Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/28/1997 03:45 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SCR 6 AM - ALASKA TELEMEDICINE PROJECT Number 0431 CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was SCR 6 am, Relating to the Alaska Telemedicine Project. He referred to a proposed committee substitute. Number 0463 REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY made a motion to adopt the proposed committee substitute for SCR 6 am. Hearing no objections HCSSCR 6 am (HES) was before the committee. JORDAN KOKO, Student Intern for Senator Pearce, stated that HCSSCR 6(HES) recognizes the Alaska Telemedicine Project for its accomplishments in the state of Alaska. This program is pioneering in its field and is focused on improving the availability and delivery of health care in the state using telecommunications, telehealth and information technologies. The project involves a consortium of Native health care corporations, regional health care facilities, the University of Alaska and most major telecommunications providers in the state. Number 0531 MR. KOKO explained that the Alaska Telemedicine Project has worked very hard towards its goal of providing and demonstrating telehealth applications. This project has been operating for four years and has been recognized by both national and international organizations including the National Library of Medicine, the United States Department of Commerce and the Government of Romania. The Alaska Telemedicine Project has accomplished all of its functions without state funding. It is been funded through independent grants and sources of revenue. The project was recently awarded a $2 million contract through the National Library of Medicine to assist the Alaska Native Health Board in providing rural health services. Number 0584 MR. KOKO said the adopted committee substitute changes line 22, page 2, from "officially sanction" to "commending the leadership of the Alaska Telemedicine Project". This language alleviates any concerns by outside corporations and individuals that this would preclude other entities from getting grants. Number 0644 REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY asked the position of the American Medical Association (AMA). MR. KOKO did not know if the AMA recognized the project. Representative Brice joined the committee meeting. Number 0650 CATHE BOUCHA-ROBERTS, Director, Alaska Telemedicine Project, Anchorage Providence Hospital, testified next via teleconference from an offnet site. The AMA put forward some "point favors" in relationship to the quality and the conduct related to telemedicine and has not done anything about recognizing any particular project. She said the focus of the project has the equal participation of Native health organizations and private sector health care. The National Library of Medicine contract focuses on the Native health arena, but health care providing entities are equal partners. Number 0757 CHAIRMAN BUNDE commented that the only opposition he had ever heard regarded the fact that when people became sick, they were not automatically sent to Anchorage. Number 0781 MS. BOUCHA-ROBERTS added that testimony was given that patients didn't want to stay home, they wanted to shop at Nordstrom. Number 0812 REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE made a motion to move HCSSCR 6(HES) with accompanying zero fiscal note and individual recommendations. Hearing no objections HCSSCR 6(HES) was moved from the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
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