Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120

03/19/2024 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

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Audio Topic
01:08:16 PM Start
01:08:42 PM Presentation(s): Banyan Treatment Centers
02:01:05 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Presentation: Banyan Treatment Centers by TELECONFERENCED
Sam Garcia, Business Development Representative
for Veterans' and Military Affairs
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
   HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS                                                                  
                         March 19, 2024                                                                                         
                           1:08 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stanley Wright, Chair                                                                                            
Representative Laddie Shaw                                                                                                      
Representative Ben Carpenter                                                                                                    
Representative George Rauscher                                                                                                  
Representative Dan Saddler                                                                                                      
Representative Cliff Groh                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Andrew Gray                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION(S): BANYAN TREATMENT CENTERS                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SAM GARCIA, Community Liaison                                                                                                   
Military and Veteran Affairs Business Development                                                                               
Banyan Treatment Centers                                                                                                        
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Provided a PowerPoint presentation, titled                                                               
"Banyan Treatment Centers."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:08:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  STANLEY  WRIGHT  called the  House  Special  Committee  on                                                             
Military  and Veterans'  Affairs meeting  to order  at 1:08  p.m.                                                               
Representatives  Shaw, Carpenter,  Saddler, Rauscher,  and Wright                                                               
were present at  the call to order.   Representative Groh arrived                                                               
as the meeting was in progress.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
^Presentation(s): Banyan Treatment Centers                                                                                      
           PRESENTATION(S): Banyan Treatment Centers                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:08:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
the presentation on Banyan Treatment Centers                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:09:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SAM  GARCIA,  Community  Liaison, Military  and  Veteran  Affairs                                                               
Business  Development,  Banyan   Treatment  Centers,  provided  a                                                               
PowerPoint presentation,  titled "Banyan Treatment Centers."   He                                                               
stated  that the  presentation would  address  the importance  of                                                               
advocating  for veterans  and active-duty  military members.   He                                                               
shared that his  background is in substance  abuse counseling and                                                               
peer support, and  he explained that he is  in long-term recovery                                                               
from substance abuse.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA moved to slide 2  to explain why people join the army,                                                               
which includes service,  benefits, and adventure.   He added that                                                               
often people join  the military to move away from  a current life                                                               
situation, noting that post traumatic  stress disorder (PTSD) can                                                               
come from  these negative situations  in life, not  just military                                                               
service.    He  explained  that  20  to  25  percent  of  members                                                               
returning  from  the  wars  in   Afghanistan  and  Iraq  reported                                                               
suffering from  the disorders  listed on slide  3.   He discussed                                                               
how alcohol and  drugs are often used to alleviate  the pain from                                                               
these  disorders, which  can  then result  in  a substance  abuse                                                               
disorder.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA  moved to slide  4 and  related veteran data  on PTSD,                                                               
suicide, homelessness, sexual abuse,  brain injury, and substance                                                               
abuse.   He stated that  the rate  of alcoholism for  veterans is                                                               
twice  that of  the  general public.    He moved  to  slide 5  to                                                               
further detail substance use disorders that veterans face.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:16:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA, in  response  to a  committee  question, said  using                                                               
cannabis  either recreationally  or for  pain does  have impacts.                                                               
He discussed  the stigma associated  with drug and  alcohol abuse                                                               
in communities.   He added that  for the military the  stigma can                                                               
be  even worse,  as it  can effect  an individual's  career.   He                                                               
stated that he  does not have specific data on  cannabis usage by                                                               
veterans and military members.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:18:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA  moved to slide  6 and discussed  transitional stress.                                                               
He indicated  that the  chart on  slide 7  shows a  trajectory of                                                               
what individuals  may go through  when leaving the military.   He                                                               
noted that there  is a critical time for  help before individuals                                                               
reach  crisis mode.    He  moved to  slide  8  and discussed  the                                                               
challenges   around  reintegration   into  the   general  public,                                                               
including alienation and isolation.   He explained that addiction                                                               
is a  disease of isolation,  and this  is why support  groups are                                                               
about community.   He moved to slide 9 and  discussed the data on                                                               
whether  the  military prepares  members  for  the transition  to                                                               
civilian  life.   He noted  the longer  an individual  is in  the                                                               
military the harder the transition may  be.  He relayed that many                                                               
veterans  believe  their  current  job  does  not  reflect  their                                                               
military service,  but he argued  that these individuals  are not                                                               
recognizing the skills acquired during their service.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA moved  to slide  10  and discussed  the "Veterans  in                                                               
Recovery" program.   He moved to  slide 11 to provide  a timeline                                                               
of the Banyan  Treatment Centers organization from  2013 to 2023,                                                               
and he noted that it spread  across the country during this time.                                                               
He  stated that  his  goal  in the  program  is  to increase  the                                                               
commitment and  services to  those who  have served  the country.                                                               
He indicated that Alaska has a  support system, but he added that                                                               
there could be more for veterans.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:24:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA, in  response to  a committee  question, stated  that                                                               
Banyan's  services   has  expanded  into  helping   veterans  and                                                               
military  members, but  it originally  did not  start because  of                                                               
this.  He stated that most of  the staff at Banyan in Alaska have                                                               
served in  the military or  have a  background of being  in long-                                                               
term recovery.  He noted that  Banyan opened in Alaska during the                                                               
previous year.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA, in response to  a committee question, stated that IOP                                                               
means "intensive outpatient."  He  stated that PHP means "partial                                                               
hospitalization."                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA, in  response to  a committee  question, stated  that                                                               
Banyan opened the  clinic in Alaska because  individuals in their                                                               
home environment  would be set  up for  success.  He  pointed out                                                               
that  when an  individual  is  healing at  home,  the people  and                                                               
family in  the community are  healing along with  the individual.                                                               
He  explained that  the Wasilla  location is  quiet with  a large                                                               
amount of space.   He explained that Banyan  has flexible housing                                                               
for veterans for PHP.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:30:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA  moved to  slide  12  to discuss  Banyan's  treatment                                                               
center in  Wasilla and  its services.   He  said the  location is                                                               
unique,  as it  can provide  intensive  PHP because  of the  five                                                               
buildings on  site with  separate addresses.   He shared  that it                                                               
also accommodates  service animals, as other  recovery centers in                                                               
Alaska  do not.   He  noted several  different recovery  pathways                                                               
offered,  as seen  on the  slide,  and he  gave several  examples                                                               
about recovery.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA moved  to slide 13 and slide 14  to further detail the                                                               
Veterans in Recovery program.   He pointed out multiple features,                                                               
including  life skills  training, supervised  outings, access  to                                                               
exercise equipment, a biofeedback  bed, trauma therapy, yoga, and                                                               
more.  He said that the  program works to accommodate whatever an                                                               
individual is interested in, and he gave examples.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA  noted the range  of treatment modalities  provided by                                                               
Banyan,  as  seen  on  slide  15.    He  discussed  Eye  Movement                                                               
Desensitization  and  Reprocessing   and  Accelerated  Resolution                                                               
Therapy  (ART) in  more detail,  noting that  ART can  show rapid                                                               
results.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:40:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA, in  response to  a committee  question, stated  that                                                               
health insurance would cover these therapies.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA noted  the list  of what  Banyan treats,  as seen  on                                                               
slide 16.   He noted that  the Wasilla facility is  primarily for                                                               
substance  abuse  disorders,  but   a  range  of  treatments  are                                                               
supported.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA, in  response to  a committee  question, stated  that                                                               
knowing the difference  between the treatment for  PTSD and moral                                                               
injury  would   not  be   in  his  scope.     He   expressed  the                                                               
understanding  that  ART would  be  used  as treatment  in  these                                                               
incidences, and he discussed this in more detail.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:43:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA  moved to  slide  17  and  slide  18 to  discuss  the                                                               
programs for families.  He stated  that as long as the individual                                                               
is supportive  of having  outreach to  family, this  is provided.                                                               
He  advised   that  there  are   some  situations   where  family                                                               
involvement may  not be ideal.   He  stated that Banyan  works to                                                               
educate families about substance abuse disorders.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA moved  to slide 19 to discuss  Banyan's clinicians, of                                                               
which many have  a background in military service.   He said that                                                               
Banyan  is  working  to  bring facilitators  trained  in  ART  to                                                               
Alaska.  He moved to slide 21  to discuss the alumni program.  He                                                               
shared that  as part of  his continued recovery he  annually goes                                                               
to the  treatment center  he attended.   He  stated that  he does                                                               
this  for himself  and for  those currently  in the  facility, as                                                               
this  helps  show  them  what  is possible.    He  expressed  the                                                               
understanding  that the  alumni  program works  because it  shows                                                               
that people can recover.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA  moved to slide  23 and discussed  Banyan's telehealth                                                               
program  and the  program's features.    He stated  that this  is                                                               
helpful for  those living in rural  areas and for those  that may                                                               
need a  step-down type of  program.   He said that  the step-down                                                               
program  would  provide continuity  in  care  once an  individual                                                               
leaves the facility.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA  moved to  slide 23,  which provided  charts comparing                                                               
the  data  on the  national  average  success rate  and  Banyan's                                                               
success rate.   He  expressed the  opinion that  Banyan's success                                                               
rate  is  higher  because  it  works  to  maintain  contact  with                                                               
individuals after they leave the facility.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:50:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA,  in  response to  a  committee  question,  expressed                                                               
uncertainty  on  the meaning  of  "TEDS-D."    In response  to  a                                                               
follow-up  question,  he  stated  that the  chart  on  the  right                                                               
represents   the  successful   recovery  rate   in  the   overall                                                               
population, not  just veterans.   He  continued that  veterans at                                                               
Banyan stay  for six months, but  if they need more  time, Banyan                                                               
will work  with them.   He responded  that three months  would be                                                               
considered  a   short-term  stay,  while  six   months  would  be                                                               
considered a longer stay.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:52:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA moved  to  slide  24 which  showed  a  map of  Banyan                                                               
centers nationally,  with each  center's focus.   He  stated that                                                               
each center is suited for the need  in each area.  He stated that                                                               
the facility  in Alaska is  for veterans, active duty,  and first                                                               
responders.   He moved to  slide 25 which  differentiates veteran                                                               
program locations  from active-duty program locations.   He noted                                                               
that  Alaska has  both.    He moved  to  slide  26 and  discussed                                                               
Banyan's  admissions process.   He  said  its goal  is to  better                                                               
streamline services  and improve communications.   He stated that                                                               
every time Banyan's phone number is called, someone answers.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:54:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA,  in response to  a committee question,  explained the                                                               
color-coded map on slide 25.   He noted that Alaska's facility is                                                               
for both active-duty service members and veterans.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. GARCIA concluded  the presentation on slide  27, stating that                                                               
at  this point  Banyan has  been successful.   He  continued that                                                               
currently it is working towards  creating a detox facility, which                                                               
will be a higher  level of care.  He noted  some of the barriers,                                                               
which include  coverage cuts by  TriWest Healthcare  Alliance, as                                                               
this insurance provides coverage for  veterans.  He expressed the                                                               
understanding that  these cuts would prohibit  some services from                                                               
coming to the state.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:57:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GARCIA,  in  response to  a  committee  question  concerning                                                               
insurance coverage at Banyan in  Wasilla, stated that TRUCARE and                                                               
TriWest   Healthcare   Alliance   would  both   currently   cover                                                               
everything.  He stated that  Banyan works with private healthcare                                                               
companies, such as  Aetna and BlueCross BlueShield.   In response                                                               
to  a follow-up  question, he  stated that  Banyan is  in network                                                               
with Aetna,  and the Veterans  Administration (VA) in  Alaska has                                                               
been  supportive,  as  it  provides  veterans  with  health  care                                                               
benefits.   In response to  a follow-up question, he  stated that                                                               
Banyan compliments the VA's services;  however, more services are                                                               
still  needed  in the  state.    He  added that  Banyan  provides                                                               
services in-state,  as the goal  is to keep veterans  and active-                                                               
duty service members at home.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:01:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT thanked the presenter.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:01:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was                                                                 
adjourned at 2:01 p.m.                                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
3.19.24 HMLV - Banyan Treatment Centers.pdf HMLV 3/19/2024 1:00:00 PM