04/04/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

            SB 240-SCHOOL DISTRICT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:40:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   WILSON  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration of SENATE BILL NO.  240 "An Act relating to medical                                                               
assistance coverage  for rehabilitative, mandatory,  and optional                                                               
services furnished or paid for by  a school district on behalf of                                                               
certain children."                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WILSON  stated an  initial  hearing  on  SB 240  was  held                                                               
February 27,  2024. At a  second hearing  on March 12,  2024, the                                                               
committee adopted an amendment to SB  240 that lowered the age of                                                               
consent for Medicaid  services. He said the  Department of Health                                                               
answered questions and copies were distributed to members.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:41:27 PM                                                                                                                    
LEAH VAN  KIRK, Deputy Commission, Department  of Health, Juneau,                                                               
Alaska,  provided a  brief overview  of  SB 240  stating that  it                                                               
removes the  requirement for a child  to have a disability  or an                                                               
Individualized  Education Plan  (IEP),  for  school districts  to                                                               
submit  claims  for Medicaid  reimbursement.  SB  240 focuses  on                                                               
providing  services to  children in  schools regardless  of their                                                               
status related to special education or any type of diagnosis.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:42:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  spoke to  previous concerns  and the  response from                                                               
the department. He  stated his concern was the  need for parental                                                               
consent  for billing  purposes. The  department replied  parental                                                               
consent would be needed.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:42:48 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. VAN KIRK thanked the committee for hearing SB 240.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:42:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON solicited the will of the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:42:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAUFMAN moved to report  SB 240, work order 33-GS-2369\A,                                                               
as amended,  from committee  with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:43:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WILSON  stated  he  forgot  to  mention  a  document  from                                                               
Georgetown  University   was  posted  to  BASIS   that  discusses                                                               
Medicaid utilization  in school districts.  He opined that  it is                                                               
useful information for SB 240 and other pieces of legislation.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:43:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON removed his objection.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:43:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  found no  further objection  and CSSB  240(HSS) was                                                               
reported  from the  Senate Health  and  Social Services  Standing                                                               
Committee.