Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
02/01/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| EO 125: Elimination of the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services. | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 1, 2024
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator David Wilson, Chair
Senator James Kaufman, Vice Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Forrest Dunbar
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
EO 125 ELIMINATION OF THE ALASKA COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES.
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
HEIDI HEDBERG, Commissioner
Department of Health (DOH)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented EO 125.
EUGENE WISEMAN, Emergency Programs Manager
Division of Public Health
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented EO 125.
ROBERTA LEICHTY, representing self
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of EO 125.
BRIAN WEBB, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of EO 125.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:39 PM
CHAIR DAVID WILSON called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Kaufman, Giessel, and Chair Wilson.
^EO 125: Elimination of the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical
Services.
EO 125 ELIMINATION OF THE ALASKA COUNCIL
ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
3:31:17 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of EO 125: Elimination
of the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services.
3:31:53 PM
HEIDI HEDBERG, Commissioner, Department of Health (DOH), Juneau,
Alaska, moved to slide 2 and said Executive Order (EO) 125
removes the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services (ACEMS)
from Alaska Statute and transfers the responsibilities to the
Department of Health. Transferring the responsibilities does not
change the original intent. She stated that if EO 125 passes she
intends to create an emergency medical services (EMS) advisory
committee within the Department of Health (DOH). DOH did
outreach to all ACEMS members and explained that having ACEMS in
statute codifies specific seats. Removing ACEMS from statute
would allow the DOH to create an EMS advisory committee that
represents all disciplines of pre-hospital care.
3:33:33 PM
EUGENE WISEMAN, Emergency Programs Manager, Division of Public
Health, Department of Health, Anchorage, Alaska, moved to slide
3 - 4 and spoke to the history of EMS in Alaska and why EO 125
is needed:
Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services
• ACEMS was formed in 1977 when EMS was still emerging
as a new industry
• The composition of ACEMS members is a reflection of
their early formative years.
Why is EO 125 needed?
• Flexibility
• EMS has changed in the last 47 years
• Representation
• ACEMS is codified in statute moving to regs
will allow other stakeholders a voice
• Partnership
• Allow DOH to bring in subject matter experts
partners
• Responsive
• Advance the development of Alaska's EMS system
in a more agile approach Partnership
3:37:28 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL stated that from 1974 - 1980 she was a critical
care nurse in Anchorage. At that time, the medical director was
beginning to offer education courses for firefighters on
ambulances. Today, paramedic save rates in Anchorage are
astonishing. She agreed that ACEMS has changed a lot in 47
years.
3:38:10 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if the intent is to maintain the council why
not make statutory changes using the legislative process.
3:38:34 PM
MS. HEDBERG replied the legislature has many priorities and
ACEMS has needed updating. Although EO 125 would remove ACEMS
from statute, it is an efficient tool because DOH intends to
keep ACEMS.
3:39:22 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if the administration would object to writing
a statute to create ACEMS within DOH after the implementation of
EO 125. legislative process to create ACMES within DOH.
MS. HEDBERG replied no.
3:39:46 PM
CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony on EO 125.
3:40:16 PM
ROBERTA LEICHTY, representing self, Sitka, Alaska, testified in
support of EO 125. She said she is the director for Southeast
Region Emergency Medical Services in Sitka. There are seven EMS
regions in Alaska. Each region has different challenges, assets,
and solutions to problems. She stated she has been involved with
EMS for 40 years. She suggested that passing EO 125 would bring
about evolution for ACEMS, not elimination. She stated that
moving ACEMS under DOH would increase flexibility in appointing
knowledgeable representatives. EO 125 poses flexibility for data
collection, billing, and other seats. Currently, none of these
seats are included because seats are assigned and limited by
statute. She expressed hope that under DOH, ACEMS would include
seats for subcommittee participation.
3:42:38 PM
BRIAN WEBB, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of EO 125. He said he has been involved with EMS since
1978. He opined that ACEMS replicates the work of other
organizations and has outrun its relevance. Efficiency is good
for Alaska which is why ACEMS should sunset through EO 125.
3:45:00 PM
CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony on EO 125.
CHAIR WILSON asked for a quick update on moving EMS personnel
under DOH.
3:45:23 PM
MR. WISEMAN replied that it has been two years since paramedics
moved from the medical board to the State Office of Emergency
Medical Services. The transition was essentially seamless. There
is no longer a backlog for paramedic licensure. License
processing takes about two weeks.
3:46:10 PM
MS. HEDBERG reiterated that EO 125 would create efficiency while
maintaining the intent for creating ACEMS.
3:46:35 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if there were any constitutional issues
with EO 125.
CHAIR WILSON replied no.
SENATOR GIESSEL stated there is a transmittal document that is
filled out after a hearing of an EO that should be signed by the
committee.
3:47:14 PM
At ease
3:47:38 PM
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and held EO 125 in
committee.
3:48:24 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Wilson adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting at 3:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Order No. 125.pdf |
SHSS 2/1/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Legal-Memo-EO125-Emergency-Medical-Services.pdf |
SHSS 2/1/2024 3:30:00 PM |
Executive Order No. 125 - Leg Legal Memo |
| EO 125 LOS Vinton 1.19.24.pdf |
SHSS 2/1/2024 3:30:00 PM |
Executive Order No. 125 - Letter of Support - Vinton |
| EO 125 - Southeast Region Emergency Medical Services Council -LOS.pdf |
SHSS 2/1/2024 3:30:00 PM |
EO 125 Southeast Region Emergency Medical Services Council LOS |
| EO125 Pantiskas LOS.pdf |
SHSS 2/1/2024 3:30:00 PM |
EO 125 Pantiskas LOS |
| EO 125 Presentation 2.1.24.pdf |
SHSS 2/1/2024 3:30:00 PM |
EO 125 DoH Presentation SHSS 2.1.24 |
| EO 125 DOH Statement of Cost.pdf |
SHSS 2/1/2024 3:30:00 PM |
EO 125 DOH Statement of Cost SHSS 2.1.24 |