03/07/2007 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES

                       SB  90-SENIOR CARE                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
2:34:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DAVIS announced SB 90 to be up for consideration.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
KARLEEN JACKSON,  Commissioner for  the Department of  Health and                                                               
Social  Services   (DHSS),  said  that  the   bill  concerns  the                                                               
governor's  proposal for  the Alaska  senior care  program, which                                                               
currently provides $120  a month and a  prescription drug benefit                                                               
for a number of Alaskan  seniors. The governor's bill will update                                                               
the income  eligibility for  senior care  and eliminate  the drug                                                               
benefit.  The program  eligibility was  previously frozen  at 135                                                               
percent of the  2005 federal poverty level; the  bill will change                                                               
it  to   the  current  rate   with  adjustments  for   each  year                                                               
afterwards. The  drug subsidy  is underused  and will  be dropped                                                               
from the program to simplify its administration.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
JANET CLARK, Assistant Commissioner  for the Department of Health                                                               
and Social Services  (DHSS), commented that the  fiscal note does                                                               
need some work in the finance committee.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:38:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DAVIS said  that  she intended  to pass  the  bill out  of                                                               
committee that day and asked for any comments or concerns.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HERB SIMON,  representing himself,  said that  he had  no comment                                                               
and encouraged the committee to move the bill along.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PAT  LUBY,  Advocacy Director  for  the  American Association  of                                                               
Retired Persons, said  that the organization is  pleased with the                                                               
bill but  takes issue with  three items: many low  income seniors                                                               
try to save  for future health costs and their  assets should not                                                               
be  capped  for qualification;  the  monthly  stipends should  be                                                               
raised to  $150; and seniors between  100 and 135 percent  of the                                                               
federal  poverty level,  who are  not eligible  for the  stipend,                                                               
should  eligible for  the drug  benefit. Even  if few  people are                                                               
using the drug  benefit, they are living in  the edge financially                                                               
and the state should consider allowing them the benefit.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:41:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  moved  to  report SB  90  from  committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There                                                               
being no objection, the motion carried.