Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 106
04/11/2013 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB87 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 87-NEWBORN SCREENING FOR HEART DEFECTS
3:04:15 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS announced that the only order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 87(HSS), "An Act requiring screening of
newborns for congenital heart defects; and providing for an
effective date."
3:04:28 PM
SENATOR PETE MICCICHE, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the
sponsor of SB 87, shared an anecdote about his recently born
niece, who had been born with three congenital heart defects.
Fortunately, she was born in a hospital where this testing
procedure was offered, and the defects were quickly discovered.
He declared that an estimated one in every hundred children was
born with congenital heart defects, and that this resulted in
death for more children in the first year of life than any other
birth defects. He announced that 13 states had already adopted
laws for this testing with an additional 20 states considering
legislation. He declared the necessity for testing newborns.
He listed the hospitals that were already testing for congenital
heart defects in Alaska. He explained that the procedure for
testing was very simple, painless and non-invasive, using pulse
oximetry, which measured the oxygen level of the blood. He
reported that this screening detected more than 75 percent of
critical heart defects, as well as other life threatening
conditions in newborns, including pneumonia, and that the test
cost less than $10 and was covered by most insurance. He
reported that the equipment cost between $500 and $1000. He
declared that there had not been any opposition to the proposed
bill.
3:08:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the proposed bill would require
those having home births to do the procedure, and, if so, was
the equipment portable.
SENATOR MICCICHE, in response, said that the smaller hospitals,
clinics, midwives, and birthing centers had until January 2016
to arrange for testing.
3:09:29 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS reported that a pulse oximeter was not expensive,
was battery operated, and offered printable read outs, noting
that he had paid $400 - $600. He declared that it was difficult
to believe that any medical facility did not already have this
piece of equipment, and he recommended that all facilities have
one.
3:10:20 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE clarified that the effective date allowed three
years for the smaller facilities to comply.
CHAIR HIGGINS emphasized the importance of the first 24 - 48
hours, noting that this procedure could not be administered
until after the first 24 hours.
3:12:35 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS opened public testimony.
3:12:42 PM
JILL LEWIS, Deputy Director-Juneau, Division of Public Health,
Department of Health and Social Services, clarified that she was
an administrator, not a medical professional, and that there
were other members of the department available to testify. She
offered to answer any questions about the fiscal note, or other
items.
3:13:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR, referring to the fiscal note [Included in
members' packets], asked about the cost to Medicaid enrollees
being already included in global fees paid for delivery
services. She asked about any other services included in this
same category.
3:13:55 PM
MS. LEWIS replied that recipients paid a flat rate, and that
this procedure would be included. She said that she did not
know of the other services which were included.
3:14:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the Division of Public Health had
any qualms about including midwives and other small providers
outside hospitals in the proposed bill.
MS. LEWIS replied that the time frame was adequate for
compliance by the smaller providers.
3:15:11 PM
JENNA APP, American Heart Association, declared that the
American Heart Association supported proposed SB 87, as it would
ensure that newborns in Alaska were screened, prior to
discharge, for critical congenital heart disease using a low
cost, non-invasive screening tool. She explained that these
common, but critical, congenital heart defects, were a leading
cause of death in infants, if not treated. She reported that
the test measured the pulse rate and the amount of oxygen in a
baby's blood. It was quick and effective. She noted that the
pulse oximetry test would catch many diagnosis missed by health
care professionals and would save lives.
3:17:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MAX GRUENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, said
that this procedure had saved a baby's life on the first day
that legislation had been passed for this in New Jersey. He
declared that many other states had now adopted this
legislation. He stated his support for the bill and the lives
it would save.
3:19:22 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:19 p.m. to 3:21 p.m.
3:21:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR expressed her appreciation for the proposed
bill, and said that this was "a life and death kind of
decision."
3:21:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out that there was an effective
date of January 1, 2014, which he opined would allow enough time
for compliance.
3:22:13 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS reported that many of his medical colleagues were
already performing this test.
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD offered a personal anecdote regarding a
congenital heart defect in her family.
3:23:02 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS closed public testimony.
3:23:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD moved to report CSSB 87(HSS), as
amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying zero fiscal notes. No objection was stated.
The committee took an at-ease from 3:23 p.m. to 3:27 p.m.
3:27:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to rescind the committee's action in
moving the bill out of committee. There being no objection, it
was so ordered.
3:27:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD moved to report CSSB 87(HSS) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 87(HSS) was
moved from the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 87 Supporting Document - Am Heart Association 20130411.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2013 3:00:00 PM |
SB 87 |
| SB 87 Supporting Document - CCHD testimony-LL.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2013 3:00:00 PM |
SB 87 |