HB 73-COMPLEX CARE RESIDENTIAL HOMES  3:19:19 PM CHAIR MINA announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 73, "An Act relating to complex care residential homes; and providing for an effective date." 3:19:48 PM ROBERT LAWRENCE, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Health, co-presented HB 73 on behalf of the bill sponsor, House Rules by request of the governor. He reviewed that the bill would establish a new residential license type for complex care residential homes. The homes would provide long-term residential care in a home-like setting for those with complex behavioral and/or co-occurring medical and disability-related needs. 3:20:40 PM CHAIR MINA opened public testimony on HB 73. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she closed public testimony. 3:21:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked for confirmation that the proposed legislation would apply to facilities - not to the people working within them. 3:21:43 PM EMILY RICCI, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Health, provided information and answered questions on behalf of the sponsor of HB 73, House Rules by request of the governor. She responded to a series of questions from Representative Prax related to the function and timing of the proposed complex care facilities. She spoke about the need for legislation to be passed prior to creating regulation and the expressed need for the facilities prompting efficiency of putting those regulations in place get the facilities running. 3:25:18 PM MS. RICCI, in response to Chair Mina. She said she does not think there are specific care facilities that would convert to complex care facilities under HB 73 even if they may be doing their best currently to provide needed complex care. She speculated that some of them may modify a portion of a building or home to meet these needs. She further speculated that new facilities may be built as a result of the proposed legislation. 3:26:52 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:27 p.m. [to address technical issues]. 3:27:46 PM MS. RICCI, in response to Chair Mina, explained that the 15- person limit per Alaska complex care residential home (CCRH) [proposed in Section 4 of HB 73 reflects federal law that establishes an institute for mental disease (IMD) exclusion limiting use of Medicaid dollars. She clarified, "So, that institute for mental disease prohibition against using Medicaid funds to provide long-term care residential services does not apply to facilities that are 16 beds or less." 3:30:26 PM DR. LAWRENCE, in response to Chair Mina, said the vision is to have multi-disciplinary services on site. 3:31:27 PM MS. RICCI, in response to a question from Representative Schwanke as to what would be gained with the proposed new license type when facilities are already treating patients with multiple conditions, proffered that the current mode of operation may not be the most effective. For example, she said, "We have this gap with individuals who need consistent support in a way that is not available through an assisted living home that is not funded or staffed at the levels of need that these individuals require, or they are receiving care or treatment in in-patient settings that are overly restrictive and are beyond what they may need." She said HB 73 would create a facility type that could be crafted for patients with specific needs. She offered further examples. 3:35:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS recalled two individuals in that past that were murdered by people who likely should have been in a CCRH. He emphasized the urgency in getting this legislation passed in response to the public safety aspect of the issue. 3:35:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE MEARS moved to report HB 73 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 73 was reported out of the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.