Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/07/2018 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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Confirmation Hearing(s): Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees | |
Department of Health and Social Services Office of Children's Services Response to the Citizen Review Panel Presentation | |
SB169 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
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+= | SB 169 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 169-MEDICAID: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COVERAGE 2:48:57 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SB 169. He noted the committee adopted the committee substitute, version J, on March 5, 2018. 2:50:46 PM CHAIR WILSON asked if there were any amendments. 2:50:50 PM SENATOR BEGICH moved Amendment 1, labeled 30-LS1283\J.1. AMENDMENT 1 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR Begich TO: CSSB 169( ), Draft Version "J" Page 1, line 7: Delete "psychiatrist" Insert "physician" Page 1, line 9: Delete "psychiatrist" Insert "physician" 2:51:24 PM CHAIR WILSON objected for purposes of discussion. SENATOR BEGICH said the amendment deletes the word "psychiatrist" and inserts the word "physician." The memo from Legislative Legal shows that "psychiatrist" is under the definition of physician. Alaska has fewer psychiatrists than they thought. SENATOR GIESSEL reported that since the last meeting she accessed an Arctic Mental Health Work Group report that identified 85 psychiatrists in the entire state. This was based on a 2015-2016 primary care needs assessment. She also reported that Alaska has about 140 clinical psychologists, 780 clinical social workers, and 80 family and marital therapists. Alaska has about 1,000 clinicians that could work under supervision of a physician or an advanced nurse practitioner certified in psychiatric mental health. SENATOR MICCICHE said he walked through how behavioral health is charged to Medicaid. The savings to the state are potentially significant with the expanded supervision provided in this bill. He predicted it will be in the millions of dollars. He stated support for the zero fiscal note. 2:54:05 PM RANDALL BURNS, Director, Division of Behavioral Health, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), answered questions about SB 169. CHAIR WILSON asked Mr. Burns if he saw any potential issues with the term physician instead of psychiatrist. MR. BURNS said he has no comments about replacing "psychiatrist" with "physician," but would point out that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has a rule that limits who can supervise clinic services to a physician or a dentist, if it's a dental practice. The committee may want to talk about that correction. Advanced nurse practitioners can already bill Medicaid directly. For just clinic services, they may want to limit that to physicians. 2:55:54 PM CHAIR WILSON removed his objection. Finding no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. He entertained a motion to move CSSB 169 from committee. 2:56:19 PM SENATOR VON IMHOF moved to report CSSB 169, version J as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. 2:56:31 PM There being no objection, CSSB 169(HSS) moved from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.