Legislature(1997 - 1998)
03/12/1998 09:10 AM Senate FIN
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 14
Establishing the Alaska Task Force on Parity for Mental
Health.
CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 14(HES)
Establishing the Alaska Task Force on Parity for Mental
Health.
WALTER MAJOROS, Executive Director of the Alaska Mental
Health Board, was invited by Co-Chair Sharp to speak to this
resolution. Mr. Majoros told the committee of the great
deal of support for this effort.
He summarized the background of the Mental Health Parity
issue. Nine out of ten insurance companies treat mental
health differently than they treat physical health. A
federal act has been enacted, and although it has brought
about some improvement, there is still great disparity.
Fifteen states have already passed their own mental health
parity laws and several other states are in the process of
adopting similar legislation. This resolution is part of
Alaska's efforts to achieve equity.
He then provided some specifics on the resolution. It would
establish a task force to address the mental health care
issue. He described the make-up of the committee membership
and detailed some other aspects of the committee. He pointed
out that the task force would require no General Funds for
inception or operation. The measure has been pre-funded by
the Mental Health Trust Authority.
The committee then heard public testimony on the resolution.
BILL HERMAN via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, Planner for
the Mental Health Trust Authority voiced his support for SCR
14.
ROBYN HENRY via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, member of
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-Alaska told the
committee about the issues and how they effect folks
personally. She pledged NAMI-AK's support for the task
force. The organization is willing to provide research and
resources.
JEANETTE GRASTCO via teleconference from FAIRBANKS,
President of the Fairbanks Alliance for the Mentally Ill
supported the resolution. She called the treatment of
mentally ill patients different from physically ill
patients, discriminatory. She referred to the zero fiscal
note and said she felt that needed to be looked at. She
told the committee about her children, and other young
people she knows, who suffer from mental illness. Although
with proper treatment, they are able to lead normal lives,
they face high medical bills because their insurance does
not adequately cover the costs.
FRANCES CATER via teleconference from KODIAK, member of the
Kodiak Alliance for the Mentally Ill said she supported SCR
14. She talked about the lifetime cap many insurance
policies impose and how they are often reached after just
one hospital stay. Also, people with a mental illness are
often denied coverage for any new health insurance plans.
She shared her experiences as a full time volunteer with
KAMI.
BETH LACROSSE via teleconference from KETCHIKAN, Secretary
of NAMI-AK and President of Ketchikan Alliance for the
Mentally Ill, testified against the current insurance
discrimination. She spoke of the public disdain shown
mental illness. She referred to studies proving most mental
illnesses are biological. She made comparisons to mental
illness insurance coverage and coverage for physical
illness. She said the costs for treating a mental illness
are less that those to treat most any other ailment.
SYBIL SKELTON via teleconference from FAIRBANKS, testified
in favor of SCR 14. She told the committee she suffers from
a mental illness but with proper treatment is able to lead a
normal life. She said people with a mental illness
shouldn't be made to feel ashamed. She talked about her
experience working in a mental hospital. According to her,
most mental illnesses don't show up on laboratory tests.
She indicated her desire to serve on the task force when it
is formed.
LORRAINE DERR, representing the Alaska State Hospital and
Nursing Home Association, testified in person. Her
organization supports the task force and subsequent
resolution.
This concluded public testimony.
Co-Chair Sharp noted the zero fiscal note and asked that a
revised version be prepared to show an explanation about the
grant from the Mental Health Trust Authority. He felt this
would avoid confusion when the resolution is presented on
the Senate floor.
Senator Torgerson had a question for Mr. Majoros. He wanted
to know why a seat on the task force was designated for a
staff member from Congress. Mr. Majoros explained that
portion was not part of the original version of the
resolution but was added by the Senate Health and Social
Services Committee. The reason for including a
congressional staff member was to help the group with the
continuing federal regulation changes. The MHTA accepted
this amendment.
Senator Torgerson voiced his opposition to having a member
of Congress' staff hold a voting seat on the task force. He
said he would prefer to have a health care provider or a
consumer hold that seat. Senator Parnell agreed. There was
discussion between Senators Torgerson, Parnell, Phillips and
Mr. Majoros regarding the number of seats the task force
should contain.
Senator Torgerson offered an amendment to omit the
congressional staff seat and increase to two, the number of
seats held by health care providers. There was no objection
and Co-Chair Sharp ordered the amendment adopted.
Senator Phillips made a motion to move Senate Finance
Committee's substitute for SCR 14 out of committee with
accompanied fiscal note with notations. There was no
objection and Co-Chair Sharp so ordered.
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