05/11/1999 05:35 PM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 97(HES)                                                                                                  
"An Act relating to mental health services and                                                                                  
programs; relating to liability for payment for mental                                                                          
health evaluation and treatment services; and                                                                                   
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This was the second hearing for this bill in the Senate                                                                         
Finance Committee.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
GINA MACDONALD, Special Projects Coordinator, Division of                                                                       
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Department of                                                                     
Health and Social Services explained the new version of SB
, 1-LS0545/K 4/30/99.  She told the committee that the                                                                        
committee substitute represented the efforts of the Alaska                                                                      
State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, the Department                                                                     
of Health and Social Services, the Disability Law Center,                                                                       
the Alaska Mental Health Board and the Alaska Mental Health                                                                     
Trust Authority. Those efforts clarified the intent of the                                                                      
bill and set out the practices and procedures involved in                                                                       
establishing eligibility and providing the services. The                                                                        
committee substitute consists primarily of language changes                                                                     
and is a consensus among all involved stakeholders,                                                                             
according to Gina Macdonald. She gave an example of the                                                                         
language clarifications using AS 47.30.910(a), which, in                                                                        
the original version of the bill, stated: ".the                                                                                 
patient.shall pay or contribute to the charges for the                                                                          
care, transportation, and treatment of the patient when the                                                                     
patient is hospitalized.." The CS deletes "or contribute"                                                                       
in order to clarify the intent of the parties involved and                                                                      
to simply stipulate that the patient shall pay the charges                                                                      
for care.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair John Torgerson noted that Senator Lyda Green's                                                                         
earlier questions on the bill had been answered with                                                                            
changes made in this committee substitute. Senator Lyda                                                                         
Green stated that she was now comfortable with the bill.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyda Green moved to adopt the committee substitute,                                                                     
SB 97 Version "K", as a Workdraft. There was no objection                                                                       
and it was adopted.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Pete Kelly offered a motion to report from                                                                              
committee CS SB 97 Version "K" with individual                                                                                  
recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. Without                                                                           
objection, it was so ordered.