Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/02/2015 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB71 | |
| HB72 || HB73 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 86 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 71
"An Act relating to the practice of pharmacy; and
relating to the administration of vaccines and related
emergency medications."
2:06:27 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed housekeeping.
2:06:51 PM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, provided a sponsor
statement:
Currently, Alaska pharmacists require oversight by a
medical doctor or nurse practitioner to oversee their
immunization authority. SB 71 will give already-
trained and certified pharmacists authority to
immunize Alaska adults and children without having to
contract with often hard-to-find doctors/nurse
practitioners to oversee their immunization programs.
This bill will particularly help rural pharmacies
increase their reach to populations who often see
their pharmacist more often than a medical
professional. Consumers would enjoy more flexibility
with their schedules and cost savings by being able to
access their local pharmacist for crucial
immunizations.
SB 71 expands authority for Alaska pharmacists to
independently administer all vaccines and would reduce
burdensome collaborative practice agreements. Studies
have shown that states in which pharmacists are
granted broad authority to administer vaccines have
higher immunization rates.
In 2013 Alaskan pharmacists administered over 13,000
flu vaccines and this legislation would significantly
improve access to additional vaccinations and public
health as a result. I ask for your support to expand
the authority of pharmacists to independently
administer vaccinations.
Senator Giessel added that SB 71 would provide already
trained, and certified, pharmacists the authority to
immunize Alaska adults and children, without having to
contract with physicians or nurse practitioners to oversee
their programs. She said that since 2005, all pharmacists
had been trained in immunization procedures as part of
their education program, pharmacists who attended school
before 2005, would be required to take an immunization
training program approved by the Board of Pharmacy. She
highlighted the details of the training. She believed that
the bill would be particularly helpful in rural areas where
the populations encountered their pharmacists more often
that their medical providers. She opined that Alaska had
the lowest immunization rates in the country; studies had
shown that in states where pharmacists had the authority to
administer medications immunization rates were higher. She
stated that all of the vaccinations that would be
administered by a pharmacist would be reported to the
statewide data program, VacTrack.
2:09:50 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony.
2:10:29 PM
SCOTT WATTS, ALASKA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU, testified
in support of SB 71. He related that Alaska was rated below
the national level for immunizations. He reiterated that
pharmacists were trained in immunizations and were acting
as a resource for the public concerning immunization
accessibility and travel schedules. He commented that
increased vaccination rates would help to lower health care
costs in the state. He commented on the fiscal note and
observed that it was a one-time cost, which would be easily
off-set by the lower health care costs.
2:12:18 PM
Senator Olson expressed concern about adequate training for
adverse reactions to vaccinations, such as anaphylactic
shock.
2:14:18 PM
Mr. Watts replied that protocol existed for epinephrine
injections to halt anaphylactic reactions. He added that
the pharmacists that administered the vaccinations were CPR
certified.
Senator Olson clarified that pharmacists did not receive
the same training as physicians. He said that pharmacists
were not trained in intubation.
2:15:26 PM
AT EASE
2:15:59 PM
RECONVENED
Senator Olson reiterated that most pharmacists did not have
the same training as physicians and were not trained on
intubation.
Mr. Watts responded that he had not meant to imply that the
two had the same training.
Senator Olson spoke to the state's lagging vaccination
numbers. He said that there existed the perception that
vaccines delivered in multiple sequences over a short
period of time could result in adverse reactions, like
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Autism, but noted that
those theories had largely been debunked.
2:17:51 PM
MARGARET SODEN, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. She related that
pharmacies in her community were open evenings and
weekends, unlike medical offices; additionally, pharmacists
interacted with patients more often than other
practitioners because they returned to the pharmacy on a
regular basis. She felt that the legislation would result
in more pharmacies offering vaccinations, which would lead
to more Alaskans being immunized.
2:19:46 PM
AMBER BRIGGS, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
testified in support of the legislation. She related that
she was a pharmacist and had administered many
vaccinations. She believed that not providing immunizations
would result in adverse economic impacts to the state. She
opined that the rates of emergency room visits due to the
H1N1 flu virus increased when people did not vaccinate
against the flu. She concluded the allowing pharmacists to
independently administer vaccinations would help to
decrease healthcare costs in the state.
2:22:09 PM
RYAN RUGGLES, DISTRICT PHARMACY MANAGER, CARRS SAFEWAY,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of the
legislation. He echoed the comments of the previous
testifiers. He believed that the bill offered convent and
economical access to vaccinations. He noted that pharmacies
across the state already administered vaccinations.
2:24:48 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon whether shots were administered on site
at Carrs Safeway.
Mr. Ruggles indicated that all immunizations were available
except for Yellow Fever.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether the store contracted with
a doctor.
Mr. Ruggles replied that the store contracted with a nurse
practitioner through a collaborative practice agreement.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried the cost of the contract.
Mr. Ruggles responded that contract agreements with
providers varied. He could not provide the specific cost
offhand, but noted that the price could vary drastically
between providers.
2:25:51 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon informed the committee that a
representative of the Department of Health and Social
Services was available online for questions.
2:26:08 PM
BARRY CHRISTENSEN, CO-CHAIR, ALASKA PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference),
spoke in favor of the legislation. He believed that the
bill would provide improved access to vaccinations and
improve public health. He felt that the fiscal note could
be justified by the healthcare savings that would be
realized by the lesser number of hospitalizations due to
the flu virus. He related that, according to the Center for
Disease Control (CDC), for every $1 spent on vaccinations -
$10 in healthcare costs were saved. He noted the letter of
support from the National Association of Trade Drugstores
in member packets (copy on file).
2:28:26 PM
JASON TAPLEY, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the
bill. He felt that the legislation would increase access to
vaccinations for those with disabilities or other travel
constraints.
2:29:39 PM
Senator Olson asked Mr. Tapley what kind of resources and
equipment were available to the pharmacists where he worked
that addressed adverse reactions to vaccinations.
Mr. Tapley replied that most pharmacists were train in
basic life support; most pharmacies were stocked with epi-
pens and Benadryl, which could be used in the short-term
until an ambulance arrived.
2:31:05 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
2:31:22 PM
Senator Giessel commented that the collaborative agreements
that were in place currently had been in place since 1989.
She asserted that healthcare education had evolved,
pharmacists were now required to earn PHD degrees and were
highly educated. She contended that intubation was a highly
refined skill requiring repeated practice and was a rare
necessity.
2:32:45 PM
Senator Dunleavy queried the fiscal note.
Senator Giessel spoke to the fiscal note 1, from the
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development. She stated that the regulatory costs would be
covered by the licensing fees. She continued to fiscal note
2, from the Department of Health and Social Services, which
reflected a capital budget cost of $50 thousand. She
referred to the audit that had been completed for the
department which documented the system deficits and known
non-compliance instances for many sections of the state's
Medicaid management information services. She argued that
the system used for enrollment in and payment for Medicaid
needed a complete renovation.
2:34:31 PM
Senator Olson agreed with Senator Giessel assessment of the
immunizations needs of the state.
2:35:03 PM
Senator Bishop asked whether there was data which reflected
the number of cases of adverse reactions to vaccinations in
the state.
Senator Giessel commented that the data would need to be
gathered.
2:36:01 PM
Senator Olson asked whether the sponsor had heard from any
of the Native Health organizations in rural Alaska.
Senator Giessel responded in the negative.
Senator Olson asked whether the administration supported
the legislation.
Senator Giessel replied that she did not know.
Senator Olson asked whether the sponsor had heard from the
Alaska State Medical Association of the Alaska State
Medical Board.
Senator Giessel said that she had not received any negative
feedback from either organization.
2:37:10 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon commented that there was representation
from the state of Alaska available to answer questions.
2:37:45 PM
ERIN NARUS, DIVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
stated that the department did not have a position on the
legislation.
Senator Olson asked whether the fiscal notes seemed
accurate.
Ms. Narus replied that the request in fiscal note 2 was
necessary in order to comply with federal requirements.
SB 71 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
2:39:19 PM
AT EASE
3:30:56 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair MacKinnon handed the gavel over to Co-Chair Kelly.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB71 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support AK Pharmacists Assn.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Bd of Pharmacy.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Emails 3-19-15.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Brown 3-13-15.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Garrison.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Island Pharmacy.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support NACDS.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Ron's Apothecary 3-13-15.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Safeway.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB71 Support Soden 3-23-15.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB 86 Changes in SB 86 CS.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 86 |
| SB 86 CS LC Sectional.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 86 |
| SB 86 Supporting Documents - DEC Active Contaminated Sites.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 86 |
| SB 86 Supporting Documents - DEC All Products Spilled FY10-14.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 86 |
| SB 86 Supporting Documents - DEC All Products Spilled FY14.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 86 |
| HB 72 Amendment 25.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 72 |
| HB 72 Amendment 26.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 72 |
| HB 72 Amendment 24.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 72 |
| SB 86 - Work Draft version F.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 86 |
| SB 86 Fund Transfer SFC 4-2-15.pdf |
SFIN 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 86 |