Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
04/04/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s)|| State Medical Board|| Board of Veterinary Examiners|| State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board|| Board of Marital & Family Therapy | |
| HB187 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s)|| State Medical Board|| Board of Veterinary Examiners|| State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board|| Board of Marital & Family Therapy | |
| HB366 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s)|| State Medical Board|| Board of Veterinary Examiners|| State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board|| Board of Marital & Family Therapy | |
| SB91 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 187 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 366 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 91-TELEHEALTH: MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM
3:56:54 PM
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the final order of business
would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 91(FIN), "An Act relating to
telehealth; relating to multidisciplinary care teams; and
relating to the practice of medicine."
3:57:24 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:57 p.m. to 3:58 p.m.
3:58:23 PM
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor,
presented CSSB 91(FIN). He informed the committee that the
incentive for the proposed legislation was a visit from a
constituent with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a
degenerative disease that leads to paralysis and death within
two to five years, but for which medical care can improve
quality of life. This constituent flew to Seattle and was told
she could continue her treatment with her physician via
telehealth but would have to fly to Seattle to meet in person
with the other seven members of her multidisciplinary team. She
travels four times a year to visit these caregivers, but in the
future, she will be unable to do so. Senator Claman encouraged
committee members to read the letter from Ms. Swanson [included
in the committee packet]. He explained there are 30 individuals
with ALS in Alaska and treatment for them is not available in
the state. As a practical matter, this type of specialized care
is available in large cities with major medical centers and a
higher volume of patients.
SENATOR CLAMAN noted that in 2022, the legislature passed House
Bill 265, which created a framework for telehealth. He
explained that CSSB 91(FIN) would amend the language of House
Bill 265 by adding members of out-of-state and multidisciplinary
care teams as an option of telehealth when an Alaskan is
suffering with a life-threatening condition and the
multidisciplinary care is not readily available in Alaska. The
proposed legislation would ensure that "all members of the
multidisciplinary care team are subject to Alaska's regulatory
authority" and would "align multidisciplinary care teams with
the current registration process of Alaska's telemedicine
business registry." The bill would expand telehealth options
"so that Alaskans with life-threatening conditions can receive
the specialized care they need while remaining in their local
support network whenever possible."
4:01:36 PM
CLAIRE LUBKE, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Senator Claman, prime sponsor,
presented the sectional analysis for SB 91, which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Senate Bill 91 Sectional Analysis Version S
Section 1
AS 08.02.130. Telehealth
Amends subsection (b) to expand who may provide health care
services through telehealth to include out of state members
of the physician's multidisciplinary care team when the
health care service provided by the multidisciplinary care
team is not reasonably available in Alaska and is "for on-
going treatment or follow-up care regarding a suspected or
diagnosed life-threatening condition," as stated in the new
subsection (C).
Section 2
AS 08.02.130. Telehealth
Amends the definition of "health care provider" in (j)(1)
by adding section (C) to include a member of a
multidisciplinary care team who is licensed in another
state.
Section 3
AS 08.02.130. Telehealth
Creates a definition for "member of a multidisciplinary
care team" in (5) of this section to mean "an audiologist,
speech-language pathologist, behavior analyst, professional
counselor, dietitian, nutritionist, naturopath, marital and
family therapist, podiatrist, osteopath, physician
assistant, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist,
occupational therapist, psychologist or psychological
associate, advanced nurse practitioner, or a social worker
who is a member of a team that includes a physician
licensed in another state who meets the requirements of
(b)(1) of this section."
Section 4
AS 08.02. Miscellaneous Provisions
Adds new sections AS 08.02.135: Grounds for imposition of
disciplinary sanctions of out of state multidisciplinary
care team members and AS 08.02.140: Disciplinary sanctions
for out of state multidisciplinary care team member.
Section 5
AS 44.33.381. Telemedicine business registry
Amends subsection (b) of this section by adding that the
department may "renew every two years the registration of a
business that meets all renewal requirements established by
regulation and pays a renewal fee every two years."
Section 6
AS 44.33.381. Telemedicine business registry
Adds new subsection (d) which includes the following fees
that the department shall charge businesses performing
telemedicine services in the state: (1) initial
registration fee, $100, adjusted for inflation in a manner
determined by the department; (2) renewal fee $100,
adjusted for inflation in a manner determined by the
department; and (3) fee to report changes in the business's
registration information, $50.
4:04:51 PM
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE opened invited testimony on CSSB 91(FIN).
4:05:05 PM
GAIL BRATEN, representing self, gave invited testimony in
support of CSSB 91(FIN). She briefly described her background
and explained that health care for ALS patients is challenging.
In order for her and her husband to stay in Alaska at least part
of the time, they must be able to use telehealth. She described
the progress of the science for ALS. For her husband to have
the best outcomes, he needed to meet with a multidisciplinary
team of experts. With telehealth, he can meet with team members
who are specialized and bring the latest research in ALS to the
team. Through telehealth care team collaboration, her husband
can receive the best care. Alaska does not have specialized
multidisciplinary healthcare teams for ALS. She described the
Mayo Clinic team her husband met with in Minnesota who asked him
to return every 3 months. With telehealth, her husband could
meet with the Mayo multidisciplinary team without the stress and
expense of travel. She urged the committee to pass CSSB
91(FIN).
4:08:15 PM
TIM JENNINGS, representing self, gave invited testimony in
support of SB 91. He told the committee that he has ALS and
briefly explained the importance of being able to meet with an
interdisciplinary care team via telehealth. He urged the
committee to pass CSSB 91(FIN).
4:09:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS discussed one of his constituents who has
cancer and would benefit from telehealth medicine. He asked
whether the bill could be moved at that time.
4:09:50 PM
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE pointed out that there was additional
testimony.
4:10:02 PM
BROOKE LAVENDER, ALS Care Services Manager, gave invited
testimony in support of CSSB 91(FIN). She described the
proposed legislation as a crucial element of care across Alaska.
Telehealth would particularly benefit those with ALS, multiple
sclerosis (MS), and cancer. She provided examples of patients
in Alaska who have great difficulty traveling to the Lower 48 to
receive appropriate care. Individuals with challenging health
conditions would greatly benefit from the multi-disciplinary
approach telehealth could provide. She urged the committee to
pass CSSB 91(FIN).
4:13:28 PM
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE opened public testimony on SB 91.
4:13:45 PM
HOSANNA HEARTSONG, representing self, testified in support of SB
91. She has MS and shared her personal story. She urged the
committee to pass SB 91.
4:15:09 PM
EMILY NENON, Director, Alaska Government Relations, American
Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, testified in support of SB
91. She referred to the network she worked with who would
become part of a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care in
Alaska. She explained that most cancer patients can receive
appropriate care in Alaska. However, with complex cases, people
often go out of town to receive care. Multidisciplinary care is
the leading model for complex cancer cases, but without the
ability to travel or participate in telehealth, Alaska patients
lack access to this type of care. In addition, patients who
have to move or travel out of state to receive the level of care
they need are cut off from their support networks and home
health care teams. She urged the committee to pass SB 91.
4:18:31 PM
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE, after ascertaining there was no one else
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on SB 91.
4:18:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA expressed her support for CSSB 91(FIN).
4:19:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER moved to report CSSB 91(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 91(FIN) was
reported out of the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee.