Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205

05/15/2024 10:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Rescheduled from 05/14/24 --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 316 EMERG WIRELESS DEVICE LOCATION DISCLOSURE TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS HB 316(STA) Out of Committee
+= HB 330 PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESS/RATES TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS HB 330(STA) Out of Committee
+= HB 362 PRISONER MED CARE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 362 Out of Committee
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
        HB 362-PRISONER MED CARE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:31:49 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 362                                                                
"An Act relating  to the reimbursement rate  for prisoner medical                                                               
care."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:32:00 AM                                                                                                                   
MARGARET ELLIOT,  Staff, Representative  Mike Prax,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  paraphrased the  sponsor statement                                                               
for HB 362:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                             HB 362                                                                                           
                       Sponsor Statement                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
         "An Act relating to the reimbursement rate for                                                                         
                    prisoner medical care."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     HB362  proposes  to  set  the  reimbursement  rate  for                                                                    
     prisoner  medical  care costs  in  Alaska  at the  rate                                                                    
     established  under federal  law, 42  U.S.C 1396-1396w-7                                                                    
     (Title XIX,  Social Act),  thus presenting  a strategic                                                                    
     approach   to  address   the   ever-growing  costs   of                                                                    
     healthcare in our prisons.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     By  establishing  the  reimbursement rates  with  those                                                                    
     under Title XIX  of the Social Act, we  can expect cost                                                                    
     savings. This alignment  ensures cost-effectiveness and                                                                    
     brings  predictability to  the budgeting  processes. In                                                                    
     addition,  the provision  allowing the  commissioner to                                                                    
     negotiate   contracts    for   higher    rates   allows                                                                    
     flexibility when needed.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     HB362  presents a  balanced and  strategic approach  to                                                                    
     managing  healthcare costs  in  prisons while  ensuring                                                                    
     the provision of  necessary care. It is  a step towards                                                                    
     a  more  sustainable  and effective  healthcare  system                                                                    
     within our prisons.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:33:10 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened invited and public testimony on HB 362.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:33:33 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:33:40 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:33:44 AM                                                                                                                   
SENATOR MERRICK moved to report HB 362, work order 33-LS1387\A,                                                                 
from committee with individual recommendations and attached                                                                     
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:34:02 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and HB 362 was reported from                                                                  
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                    

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