04/13/2012 01:30 PM Senate FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 217                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing procedures and guidelines for                                                                         
     auditing pharmacy records; and providing for an                                                                            
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:19:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT committee substitute for                                                                        
Senate Bill 217 Work Draft 27-LS1411\E (Martin 4/13/12).                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for purpose of discussion.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DANA OWEN, STAFF, SENATOR DENNIS EGAN, explained the                                                                            
changes in Version E:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 9; after the words "typographical error",                                                                     
     the words "unless the auditor finds proof of intent to                                                                     
     commit fraud" are deleted.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 31; after the word "unless" at the end of                                                                     
     the sentence the words "there is proof of intent to                                                                        
     commit fraud" are deleted.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 28; before the words "state Medicaid                                                                          
     programs" the words "an investigation or audit by a                                                                        
     governmental agency" have been deleted.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  no                                                                    
further objection Work Draft 27-LS1411\E was ADOPTED.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Egan urged committee support for the legislation.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DAN HABEGER, DIVISION  OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS, LICENSING,                                                                    
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,  COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,                                                                    
testified that the department was neutral on the bill.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JIM   PUCKETT,   DIVISION   OF  RETIREMENT   AND   BENEFITS,                                                                    
DEPARTMENT  OF ADMINISTRATION,  expressed that  the division                                                                    
still had concerns with some of the language in the bill.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:23:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman noted  the two  previously published  zero                                                                    
fiscal  notes  from  the Department  of  Administration  and                                                                    
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:23:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OPENED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
BARRY    CHRISTENSEN,   ALASKA    PHARMACISTS   ASSOCIATION,                                                                    
KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), urged support for SB 217.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:25:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DIRK   WHITE,   STATE   BOARD  OF   PHARMACY,   SITKA   (via                                                                    
teleconference), testified in support of SB 217.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:26:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FRED BROWN,  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HEALTHCARE  COST MANAGEMENT                                                                    
CORPORATION,   FAIRBANKS  (via   teleconference),  expressed                                                                    
concern  with   the  broad   language  in   the  legislation                                                                    
pertaining  to  the reduction  of  the  legal and  fiduciary                                                                    
integrity of the  ability of trustees to  monitor and ensure                                                                    
that the appropriate amounts were  being paid.  He clarified                                                                    
that government agencies  should be referred to  in the bill                                                                    
as  "government  entities"  in order  to  include  boroughs,                                                                    
municipalities, and  school districts.  He suggested  that a                                                                    
workgroup  be  established in  an  attempt  to evaluate  and                                                                    
better understand the issues.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:29:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to report  CSSB  217(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB  217(FIN) was  REPORTED  out of  committee  with a  "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendation  and  with previously  published  zero                                                                    
fiscal notes: FN1 (DOA) and FN2 (CED).