Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/06/2001 01:30 PM Senate L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE COMMITTEE
February 6, 2001
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Randy Phillips, Chair
Senator Alan Austerman
Senator Loren Leman
Senator John Torgerson
Senator Bettye Davis
MEMBERS ABSENT
All Members Present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 58
"An Act relating to the membership and quorum requirements of the
State Medical Board."
MOVED SB 58 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 58 - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Donald Olson
State Capitol Bldg.
Juneau AK 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 58.
Mr. Tom Wilson
Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants
548 Aquila St.
Fairbanks AK 99712
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 58.
Mr. Ed Hall
Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants
13601 Windward Circle
Anchorage AK 99516
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 58.
Ms. Catherine Reardon, Director
Division of Occupational Licensing
Department of Community and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau AK 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 58.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-3, SIDE A
Number 001
SB 58-ADD PHYSICIAN ASST TO STATE MEDICAL BOARD
CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS called the Senate Labor & Commerce
Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and announced SB 58 to be
up for consideration.
SENATOR OLSON, sponsor of SB 58, said:
[SB 58] adds a physicians assistant to the Alaska State
Medical Board. As a consequence, the quorum requirements
for meetings have also been adjusted. Under current law,
there are seven members of the Medical Board. However,
only physicians and public members with no financial
connection to the health care delivery system can serve.
Presently, there are 250 physicians assistants providing
a wide variety of medical services to Alaskans. They are
an important part of Alaska's health care delivery
system. On an average, there are over 50,000 patient
provider contacts per month. In rural settings, they are
often the only health care practitioner and responder for
emergency life threatening situations.
The examination and licensing of physicians assistants
(PAs) is the responsibility of the State Medical Board.
In addition to setting license qualifications, the Board
determines the scope and nature of medical services that
a physicians assistant is authorized to perform.
Consequently, the Board also defines the responsibilities
that are required of an assistant supervising position.
In many ways the effectiveness of PAs is dependent on the
working relationship with the supervising physician.
Consequently, I believe it is important for the work of
the Board that a physician assistant be added to its
membership. Having such representation will facilitate
the deliberations and broaden the experience of the
Board. In my view, it will increase the Board's
effectiveness in maintaining the quality of health care
services in Alaska.
SENATOR OLSON noted a letter supporting SB 58 from the Chairman of
the State Medical Board.
MR. TOM WILSON, Alaska Academy of Physicians Assistants, supported
SB 58 and Senator Olson's testimony. He said that physician
assistants had been licensees of the Alaska State Medical Board for
20 years, but don't have a member on the Board. He said that PA
issues come before the Board on a very regular basis and that they
have attended every meeting of the Board for more than four years.
"I feel that a physicians assistant on the Medical Board will
greatly enhance the spectrum of medical practitioners that
represent the public as well as the mid-level practitioners here in
the State of Alaska in which there are many."
MR. ED HALL, Anchorage Academy of Physician Assistants, supported
SB 58, concurring with the previous testimony. He said they work a
long time on this bill and he thought it was the right thing to do
and the timing was right.
MS. CATHERINE REARDON, Director, Division of Occupational
Licensing, said her division provides the staff support to the
State Medical Board and they support this legislation.
SENATOR TORGERSON asked how many other boards had an even number of
board members.
MS. REARDON answered, "One."
SENATOR TORGERSON asked if this would work with eight instead of
seven members.
MS. REARDON replied that she thought it would and explained that
for practical purposes they have even numbers whenever there's a
vacancy on a board which is not uncommon.
SENATOR DAVIS asked if the funding for this bill would come from
receipts.
MS. REARDON said that was right, that it has been identified as
receipt supported services.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to pass SB 58 from committee with the $3000
fiscal note with individual recommendations. There were no
objections and it was so ordered.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS adjourned the meeting at 1:40 p.m.
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