04/23/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

              HB 371-MEDICAL REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:42:10 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."                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:42:42 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  JUSTIN   RUFFRIDGE,  District  7,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau,  Alaska,  explained  that HB  371  aims  to                                                               
adjust components of medical  review organizations, which provide                                                               
recommendations and  data on  deaths, particularly  those outside                                                               
the norm.  He noted three  such review boards currently  exist in                                                               
the  state,  and mentioned  maternal  and  childhood deaths,  and                                                               
overdose  deaths. The  HB  371 seeks  to  expand eligibility  for                                                               
board  membership to  individuals  serving in  medical roles  and                                                               
transfers oversight  from the  state medical  board to  the chief                                                               
medical officer  to enhance flexibility and  efficiency. He added                                                               
that  the HB  371  also  mandates the  creation  of reports  with                                                               
redacted  confidential information,  making data  more accessible                                                               
to the public and relevant departments.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:45:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SABINA  BRAUN,  Staff,  Representative Justin  Ruffridge,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  added that the  third review                                                               
organization in Alaska focuses on congenital syphilis.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:45:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON solicited the will of the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:45:35 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAUFMAN moved  to report HB 371,  work order LS-331366\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:45:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON found no objection and  HB 371 was reported from the                                                               
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.