Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
04/26/2006 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR28 | |
| SB281 | |
| Overview: Obesity Prevention – American Heart Association | |
| HB258 | |
| HB393 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SCR 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 281 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 258 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 393 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CSHB 393(HES)-INSURANCE FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
CHAIR DYSON announced CSHB 393(HES) to be up for consideration.
HEATH HILYARD, Staff to Representative Anderson, said that a
blank committee substitute (CS) for the bill was submitted to
the committee. He remarked that he would like to explain the
changes within the CS.
CHAIR DYSON moved to adopt SCS CSHB 393(HES), version L of as
the committee's working document. He objected for the purpose
of discussion.
MR. HILYARD said that the only substantial difference between
version L and the previous version could be found on page 2,
beginning on line 21. The change clarifies that notification is
the responsibility of the employer, not the insurance company,
unless the policy is being purchased directly by an individual
from the company, in which case the standard notification
process is in place.
He said that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer deaths in Alaska and Alaska Natives have the highest
rates of colorectal cancer in the country. He added that the
survival rate for colorectal cancer when caught at the localized
stage through routine screening is over 90 percent but, if it
progresses to advanced stages, the survival rate is only about
10 percent.
MR. HILYARD said that colonoscopies are over 90 percent
effective at detecting colon cancer and can remove precancerous
polyps. Screening is cost effective and national studies
confirm that the cost of these screenings is minimal when spread
across the insured population.
SENATOR OLSON asked what is the incidence of complications for
colonoscopies.
MR. HILYARD replied that he could not answer that question.
SENATOR ELTON asked whether this bill allows the insurer to
choose a particular screening method.
3:01:11 PM
MR. HILYARD replied that language in the original bill
specifying the four available methods for colorectal screening
was removed in the CS. He added that page 2 of the CS
references the use of the test recommended in the American
Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for colorectal screening. He
remarked that many of the major insurance providers recognize
this test as the gold standard for the procedure.
SENATOR ELTON asked if he is correct in his understanding that
passage of the bill would require insurance companies to cover
any one of the four procedures.
MR. HILYARD replied yes.
CHAIR DYSON asked Ms. Millhorn whether the administration has
taken a position on the bill.
MELANIE MILLHORN, Director, Division of Retirement and Benefits,
replied that her division has not taken a policy position on the
bill.
CHAIR DYSON asked whether this legislation would affect the
state's retirement system.
MS. MILLHORN replied that her division has concluded that the
bill would have no impact on the state's active and retiree
plans because those plans are not regulated under AS.21.42.
3:04:25 PM
CHAIR DYSON asked whether the state has adopted the mandates
that it has placed on the insurance industry.
MS. MILLHORN remarked that only the Commissioner of the
Department of Administration has the authority to make changes
to the state's active and retiree plans. She said that the
State has voluntarily adopted some of the mandated coverage it
has imposed such as mammograms, pap smears, and prostate
specific antigen testing.
CHAIR DYSON asked whether the administration considered amending
section 39, as well as 42.
MR. HILYARD replied that they had not made that consideration.
SENATOR ELTON asked whether the commissioner could exclude a
benefit from a plan once it had been adopted.
MS. MILLHORN replied that might be considered a diminishment of
benefits. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the advantages and
disadvantages of changes to the retiree health plan must offset
one another. She added that colorectal screening is covered
under the State's active plan so long as a provider requests it
and it occurs within 30 days of the employee's annual exam, but
that preventative colorectal screening is not available under
the retiree plan except for retirees with a related diagnosis.
3:08:25 PM
SENATOR ELTON asked whether the bill requires insurance
companies to pay the entire cost of colorectal cancer screening.
MR. HILYARD replied that on page 2, beginning on lines 1 and 2,
the bill states that the standard policy provisions and the
deductible and copayment provisions shall stay in place. He
added that the sponsor had not considered a specific percentage
structure for additional costs.
SENATOR ELTON remarked that his provider recommended that he
have his procedure performed in Seattle because it is
significantly cheaper there than in Juneau. He asked whether
the bill takes prevailing costs into account.
MR. HILLARD replied that is not addressed in the bill.
CHAIR DYSON remarked that his wife's procedure cost nearly
$5,000, which was outrageous. He asked whether there is
anything the legislature could do to address excessive billing
from providers.
3:12:08 PM
MS. MILLHORN replied that that the state could advertise cost
differences in their news breaks. She added that there are ways
that the third party administrator could negotiate some charges
through network savings and similar measures on an individual
basis.
3:13:15 PM
CHAIR DYSON remarked that someone ought to review the medical
invoices of State employees to ensure that all of the billed
expenses are legitimate.
MS. MILLHORN replied that the division looks into some of those
areas, and added that the state is adopting another third party
administrator from which it expects to receive some benefits
that will save the state money. She said that the division is
considering making changes to its plan configuration to cover
air travel to places that offer procedures at significantly
lower rates.
3:15:46 PM
CHAIR DYSON asked whether any representatives from the insurance
industry were scheduled to testify on this bill.
MR. HILYARD replied no.
CHAIR DYSON asked whether any representatives from the insurance
industry had testified on the bill in previous hearings.
MR. HILYARD replied that representatives from the industry were
present at several of the House committee meetings where the
bill was discussed. He said Mr. Reed Stoops of AETNA testified
that his organization had concerns about a section that has
since been changed in the CS. He said that other than that they
did not have any opposition to the bill. He remarked that AETNA
and Blue Cross already provide coverage for the screening in
their standard policies.
3:17:02 PM
CHAIR DYSON remarked that he hates putting mandates on the
private sector, and that if spending the money on the test is
going to provide better health outcomes for patient-client
policyholders, and save the insurance company money in the long
term, all responsible insurance companies should be doing it.
He related a conversation he had with insurance representatives
five or six years ago when dealing with this issue. They
admitted that the screening is good for them and their clients,
but wanted to be sure that everyone would be required to cover
it so that they would not be at a cost disadvantage.
MR. HILYARD said that a number of members in the other body
expressed the same philosophical approach. The sponsor's office
has worked with members of the insurance industry to satisfy any
concerns with minimal impact, yet benefit the public health. He
restated that while he has not received comment from small
private insurers, the two major providers in this state have
expressed their satisfaction with the bill.
3:19:15 PM
CHAIR DYSON asked whether Linda Hall, Director of the Division
of Insurance (DOI), has commented on this bill.
MR. HILYARD replied that DOI believes this bill would have no
fiscal impact. He said that she did not offer a policy position
on the bill.
SENATOR ELTON referenced a statement from Blue Cross/Blue Shield
of Alaska that it currently covers colorectal screening on all
of its plans. He asked whether this benefit would extend to
retirees without the Commissioner's acceptance of colorectal
coverage, if the state adopts Blue Cross/Blue Shield as its
third party administrator.
MR. HILYARD replied that active members are currently covered
for this screening, but retirees are not.
SENATOR ELTON said he understood that active state members are
only covered if a physician asks for the screening but this
legislation would provide that they would be covered regardless
of whether or not a physician requests the procedure.
MR. HILYARD replied that is correct.
3:22:23 PM
MOLLY McCAMMON, Juneau resident, testified in support of HB 393,
saying that she is living proof that screening saves lives.
DARYL McCLENDON, MD, testified in support of HB 393. He said
that coverage for colorectal screening is financially and
medically prudent since the lifetime risk of colorectal cancer
is high, one in twenty, and the incidence of survival is much
higher when it is caught in the early stages of its development.
CHAIR DYSON said that the cost of the screening seems to be
inordinately expensive in Anchorage and asked whether quality
testing is available in other locations.
DR. McCLENDON replied that he did not know how the costs in
Anchorage compare to costs in other areas.
CHAIR DYSON thanked the witness for his work in Alaska and
announced that the bill would be held in committee.
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