Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/06/2003 09:04 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 43
"An Act extending the termination date of the State Medical
Board."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Co-Chair Wilken read an explanatory statement as follows.
Senate Bill 43 extends the State Medical Board eight years to
June 30, 2011. This extension matches the Division of
Legislative Budget and Audit's recommendation.
PAT DAVIDSON, Director, Division of Legislative Budget and Audit,
explained the unusual request to extend the term of the Board for
eight years. She told of the previous eight-year extension and
noted that the Board did not wait until the lapse date renewal to
proceed with changes, which was beneficial to the operation of the
Board.
Senator Taylor asked number of licensed the Board has revoked and
"at what level" the Board is conducting investigations.
Ms. Davidson indicated she would provide the number of revoked
licenses. She stated that it is difficult to evaluate the amount of
time spent on investigations of each occupation board because the
Division of Occupation Licensing retains investigative staff, which
is not assigned to one particular board. Therefore, she explained
the amount of time allocated to individual investigations is
weighed against the priorities of all the boards.
Senator Taylor commented that the Alaska Bar Association could
provide the exact details on investigations and the number of
attorneys disciplined or disbarred. He ascertained from discussions
with members of the State Medical Board that the Board does not
revoke medical licenses. He expressed interest in learning "how
long and how deep the old boys club runs in Alaska."
Senator Olson assured that the Board has taken licensure action in
the recent past.
Senator Bunde told of two high profile cases involving revocation
of licenses for doctors practicing in the Anchorage area.
Senator B. Stevens referenced page 11 of the Division of
Legislative Budget and Audit, which listed 413 investigations and
the number of cases closed in the last three years.
Ms. Davidson interjected to point out that multiple complaints are
sometimes reported against one physician.
RICK URION, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing,
Department of Community and Economic Development, testified in
support of the bill. He stressed that the Board does revoke
licenses and that many investigations are ongoing with actions
pending. He noted that the two Division investigators dedicated to
matters relating to the medical field handle 60 percent of the
Division's investigations. He asserted, "We are overloaded." He
told of time delays in the investigative process and efforts to
reduce these delays.
Mr. Urion remarked that the State Medical Board "has done a very
good job." He compared the Division's office size and condition in
Anchorage to the considerably larger Alaska Bar Association
offices.
Senator Bunde asked the cost of a State medical license. He assumed
the fee is based on the cost of investigations of the Board.
Senator Olson answered the cost of a license is currently $600.
Mr. Urion furthered that statute requires that the fee be based on
a two-year average of investigative expenses. He noted that the
investigation activities have been considerable higher than average
in the past year and the Board is subsequently $90,000 over-budget.
He anticipated this would "average out" over the next year or
license fees would be increased.
Senator Bunde asked the process to obtain additional staff and
better facilities if necessary.
Mr. Urion responded that such changes could not be implemented
during the current fiscal year, but stressed that improvements must
be done eventually as the system is "bogged down".
Senator Bunde wanted to know if these improvements could be made
without impacting the State general fund.
Mr. Urion affirmed the intent is to increase license fees to cover
the additional expenses.
Senator Taylor commented that the physicians would "have the amount
of enforcement that they want to pay for."
Amendment #1: This amendment changes the termination date of the
State Medical Board from 2011 to 2007.
Senator Olson moved for adoption.
Co-Chair Wilken objected for an explanation.
Senator Olson relayed that as a member of the State Medical Board,
he identified areas in need of improvement. He told of changes made
the previous session to the locum tenens law intended to streamline
the process to attract and retain additional physicians to Alaska.
He wanted an opportunity to measure the success of these efforts
after a four-year period.
Mr. Urion favored the later termination date. He pointed out that
the boards are always subject to legislative evaluation and that
audits could be ordered at any time.
Senator B. Stevens asked if the locum tenens law could be reviewed
in four years without requiring an extension of the Board.
Senator Olson replied that the locum tenens law is only one of the
issues that must be reviewed, citing the witness's indications that
the investigative process needs improvement.
Senator Bunde supported the amendment due to the workload of the
Legislature each year. He predicted that unless the termination
date requires an extension, the review of these related matters
could be overlooked.
Co-Chair Wilken asserted that he supports the amendment because
Senator Olson, a physician, recommends that this is in the best
interest of the people of Alaska.
Senator B. Stevens asked if the Board has issued an official
position on the preferred length of the extension date.
Senator Olson did not. He informed that the Board membership is
undergoing transition.
Co-Chair Wilken predicted that if the Board opposes the amended
extension date, testimony could be presented as House of
Representatives committees consider the bill. He removed his
objection to the adoption of the amendment.
The amendment was ADOPTED without objection.
Senator Taylor offered a motion to report SB 43 as amended from
Committee.
There was no objection and CS SB 43 (FIN) MOVED from Committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying $729,700 fiscal note #1
from the Department of Community and Economic Development.
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