Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/28/1997 03:45 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL
SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 28, 1997
3:45 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Con Bunde, Chairman
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Fred Dyson
Representative J. Allen Kemplen
Representative Tom Brice
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Joe Green, Vice Chairman
Representative Brian Porter
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23
Urging the United States Congress to amend the Social Security Act
so that the higher cost of living in Alaska is reflected when the
per capita income of the state is used as a factor in determining
the federal share of Medicaid costs.
- MOVED SJR 23 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 100
"An Act relating to grant authority for services for
developmentally delayed or disabled children and their families."
- MOVED SB 100 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6 am
Relating to the Alaska Telemedicine Project.
- MOVED HCSSCR 6(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 148
"An Act relating to the public school funding program; relating to
the definition of a school district, to the transportation of
students, to school district layoff plans, to the special education
service agency, to the child care grant program, and to compulsory
attendance in public schools; and providing for an effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SJR 23
SHORT TITLE: REFLECT AK. COLA IN FED MEDICAID SHARE
SPONSOR(S): HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
JRN-DATE JRN-DATE ACTION
03/12/97 690 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
03/12/97 690 (S) HES
03/17/97 (S) HES AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH ROOM 205
03/17/97 (S) MINUTE(HES)
03/18/97 765 (S) HES RPT 5DP
03/18/97 765 (S) DP: WILKEN, LEMAN, ELLIS, GREEN, WARD
03/18/97 765 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DHSS)
03/19/97 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP RM 203
03/19/97 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/24/97 832 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/24/97
03/24/97 835 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/24/97 835 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT
03/24/97 835 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SJR 23
03/24/97 836 (S) PASSED Y16 N- E2 A2
03/24/97 839 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/25/97 824 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
03/25/97 825 (H) HES
04/24/97 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/24/97 (H) MINUTE(HES)
04/28/97 (H) HES AT 3:30 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SB 100
SHORT TITLE: DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN/GRANTS
SPONSOR(S): HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES BY REQUEST
JRN-DATE JRN-DATE ACTION
02/21/97 450 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/21/97 450 (S) HES, FIN
03/05/97 (S) HES AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH ROOM 205
03/05/97 (S) MINUTE(HES)
03/05/97 566 (S) HES RPT 3DP
03/05/97 566 (S) DP: WILKEN, WARD, GREEN
03/05/97 566 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (HES)
03/21/97 809 (S) FIN REFERRAL WAIVED
03/25/97 (S) RLS AT 0:00 AM FAHRENKAMP RM 203
03/25/97 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/26/97 875 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/26/97
03/26/97 876 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/26/97 876 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT
03/26/97 876 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 100
03/26/97 876 (S) PASSED Y18 N- A2
03/26/97 881 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/27/97 870 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
03/27/97 870 (H) HES, FINANCE
04/24/97 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/24/97 (H) MINUTE(HES)
04/28/97 (H) HES AT 3:30 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SCR 6
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA TELEMEDICINE PROJECT
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) PEARCE,Ellis; REPRESENTATIVE(S)
JRN-DATE JRN-DATE ACTION
03/07/97 627 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
03/07/97 627 (S) HES
03/19/97 (S) HES AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH ROOM 205
03/19/97 (S) MINUTE(HES)
03/24/97 830 (S) HES RPT W/AMENDMENT 1DP 1NR 2AM
03/24/97 831 (S) DP: WILKEN; NR: WARD; AM: LEMAN, ELLIS
03/24/97 831 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.HES)
03/25/97 (S) RLS AT 0:00 AM FAHRENKAMP RM 203
03/25/97 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/26/97 875 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/26/97
03/26/97 876 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/26/97 877 (S) AM NO 1 OFFERED BY HES CMTE
03/26/97 877 (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
03/26/97 877 (S) AM NO 2 OFFERED BY PEARCE
03/26/97 877 (S) AM NO 2 ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
03/26/97 877 (S) PASSED Y19 N- A1
03/26/97 881 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/27/97 869 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
03/27/97 869 (H) HES
04/24/97 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/28/97 (H) HES AT 3:30 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Health and Social Services
P.O. Box 110601
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0601
Telephone: (907) 465-3030
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SJR 23 and SB 100
JORDAN KOKO, Student Intern
for Senator Pearce
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 518
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-4993
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided sponsor statement for SCR 6 am
CATHE BOUCHA-ROBERTS, Director
Alaska Telemedicine Project
Anchorage Providence Hospital
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Telephone: (907) 261-4955
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 97-36, SIDE A
Number 0000
CHAIRMAN CON BUNDE called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:45 p.m. Members
present at the call to order were Representatives Bunde, Vezey,
Dyson and Kemplen. Representative Brice arrived at 3:52 p.m.
Representatives Green and Porter were absent.
SJR 23 - REFLECT AK. COLA IN FED MEDICAID SHARE
Number 0095
CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the first item on the agenda as SJR 23,
Urging the United States Congress to amend the Social Security Act
so that the higher cost of living in Alaska is reflected when the
per capita income of the state is used as a factor in determining
the federal share of Medicaid costs.
Number 0107
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said the
resolution petitions the federal government to consider a change in
the matched rate for the Medicaid program. Currently the state
puts in 50 cents of every dollar which the federal government
matches. This is one of the lowest federal participation rates for
any state in the union. Based on Alaska's additional costs of
health care, the DHSS believes this rate should be increased. The
Congressional delegation is aware of this need and this resolution
will be welcomed by them. Should the match rate change, it would
mean an adjustment of approximately $39 million in federal
participation in a given year for the Medicaid program.
Number 0187
CHAIRMAN BUNDE asked if this would reduce Alaska's contribution or
would it simply mean more things would be covered by the federal
government.
Number 0199
MR. LINDSTROM answered that it would open up options. One of these
options would be a direct offset to current general fund
expenditures. It would become a budget matter, allowing the
legislature to do what they want should the additional federal
funds become available.
Number 0251
REPRESENTATIVE FRED DYSON made a motion to move SJR 23 with
individual recommendations. Hearing no objections, SJR 23 moved
out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing
Committee.
SB 100 - DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN/GRANTS
Number 0287
CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was SB 100,
"An Act relating to grant authority for services for
developmentally delayed or disabled children and their families."
Number 0294
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Health and Social Services, said SB 100 represents a
technical item which this committee has seen in prior years. This
item was included in past omnibus government efficiency bills which
did not pass. This year it comprises a separate bill. Several
years ago, the DHSS attempted to promulgate regulations, through
the Department of Law, relating to the infant learning program.
The DHSS was unable to get those regulations through because the
message came back that the DHSS did not have specific authority to
make grants under this program. The program currently operates
this way today. This bill would give DHSS the power, in statute,
of grant making authority. This bill is supported by the
Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education.
Number 0409
REPRESENTATIVE AL VEZEY made a motion to move SB 100 with
individual recommendations and zero fiscal note. Hearing no
objections, SB 100 was moved from the House Health, Education and
Social Services Standing Committee.
SCR 6 AM - ALASKA TELEMEDICINE PROJECT
Number 0431
CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was SCR 6 am,
Relating to the Alaska Telemedicine Project. He referred to a
proposed committee substitute.
Number 0463
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY made a motion to adopt the proposed committee
substitute for SCR 6 am. Hearing no objections HCSSCR 6 am (HES)
was before the committee.
JORDAN KOKO, Student Intern for Senator Pearce, stated that HCSSCR
6(HES) recognizes the Alaska Telemedicine Project for its
accomplishments in the state of Alaska. This program is pioneering
in its field and is focused on improving the availability and
delivery of health care in the state using telecommunications,
telehealth and information technologies. The project involves a
consortium of Native health care corporations, regional health care
facilities, the University of Alaska and most major
telecommunications providers in the state.
Number 0531
MR. KOKO explained that the Alaska Telemedicine Project has worked
very hard towards its goal of providing and demonstrating
telehealth applications. This project has been operating for four
years and has been recognized by both national and international
organizations including the National Library of Medicine, the
United States Department of Commerce and the Government of Romania.
The Alaska Telemedicine Project has accomplished all of its
functions without state funding. It is been funded through
independent grants and sources of revenue. The project was
recently awarded a $2 million contract through the National Library
of Medicine to assist the Alaska Native Health Board in providing
rural health services.
Number 0584
MR. KOKO said the adopted committee substitute changes line 22,
page 2, from "officially sanction" to "commending the leadership of
the Alaska Telemedicine Project". This language alleviates any
concerns by outside corporations and individuals that this would
preclude other entities from getting grants.
Number 0644
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY asked the position of the American Medical
Association (AMA).
MR. KOKO did not know if the AMA recognized the project.
Representative Brice joined the committee meeting.
Number 0650
CATHE BOUCHA-ROBERTS, Director, Alaska Telemedicine Project,
Anchorage Providence Hospital, testified next via teleconference
from an offnet site. The AMA put forward some "point favors" in
relationship to the quality and the conduct related to telemedicine
and has not done anything about recognizing any particular project.
She said the focus of the project has the equal participation of
Native health organizations and private sector health care. The
National Library of Medicine contract focuses on the Native health
arena, but health care providing entities are equal partners.
Number 0757
CHAIRMAN BUNDE commented that the only opposition he had ever heard
regarded the fact that when people became sick, they were not
automatically sent to Anchorage.
Number 0781
MS. BOUCHA-ROBERTS added that testimony was given that patients
didn't want to stay home, they wanted to shop at Nordstrom.
Number 0812
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE made a motion to move HCSSCR 6(HES) with
accompanying zero fiscal note and individual recommendations.
Hearing no objections HCSSCR 6(HES) was moved from the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced an at ease would be taken at 3:55 p.m. to
allow Representatives Porter and Green to join the committee. The
committee reconvened at 4:30 p.m.
[CHAIRMAN BUNDE indicated that SSHB 148 would be heard at a later
date.]
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to conduct, CHAIRMAN BUNDE
adjourned the meeting of the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee at 4:30 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|