Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
04/25/2023 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings Board of Dental Examiners | |
| SJR10 | |
| HB127 | |
| HB89 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SJR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 127 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 127-HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED WAIVER SERVICES
3:22:23 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 127, "An Act relating to home- and community-
based services under the medical assistance program; and
providing for an effective date."
3:22:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA, as prime sponsor, explained that HB 127
would allow Medicaid reimbursements for legally responsible
individuals who provide care services to family members. She
stated that to qualify the individuals would need to become a
personal care assistant and be hired by an agency. She stated
that currently this is prohibited by state law, but it has been
a pandemic-related flexibility allowed by the Centers for
Medicaid and Medicare Services.
3:23:37 PM
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HB 127.
3:24:12 PM
REINA YOUNG, representing self, testified in support of HB 127.
She stated that she has six children, four of which have special
needs. She stated that there are not enough care providers in
the state, so she provides care services to her children while
also working a job outside of the home. The other option would
be placing her children outside of the home. She shared that
she provides her children with social and emotional learning,
life skills learning, education, and personal care, all on one
parent's income. She argued that HB 127 would help her family
and many others to be more financially independent, as parents
would not have to rely on welfare programs, and families could
stay together.
3:26:55 PM
KATHERINE CRONLUND, representing self, testified in support of
HB 127. She shared that she works at a local company and is a
direct service provider for her two children with special needs.
She stated that one in five Americans has a disability, but
every scenario is different. She stated that her children have
qualified for the support waiver for the last five years, and
within this time they have had seven different providers;
however, the providers were unable to accommodate the family's
schedule with speech and occupational therapy. She stated that
her family had gone months without providers. She explained
that during the COVID-19 pandemic her work hours were shortened,
which was financially hard, but this ensured she was able to be
there for her children. She explained that many children learn
with simple instruction, but her children need constant
repetition of tasks and reminders. She added that this is a
full-time job, and she has developed coping mechanisms. She
stated that under her care the children have made "great
improvements." Working at home has given her the flexibility to
work around their schedules and needs. She stated that in-home
care for children with special needs helps them to become
independent and functioning members of society. Allowing family
members to receive pay as care givers relieves constant worry
and stress. She argued that the program would not only benefit
children with special needs, but it would benefit the state in
the long term. She asked for the committee's support for HB
127.
3:31:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented on the testifier's dedication.
He questioned whether she has had any training in applied
behavioral analysis (ABA).
MS. CRONLUND responded that she has not had any formal training,
but she has researched and joined support groups. She
referenced her background and real-life experience and said that
if something does not work, she reaches out to different
resources and uses the ABA approach.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER encouraged Ms. Cronlund to contact the
Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education. He
said this is a clearinghouse of information about ABA therapies
and treatments.
3:34:02 PM
WENDY MENZE, representing self, testified in support of HB 127.
She shared that she has lived in Juneau for 20 years and takes
care of her adult daughter, who suffered cardiac arrest in 2020.
She stated that her daughter had spent two months in a medical
center in Seattle, and now she is completely immobile, has
limited verbal communication, and spends most of her time in
bed. She explained her daughter's husband was unable to be
there as support; therefore, her daughter's young children also
live with her and her husband. Because there are no available
caregivers in Juneau, for the past 2-plus years they have
provided care. She had inquired about receiving pay for
providing in-home care but was told that the state could not do
this; however, as of January 2022 she has been getting paid.
She stated that financially she and her husband are able to take
care of themselves, but the extra money helps pay for things she
cannot afford and things for the grandchildren. She stated that
it would be a burden if the current pay were revoked. She urged
support for HB 127.
3:39:07 PM
JANET JOHNSON, representing self, testified in support of HB
127. She shared that her 23-year-old daughter has multiple
disabilities and now lives in Anchorage. She stated her
daughter does not seem severely affected because she has been
given "incredible care" during her life; however, she does need
a great deal of assistance. She stated that while her daughter
lived at home in Cordova, the family went almost two decades
without any care givers. Because they live remote, her son was
allowed to provide care and be paid. She stated that this had
"saved them," and now her daughter is thriving because of the
family care. She stated that she is "self-trained" to care for
her daughter and considers herself a professional. She
reiterated that because families can give extra complex care,
they can be "great" caregivers. She urged support for HB 127,
as it would strengthen a family's ability to provide care to
their loved ones.
3:45:33 PM
MS. JOHNSON, in response to Chair Prax, stated that all of her
training had been "on the job."
3:46:04 PM
MS. JOHNSON, in response to Chair Saddler, stated that before
the COVID-19 pandemic the agency had separated care into levels
with different pay rates; however, because of the pandemic her
son was paid $14 per hour for a 40-hour workweek. She added
that this "helped immensely." She stated that it takes work and
actual physical activity, because it is not always about
learning and speaking. In response to a follow-up question, she
stated that care hours had been authorized; however, her family
went for 20 years without finding staff. She stated that her
daughter is "complicated," and staff did not last long.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER remarked that caring for a loved one with
disabilities is "a 24/7 job," and this provision would provide
pay for only 40 hours per week. He expressed the opinion that
it will not fully compensate individuals for all the hours put
in, but at least it is something.
MS. JOHNSON responded in agreement.
3:49:54 PM
MARIE GOMEZ, representing self, testified in support of HB 127.
She shared that she has lived in Anchorage since 2015 and is an
unpaid caregiver. She stated that she began taking care of her
mother in 2018, and it is challenging because she gets very
little sleep. She explained that the only help she receives is
a nurse who comes two days a week. She relies on the community
and church for basic needs; however, receiving pay for the care
would change their lives, as now they live in poverty. She
stated that she is "happy with what we have," but prices are
going up, and they are living off of her mother's social
security income. She stated that with more money they could be
eating healthier foods. She concluded that families receiving
pay for providing care would help elders live their best lives.
3:55:53 PM
CHAIR PRAX, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 127.
3:56:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER thanked the bill sponsor, as HB 127 would
have a substantial, positive impact on many people in the state.
3:56:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 127 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 127 was reported out of the
Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 89 Amendment 3 A.4.pdf |
HHSS 4/25/2023 3:00:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| HB 89 Amendment 4 A.5.pdf |
HHSS 4/25/2023 3:00:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| HB 89 Amendment 5 A.6.pdf |
HHSS 4/25/2023 3:00:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| HB 89 Amendment 1 A.2.pdf |
HHSS 4/25/2023 3:00:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| HB 89 Amendment 2 A.3.pdf |
HHSS 4/25/2023 3:00:00 PM |
HB 89 |
| 3.13.23 Jonathon Woller Dental Examiners Application_Redacted.pdf |
HHSS 4/25/2023 3:00:00 PM |
Governer's Appointee |