Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/28/2001 01:58 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 154-REPEAL SUNSET OF MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE
MS. WENDY HALL, staff to Senator Pete Kelly, sponsor of SB 154,
informed the committee that representatives from the Department
of Health and Social Services (DHSS) were available to answer
questions about the bill. She then read the following statement.
The designated evaluation and treatment program [DET]
is a critical component in a continuum of mental health
services in Alaska, particularly for indigent persons
with mental illnesses who are being civilly committed
or met the criteria for civil commitment. Through this
program many poor people with mental illnesses, who do
not qualify for Medicaid, are able to receive services
in community hospitals across the state, closer to
their families and local support systems. Without the
DET program, it would be necessary to transport many
consumers in crises to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute
[API] to receive evaluation and treatment sources.
MS. HALL explained that SB 154 repeals the sunset clause in
statute.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN clarified that Version A was before the
committee and said this concept is part of an ongoing discussion
about API, which she believes is a great idea.
Number 1668
SENATOR LEMAN asked why the legislature put a sunset date on the
bill in 1999.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN thought it was done for financial reasons.
MR. ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant to the Commissioner of
DHSS, recalled the sunset date was included because the state had
received a federal grant that was non-continuing. A portion of
that grant was earmarked for DET costs, but the Legislature was
aware that the federal funds would not be available in 2002. In
the meantime, DHSS has located another funding source to continue
the program.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked Mr. Lindstrom to review the fiscal note.
Number 1735
MR. LINDSTROM said the rules for fiscal notes have changed so
that the cost of an entire program is to be shown, even though
the funds might be included in the Governor's, House or Senate
budget. He thought, as of yesterday, the DET program was fully
funded in the Senate version of the operating budget.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked for verification that SB 154 will have no
additional fiscal impact, other than the amount included in the
operating budget.
MR. LINDSTROM said it will not.
Number 1833
MR. MIKE POWERS, administrator of the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Denali Center, told the committee that three years ago the
hospital completed a strategic plan, of which a major platform
was community accountability. Hospital staff, public safety
officials, and social service workers attended planning sessions
and, as a community, identified psychiatric program excellence as
a key effort. The DET funds were instrumental to the hospital's
ability to offer its psychiatric program. About the same time,
Senator Kelly introduced legislation allowing limited state
dollars to four communities to help protect one of the most
vulnerable segments, the working-poor mentally ill. That funding
mechanism has proven to be very cost effective - it has minimized
the cost borne by multiple state agencies. He urged committee
members to support SB 154.
MR. CARL SANFORD, assistant administrator at Fairbanks Memorial
Hospital, informed the committee that two years ago he was very
involved in the mental health infrastructure at the hospital and
around the state, particularly the transfer of mentally ill
patients from the Fairbanks community to API for treatment. At
that point in time, the predominant issue was open funding. In
1999, 70 patients were transported out of Fairbanks. In 2000, 5
to 7 individuals were transferred to API for care, providing
dollar savings to the public safety and correctional sectors and
allowing troopers to remain in the community. In addition,
patients receive timely access to care and do not delay the
decision to seek care as often.
MS. LIZ LAZARIA (ph), nurse manager on the Mental Health Unit at
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, told the committee she would like to
speak to the personal side of the benefits of the DET program.
One patient in the mental health unit is a 23 year old with
schizophrenia. It is very important for the family to be involved
with the treatment and follow-up of this patient. This patient
is likely to be hospitalized several times during his lifetime.
The unit has developed a treatment plan with family members that
provides family support. She urged committee members to support
SB 154.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked Ms. Lazaria whether that patient would
have been transported if the DET program was not available in
Fairbanks.
MS. LAZARIA said it is highly likely the patient would have been
transferred to API as the patient is on a 30-day commitment. The
DET program supports keeping the patient in the community.
DR. HOPSON, a psychiatrist from Fairbanks, stated support for SB
154. As a member of the medical staff at Fairbanks Memorial
Hospital and the medical director of Mental Health, one of his
goals is to support and direct the development of an acute care
mental health system, which provides the highest level of care to
its patients and support to their families.
DR. HOPSON said when treatment is delayed or a mental illness is
untreated, the patient may decompensate to the point that
involuntary treatment through court commitment is required. That
process not only adds costs but may require a longer length of
treatment due to the fact that he or she may be seriously
decompensated. He believes that passage of SB 154 will allow for
earlier interventions, earlier hospitalizations, shorter lengths
of stay, and less cost to the patient, family and taxpayers.
Earlier treatment of patients, from a physician's standpoint, is
the ultimate goal and will provide the highest quality of mental
health care in the Interior.
MR. GARTH HAMLIN, Chief Financial Officer at Bartlett Memorial
Hospital, stated support for SB 154.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to pass SB 154 from committee with individual
recommendations.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced that with no objection, SB 154 would
move to its next committee of referral. The committee took a
brief at-ease and then Chairwoman Green handed the gavel to Vice-
Chair Leman and the committee took up SB 94.
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