Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
01/23/2019 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 23, 2019
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator David Wilson, Chair
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Tom Begich
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services
Adam Crum - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
ADAM CRUM, Commissioner Designee
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during his confirmation hearing.
ALYSON CURRY, Legislative Liaison
Planned Parenthood Votes
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
CHERYL LOVEGREEN, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
JAY BUTLER, M.D., representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
JERRY ALDERMAN, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
ZHENIA C. PETERSON, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
ROBIN SMITH, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
JANET COLON, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
ELIZABETH RIPLEY, Chief Executive Officer
Mat-Su Health Foundation
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
MICHELLE OVERSTREET, Executive Director and Founder
Mat-Su Youth Housing
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the confirmation of DHSS
Commissioner Designee Adam Crum.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:30:12 PM
CHAIR DAVID WILSON called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Begich, Coghill, Stevens, Bishop,
and Chair Wilson.
1:31:04 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the first order of business was to elect
a vice-chair.
1:31:09 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that Senator
Coghill be elected as vice-chair.
1:31:14 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that without objection, Senator Coghill
would serve as vice-chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services
1:31:21 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the next order of business to come before
the committee was the confirmation hearing of Commissioner
Designee Adam Crum of the Department of Health and Social
Services (DHSS). He invited Commissioner Designee Crum to
testify.
1:32:17 PM
ADAM CRUM, Commissioner Designee, Department of Health and
Social Services, Anchorage, Alaska, said he was born and raised
in Anchor Point, Alaska, as one of five siblings. For several
years the family had no running water and had to collect their
drinking water from a spring. He spent his youth hunting and
fishing along the banks of the Anchor River. He graduated from
Homer High School as valedictorian and went to Northwestern
University. He joined the football team and within a year he had
a full-ride scholarship. He finished by winning a leadership and
spirit award voted on by his coaches and teammates. He mentioned
these achievements because assuming leadership, pursuing
excellence, and taking on challenge is central to who he is.
After earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, he returned to
Alaska.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said his work as a safety
professional and trainer took him all over Alaska. He spent
weeks at a time in villages like Kaktovik, Barrow, and Point
Hope. He earned a Master of Science in Public Health from John
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. It is
widely regarded as the number one public health school in the
world.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said he studied public health
toxicology, environmental and occupational health law, risk
communication and public policy and epidemiology. He wrote white
papers on naturally occurring asbestos in western Alaska, as
well as mercury content in seafood caught in the north Pacific.
He worked as a consultant and project lead for large oil and gas
companies and pipeline and transportation companies. He did
environmental health analysis and worked on long-term strategy
and organizational development. He said he experienced what good
looks like first-hand from working with these companies. He has
internalized that and used it in his work with other clients and
organizations.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said that out of the need to
influence organizational culture, he developed a repertoire of
leadership courses he could facilitate. For example, one course
he is certified to facilitate is based on Stephen Covey's Seven
Habits of Highly Effective People. He has been a supporter of
MyHouse in Mat-Su, which works with homeless youth to provide
job opportunities. Another group he is involved in is JOY
International, which focuses on ending sex trafficking. He is
also on the advisory board of the Mat-Su Salvation Army. They
talk about issues such as hungry families, drug treatment and
rehabilitation, and transitional housing. When he was looking
for additional resources while working with these groups, he
came across the Alaska State Ombudsman May 2018 report of an
investigation of the Division of Public Assistance. The report
stated that since 2016, there have been hundreds of complaints
about lack of communication, a backlog of applications, and
delayed payments
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM called the report heartbreaking. The
division was not responsive to people reaching out in their
moment of need. And employees trying to do their best didn't
have the tools to provide the best customer support. What was
really lacking was leadership and support. He brings
organizational and strategic expertise and a history of
developing high-performing teams and a winning culture. He also
brings compassion. He has worked with a lot of the constituent
groups the department services. He brings a commitment to
recognize and support the employees within the department so
they can provide the best possible service. He believes he has
been successful in starting down this path. In seven weeks, he
has assembled an excellent team.
1:37:39 PM
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM directed attention to Deputy
Commissioner Albert Wall, a military veteran who is still active
in the National Guard. Mr. Wall has 20 years of experience as a
behavioral health clinician and previously worked for DHSS as a
budget director and director of behavioral health. The last few
years he has been the CEO for the Peninsula Community Health
Services. He now oversees Family, Community and Integrated
Services. He has worked at DHSS and understands long-standing
issues and is motivated to correct them for the benefit of all
Alaskans.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said the Deputy Commissioner of
Medicaid and Health Care Policy, Donna Steward, is uniquely
suited to this role because she spent the last few years as the
executive director of the Office of Rate Review. Before that she
was a research analyst for the Washington state legislature and
has worked at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as
associate regional administrator for the Medicare side. She has
vast experience working with and for federal partners. She
understands the actual numbers as they stand in Alaska.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM introduced Sana Efird. She was the
deputy commissioner at the Department of Education and Early
Development and has returned to DHSS as Assistant Commissioner
of Finance and Management Services, a position she had been in
before for four years. She has knowledge of the department, its
budget, and programs.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM noted that Tony Newman was continuing
in his role as legislative liaison for DHSS and that he is
incredibly responsive to legislative requests.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM noted that the Health Care Policy
Advisor, Heather Carpenter, had been chief of staff for Senator
[Pete] Kelly.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said that in the short time that he
has been in this role, he has visited as many employees as
possible. His first communication was to thank everyone for
their hard work and service and to remind them to always
remember the good they do. DHSS is a large department with many
divisions. It's a safe bet that in any week one of those
divisions may make the news. He wants all employees to know that
he understands and appreciates the jobs they do, and he is proud
to work with them during these difficult times.
1:40:43 PM
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said he has three top priorities for
DHSS.
• Number one is addressing the overall budget issue. DHSS has
one of the largest budgets in government. They must do what
they can to reduce duplicative efforts, gain efficiencies,
and leverage community partners.
• The second priority is to work on the Alaska Psychiatric
Institute (API). It has a longstanding number of issues. As
the state's residential psychiatric treatment hospital, API
plays a critical role in the continuum of care for
behavioral health. For far too long API has not received
its due attention. This administration committed to putting
API on the correct course, to provide better patient
outcomes, and to ensure a safe environment for patients and
staff.
• The third priority is to reduce the backlog of applications
at Division of Public Assistance (DPA) so these people can
be responded to and heard. The new DPA leader is working on
new processes and the support levels to address and correct
this issue.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said another key item is addressing
IT solutions. It can reduce the burden from front line employees
and allow them to do their jobs better and faster. The
department is constantly looking at ways to gain efficiencies
while keeping an eye on superior customer service.
He said he is committed to the department, the people it serves,
and the people he works with. He concluded by saying, "Our
mission is to promote and protect the health and well-being of
all Alaskans. That is what I am committed to do. I am humbled
that Governor Dunleavy has asked me to perform this role and I
am honored to be before the committee today."
1:42:23 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said the governor in the State of the State
address last night spoke of the importance of cracking down on
crime, but he also mentioned the opioid crisis, which falls
under Commissioner Designee Crum's jurisdiction. He asked what
can be done about that.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said the White House yesterday
continued the public health emergency for the opioid crisis. The
department will work with the federal delegation to see what
that means as far as resources and tools. Andy Jones is
continuing in the director position for the Office of Substance
Misuse and Addiction Prevention (OSMAP). He works with public
safety, law, and corrections, and also reaches out to the public
to help set up task forces. The intent is to bring a high level
of awareness and support to this issue.
1:44:03 PM
CHAIR WILSON said last year the legislature approved additional
staffing to handle some of the backlog related to Medicaid
applications. He as was sufficient to take care of the backlog
of unprocessed applications.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said he has not had that conversation
with budget. There are open positions at the Division of Public
Assistance (DPA) but part of the new director's priority is to
reduce that burden.
1:45:11 PM
SENATOR COGHILL commented on the Medicaid budget and the fact
that it is one of the big budgetary drivers. He asked the
commissioner to tell the committee what he had learned in the
last seven weeks to help make this more sustainable.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM replied that Medicaid is 70 percent
of DHSS's overall budget and his team will work with federal
partners to see what they can do with the overall plan, perhaps
with waivers. Stakeholders will be brought to the table with
providers to work together on this issue. He said the goal is to
run as clean a business model as possible so legislators don't
get hit with a bill at the end of session for the previous year.
SENATOR COGHILL said he will ponder what the legislature can do
to address the issue of trapping people in the Medicaid world.
That is that someone on Medicaid who gets a raise may find their
medical bills are more than the raise. He also cited the example
of someone with a child covered by Denali KidCare who had to
turn down a promotion in the Air National Guard to not lose
eligibility and have to pay about $3,500 a month. This person
had to turn down a promotion or quit his job. He said that's a
clear example of how people get trapped in a system that is
meant to give them a hand up. He expressed hope that the
commissioner would help legislators understand CMS rules and
what the department's health care plan can and cannot do under
the waiver system.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said that is an issue he has
addressed with his team. He believes there should be a step-wise
function so people can take help when they need it, but also
progress and improve their lot in life. The department will look
for models that work and perhaps ask for statutory change. They
will also look at the federal side for rules they can adjust.
SENATOR COGHILL expressed appreciation for the response.
1:51:38 PM
SENATOR BEGICH mentioned the governor's desire for state
spending to match resources estimated to be $3.2 billion and the
DHSS budget that is one of the largest in the state. He asked
how to mesh recognition and support to employees on one hand and
substantial budget cuts on the other. He said today in the
Finance Committee, Donna Arduin, the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, said each department had to prioritize
areas that would be supported and what could be eliminated. He
asked what was at the bottom of the list for DHSS that would
potentially be eliminated in this administration.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said people in his department have
noticed that they can save quite a bit of money by taking care
of how the dollars are spent. This includes things like making
sure processes are clean and preventing overpayments. That's the
first step.
SENATOR BEGICH referenced a meeting in his office when the
commissioner mentioned that all options were on table. He asked
what options would be on Table A and whether he was looking at
privatization of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API).
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM responded that all options truly are
on the table. If API is privatized, the level of care would need
to meet all the requirements. DHSS will be a mission-driven
organization. Each division and every subgroup will work to
accomplish what is in its mission.
SENATOR BEGICH asked his perception of the mission of DHSS and
what he believes his constitutional obligation is to uphold that
mission.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM answered that the mission is to
promote and protect the health and well-being of Alaskans. He
said the plan is to identify and work with the neediest groups.
There will be cuts and the department will need to gain
efficiencies, but they are committed to work with stakeholder
groups looking at available resources to make sure the rug is
not pulled out from underneath people.
CHAIR WILSON requested he send the DHSS priority list to the
committee when the budget is released on February 13 so
legislators can take that into consideration in future
legislation.
1:57:11 PM
SENATOR BISHOP asked whether he played offense or defense.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM answered both; in high school he was
a linebacker and in college an offensive lineman.
SENATOR BISHOP responded that he asked because the state is
always playing defense in the health care world and he wonders
when a leader will take the offense and promote healthy living,
similar to John F. Kennedy's health and physical fitness
challenge. He asked the commissioner if he and his team or the
governor had any ideas to promote something like that. He
related that he spent eight days in Iceland and was astounded by
the lifestyle, their physical fitness, and how they promote
physical education for both people in school and the private
sector. He reiterated that the state should get on the offense.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM agreed that getting on the offense is
a critical aspect to changing the path of the future. He noted
that his public health background is on the preventative side.
He said the idea is to work on innovative measures to save money
by spending money on the front end. He acknowledged that
specific projects have not been targeted but it is an ongoing
conversation as the full team comes together. That.
SENATOR BEGICH pointed out that federally, 7 million fewer
people are insured and that burden falls on emergency rooms and
hospitals. The smallest hospitals in Alaska suffered because
they didn't get their Medicaid reimbursement in a timely manner
and, if the state reduces Medicaid, will eventually have to deal
with the expense of those additional emergency services. He
asked the commissioner if he was considering a block grant
waiver proposal coming from the current presidential
administration because that raises some concern. He referenced
the statement that DHSS plans to identify and work with the
neediest groups and noted all people in Alaska have a
constitutional right to abortion and family planning services,
which the state does compensate through Medicaid for the
neediest citizens. He asked if the state will continue doing
that.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said the department has ongoing
negotiations for a 1115 [Medicaid] waiver, which is their
ability to work with federal partners to tailor an Alaska-
specific solution that is cost-neutral or a cost-savings for the
state while also providing better services. He asked Senator
Begich to repeat the second question, which he did.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said he will follow the law. He
added, "As it stands now, Alaska law and the federal law
maintains we have to do that."
SENATOR BISHOP asked for assurance that he was committed to
improving the mental health assets in the state. He also
reminded the commissioner that in their earlier meeting he
cautioned that for every action there is a reaction. Senator
Bishop asked him think about that and weigh the change when he
does any cost-benefit analysis and due diligence.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM answered that he and the governor are
committed to working on the behavioral health situation in
Alaska. He visited Fairbanks Memorial Hospital recently in
recognition of the state partnering with the hospital to expand
psychiatric beds in the emergency room. He said the department
is trying to find innovative solutions around the state to
address behavioral health. He is excited that Deputy
Commissioner Wall has a background in this. He said the
department will work with community partners and have had many
conversations with possible different funding sources to
leverage local as much as possible.
SENATOR BISHOP asked if the several acting directors in the
department were placeholders during the recruiting process.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM replied that that the Public Health
director is now full time and recruitment is ongoing for the
directors of Senior and Disabilities Services director and
Behavioral Health.
2:04:49 PM
SENATOR COGHILL commented that although DHSS is under a court
order to pay for abortions, that doesn't mean DHSS can't educate
people about alternatives. He encouraged other ways of
communicating with people in those circumstances.
SENATOR COGHILL highlighted the sustained high turnover and
vacancy rates at the Office of Children's Services (OCS). He
said OCS has to work with people who are experiencing the worst
circumstances of their lives but doesn't seem to be able to show
them out of the dysfunction. He said it is commendable that some
kids are saved but many times families are intimidated
inappropriately. He asked who is tasked to work in that arena
and what new ideas can be expected.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said discussions about children are
very sensitive and emotional. Everyone wants to provide the best
service, care and protection for children whether it is inside
the family or not. It is a delicate balance that the staff at
OCS has to manage. Natalie Norberg is the full-time director.
DHSS is working on creative solutions to deal with the vacancy
rates. Internal talks are ongoing about how to encourage people
to apply, keep their caseloads low, and keep their morale up so
they don't leave. The department is also working on an internal
communication bank to help families to see OCS as a resource,
not the person coming to take their kids away.
SENATOR COGHILL urged him to let legislators know if he sees
places where the state statutes could be improved.
2:09:11 PM
CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony.
2:09:30 PM
ALYSON CURRY, Legislative Liaison, Planned Parenthood Votes,
Juneau, Alaska, said Planned Parenthood opposes the confirmation
of Adam Crum due to his lack of experience delivering health and
social services. Instead of appointing someone who understands
health policy, Governor Dunleavy has appointed someone whose
ideology lines up with his own. When Mr. Crum ran for state
senate in 2016, he ran on a platform of cutting government
programs and restricting a woman's constitutional right to make
decisions about her own body. Alaska needs somebody who will
implement proven and effective strategies for improving public
health and decreasing health disparities across communities. The
state has some of the highest rates of suicide, domestic
violence, sexual assault, and sexually transmitted infections in
the nation. The state needs a commissioner with the necessary
experience to tackle these challenges and advance bold solutions
to improve the health of all Alaskans across the state,
especially for historically marginalized communities that are
more likely to lack access to critical health care and social
services. Anti-reproductive health and small-government
ideologies are not good substitutes for policy expertise and
experience.
2:11:44 PM
CHERYL LOVEGREEN, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said she
was concerned for two reasons: Mr. Crum's lack of experience and
his possible bias. He has no experience as a manager within the
department or in leading a large department like DHSS. He does
not have the best skill set for this appointment. He said he is
not a health care policy guy. He was endorsed by an anti-choice
group in a recent campaign. She questioned how he will support
the rights of women and teens who need comprehensive health care
and information, including family planning and abortion. Alaska
has a public health crisis in opioid use, unintended teen
pregnancies, mental health, and other issues. The state needs
health care professionals who already know how to turn these
things around.
2:13:33 PM
JAY BUTLER, M.D., representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,
identified himself as the former Chief Medical Officer for DHSS
and for a brief time, the commissioner. He said he first met Mr.
Crum when he learned he would replace him as the commissioner.
He worked with him for a week and found him to be a man of
integrity who cares about welfare of the state and its people.
He understands organizational structure and function and
population-based approaches to improving health.
DR. BUTLER noted that Mr. Crum is a fast learner. He joined in
their phone calls when DHSS activated its emergency operation
center after the Anchorage earthquake [on November 30, 2018]. On
his first day as commissioner he faced two internal emergencies
with a cool head. He said Mr. Crum is the right person for the
job.
2:15:58 PM
JERRY ALDERMAN, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said Mr.
Crum has an impressive resume and is a smart guy, but he has no
background for this job. He's never worked in health care or
social services. He has not managed a government agency. Mr.
Alderman said he doesn't like it when politicians, especially
males, start talking about what his daughter can and cannot do
with her body.
2:17:20 PM
ZHENIA C. PETERSON, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said
she wanted to echo what other people have said. Mr. Crum does
not have the knowledge or experience to run something as big as
DHSS. He's never worked in a health-related field or had a
background in health policy. His statements about reducing the
size of government should be a concern to the committee. She
worries that his initiatives would cause many people to lose
jobs and would cut funding to health care services that many
Alaskans rely on. His connection to right-to-life groups and
past statements about women receiving basic health care services
make her worry about her constitutional rights being taken away.
2:18:47 PM
ROBIN SMITH, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said Mr. Crum
is unqualified for the position of commissioner of DHSS, one of
most difficult management jobs in the state. When he ran for the
legislature in 2016, he described himself as a business owner,
truck driver, and carpenter. His resume states that he managed
75 people and handled multimillion contracts. That is a far cry
from managing a department of over 3,000 people and a budget the
size of DHSS's. His degree from John Hopkins School of Public
Health is in occupational and environmental hygiene. The John
Hopkins description of the degree does not mention the medical
field. He has never worked in a medical arena. Alaska has the
most expensive care in America, which makes it the most
expensive care in the world. No one has been able to
successfully reduce the cost in Alaska. It is an extremely
complex issue that should be addressed by the smartest and most
qualified person available. She said she is deeply disturbed by
the nomination because it shows a lack of respect for real
health care professionals. She would not trust him to implement
policies for women and families because he has identified
himself as pro-life. She said she fears he will work against
women.
2:22:17 PM
JANET COLON, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said that
during Mr. Crum's campaign two years ago for state senate, he
proudly advertised that he was against a women's right to make
decisions about her own body. As a nurse with 20 years of public
health experience, this is a grave concern. She said she has
observed women trying to get money to come in from rural Alaska
to get health care in Anchorage. She has seen increased rates of
sexually transmitted diseases among teens. As a sexual assault
nurse, she's seen increased sexual violence against women. The
state needs an unbiased commissioner who cares about the health
of all women in Alaska.
2:24:00 PM
ELIZABETH RIPLEY, Chief Executive Officer, Mat-Su Health
Foundation, Wasilla, Alaska, said she met Adam Crum at the Mat-
Su Business Alliance, where he and his business, Northern
Industrial Training, have won many awards and helped the Mat-Su
economy. He has been an active donor and supporter of MyHouse, a
local nonprofit addressing youth homelessness. He sees the
complexity of health and social issues like homelessness. He has
a heart for this work. He has a master's in public health and
many of the challenges DHSS faces can be improved by maximizing
the public health model on both the prevention and intervention
side of things. As commissioner he wants DHSS to be more
strategic and efficient and effective at meeting its top goals
and objectives. DHSS needs someone with the business acumen and
budgetary skills, management knowledge, workforce development
expertise, and the communication and emotional intelligence to
pull this off. He has these skills and experiences. She said she
looks forward to partnering with Mr. Crum to deliver more value
for the state's health and social services dollars.
2:26:06 PM
MICHELLE OVERSTREET, Executive Director and Founder, Mat-Su
Youth Housing, Wasilla, Alaska, said Mr. Crum has been an
advisor to MyHouse for the past eight years. He has supported a
public health office in their building that specializes in
reproductive health. He has supported MyHouse's goal of
providing reproductive health services to homeless youth. He has
never opposed any kind of services to the youth they serve.
There are many assumptions about how he will behave as
commissioner. He is a man of integrity with a huge heart with a
passionate desire to make Alaska better. He is an expert on
budget and fiscal management. He has given her advice on
directing a nonprofit. He helped a MyHouse employee with a small
child strategize because her increasing compensation
disqualified her for Medicaid services. Mr. Crum demonstrated
not just compassion, but knowledge and creative thinking about
how to use the Medicaid expansion with a step-down system for
people in the same situation as their client. To not appoint him
would be a real shame and a detriment to the state, she said.
SENATOR BEGICH asked whether there was any limit to the services
in MyHouse's reproductive health clinic.
MS. OVERSTREET said there were limits to the onsite clinic, but
they are partnered with a local provider. The local provider can
coordinate everything from educational sessions to abortion
services provided elsewhere.
2:30:07 PM
CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony and asked Mr. Crum if he
wanted to address his qualifications.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said he does not come from a public
health policy background, but DHSS needs someone who can look to
long-term strategy and understand what to do, because difficult
times are ahead. DHSS needs someone at the helm who can take
care of things and he has put together a fantastic team to guide
him through the process.
2:31:15 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked what strategies he employed to deal with
homeless youth and if that would be his responsibility as
commissioner.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM replied that for whatever reason many
homeless youth throughout Alaska have coalesced in the Mat-Su
Borough. There are massive tent cities. The idea was to find a
community solution to give the teens resources they need, such
as substance abuse counseling. The model is hand up not handout.
The teens must understand they have to work as part of the
process. He said it will not be part of his purview as
commissioner to do that, but the administration wants to ensure
that all Alaskans have these opportunities to move ahead.
SENATOR BISHOP said he has the utmost respect for Dr. Butler.
Many do not know that DHSS is part of the state's emergency
response team and Mr. Crum is very familiar with how to execute
emergency response. He pointed out that Mr. Crum said that he
would adhere to the law and implement the law.
SENATOR BISHOP said his philosophy is that if everyone around
him is thinking the same thing, then someone is not thinking. He
asked Mr. Crum to respond to that.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM said that during meetings, people
volunteer to play devil's advocate. His management style is to
encourage diverse thoughts to ensure the team puts out the most
and the best solutions.
SENATOR BEGICH asked, considering the public testimony, whether
he is confident that he can put political ideology aside and
focus DHSS's goals on the best scientific evidence available.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM responded absolutely. He has a degree
from a school that is one of the best in the world that is
science-based.
SENATOR COGHILL said some of the questions revolved around
reproduction rights and abortion. That is the legislature's job
to answer those. He said he has seen commissioners come and go
with a bias either way. It is not big issue if he follows the
law, but Mr. Crum will deal with public health issues such as
disease management and things that create hunger for bad things,
whether drugs or alcohol. He asked if he had anything to share
about his vision regarding public health.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM replied that the phrase social
determinants [of health] are buzz words heard a lot now.
Preventative measures of behavioral health issues are key
aspects of addressing public health. The department is going to
be more proactive and work across departments.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE CRUM concluded by stating he is an Alaskan
first and foremost. His family is here and he wants to stay in
this state, which is why he wanted to take this role.
2:38:44 PM
CHAIR WILSON stated that in accordance with AS 39.05.080, the
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee reviewed
the following and recommends the appointment be forwarded to a
joint session for consideration:
Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services
Adam Crum - Anchorage
Signing the reports regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects individual members' approval or
disapproval of the appointees; the nominations are merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
2:39:15 PM
At ease
2:40:53 PM
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting.
2:41:15 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Wilson adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee at 2:41 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HSS Commissioner DHSS Crum Resume.pdf |
SHSS 1/23/2019 1:30:00 PM |
Comm-Designee Adam Crum CV |