, such as attorneys or others on the committee.
4:16:36 PM
MS. BRAUN agreed.
4:16:46 PM
MS. BRAUN provided the sectional analysis for HB 371:
[Original punctuation provided.]
House Bill 371
Sectional Analysis
"An Act relating to medical review organizations;
relating to the definitions of 'health care provider'
and 'review organization'; and relating to the duties
of the chief medical officer in the Department of
Health."
Section 1 AS 18.23.030(a) is amended to add an
exemption to disclosure of data and is
described in Sec 2.
Section 2 AS 18.23.030 is amended to add a new
subsection allowing a review organization
to publish a report containing data or
information acquired in the exercise of its
duties, ensuring the report does not
violate federal or state law regarding
confidentiality of a person or decedent.
Section 3 AS 18.23.070(3) Changes the definition of
healthcare provider in reference to a
review organization to mean a person
licensed, certified, or otherwise permitted
by law to provide health care services in
the ordinary course of business or practice
of a profession and removes the list of
specific provider types.
Section 4 AS 18.23.070(5)(A) and AS.18.23.070(5)(B)
are not modified by HB 371.
AS 18.23.070(5)(C) The review organization
membership is approved by the Chief Medical
Officer in the Department of Health and
removes the provision that at least 75
percent of the committee members must be
health care providers.
AS 18.23.070(5)(D) Allows all nationally-
recognized groups that accredit health care
organizations to have review organizations.
Current law limits this to the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO).
4:18:25 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked whether there is currently a review
organization that evaluates deaths within the Division of
Corrections; and whether Section 2, if applied to an existing or
future review organization, could aid in understanding the
significant number of inmate deaths occurring within the
Division of Corrections.
MS. BRAUN stated that there is currently no medical review
organization dedicated to evaluating deaths within the
Department of Corrections. She expressed hope that HB 371 might
help streamline the process and potentially enable the
establishment of such a review organization and deferred the
question.
4:19:52 PM
LINDSEY KATO, Director, Division of Public Health, Department of
Health, Juneau, Alaska, explained that HB 371 aims to expand
participation in review organizations. Under current statute,
requiring the review organization be 75 percent healthcare
providers limits the ability to form a comprehensive assessment
team for a Department of Corrections review. Expanding
eligibility would allow involvement from non-healthcare
providers, such as correctional officers, reentry coalition
members, and individuals with lived experience, whose
perspectives could significantly enhance the review process.
4:21:02 PM
CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony on HB 371.
4:21:23 PM
CARMEN WENGER, Director of Programs, All Alaska Pediatric
Partnership (A2P2), Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of
HB 371. Representing a statewide nonprofit focused on health and
wellness solutions for Alaska's children and families, she
expressed support for HB 371. She stated that HB 371 will help
prevent and reduce avoidable deaths, injuries, and illnesses,
benefiting Alaskan's overall health, particularly for mothers
and children. HB 371 clarifies the protocols for sharing and
publishing reports and recommendations from medical review
organizations while ensuring compliance with federal and state
confidentiality laws. Additionally, removing the 75 percent
healthcare provider composition requirement allows for a more
interdisciplinary team approach, aligning with best practices in
medical and public health fields. A2P2 supports HB 371 for its
potential to enhance health outcomes, inform policy, and reduce
preventable harm to Alaskan families.
4:23:09 PM
CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony on HB 371.
4:23:21 PM
CHAIR WILSON held HB 371 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 371 v. A.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 371 |
| HB 371 Sponsor Presentation.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 371 |
| HB 371 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 371 |
| HB 371 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 371 |
| HB 371 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 371 |
| HB 371 LOS ANTHC.PDF |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 371 |
| HCR015A.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HCR 15 |
| HCR15 Sponsor Statement 04.01.24.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HCR 15 |
| HCR 15 Fiscal Note LEG-SESS.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HCR 15 |
| HCR 15 Support Document TDAW Infographic.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HCR 15 |
| HCR 15 Support Document Mental Health and TD Factsheet.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HCR 15 |
| 4.11.24 DOH Presentation BH Roadmap.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SHSS 4.11.24 DOH Behavioral Health Roadmap for Alaska Youth |
| HB89 DOH responses to SHSS questions.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| HB 89 Legal Memo to Dunbar (24-192mis).pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| HB 89 LOS Allmeroth.pdf |
SFIN 4/23/2024 9:00:00 AM SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| HCR 15 NAMI Alaska testimony 4.11.24.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HCR 15 |
| HB 89 Amendments Nos. 1-3 - adopted 4.11.24.pdf |
SHSS 4/11/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 89 |