HB  57-EMERGENCY MED. SVCS: REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:17:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX announced  that the  next order of  business would  be                                                              
HOUSE BILL  NO. 57, "An Act  relating to review  organizations and                                                              
permitting an emergency  medical services provider  to establish a                                                              
review organization; and relating to patient records."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:18:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PI  GIORDAN-RANDAL,  Staff,  Representative   Stanley  Wright,  on                                                              
behalf  of Representative  Wright,  prime  sponsor, presented  the                                                              
sectional  analysis for  HB  57 [copy  included  in the  committee                                                              
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section I:                                                                                                               
     Amends AS 18.23.070(1) to Include EMT's, dispatchers,                                                                      
        and paramedics in the definition of "health care                                                                        
     provider" for the purpose of peer review protection.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section II:                                                                                                              
      Amends the definition of "healthcare provider" in AS                                                                      
     18.23.070(3) to include EMS agencies and employees who                                                                     
     are conducting peer review activities.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section III:                                                                                                             
        AS 18.23.070(5) is amended to include emergency                                                                         
       medical services agencies and employees under the                                                                        
     definition of a "review organization"                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:19:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HB 57.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:20:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARK JOHNSON,  representing self, shared  that he is  retired, and                                                              
he had  been the  chief of  emergency medical  services (EMSs)  in                                                              
the  state from  1979 to  2004.   He  advised that  at that  time,                                                              
quality  was  promoted  by  testing,   continuing  education,  and                                                              
oversight  by physicians.   He expressed  the  opinion that  HB 57                                                              
would take quality  to the next level.  He said  that EMS response                                                              
times  are  critical,  with  decisions being  made  quickly.    He                                                              
advised  that  it  is valuable  to  review  responses  afterwards,                                                              
which HB  57 would provide.   He observed  that it is  fitting the                                                              
hearing is in  the Bettye Davis room because  she had co-sponsored                                                              
trauma system  legislation, and this  had improved trauma  care in                                                              
the state.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:23:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX, after  ascertaining that  there was  no one else  who                                                              
wished to testify, closed public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:23:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 4:23 p.m. to 4:24 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:24:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  moved to report  HB 57 out  of committee                                                              
with  individual  recommendations   and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                              
notes.  There  being no objection,  HB 57 was reported  out of the                                                              
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.