SB  83-TELEHEALTH REIMBURSEMENT RATES                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
            [CSSB 83(HSS) was before the committee.]                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:05:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of  SENATE BILL NO.  83 "An Act relating  to health                                                               
care insurance;  relating to  insurance reimbursement  for health                                                               
care services  provided through telehealth; and  providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:06:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MATT  CLAMAN,  District  H,  Alaska  State  Legislature,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska, sponsor  of SB  83 presented  a brief  recap and                                                               
stated that  the bill requires  insurers to  reimburse telehealth                                                               
services at the same rate as  in-person care. This aims to reduce                                                               
barriers  for  rural  residents, people  with  disabilities,  and                                                               
those  with limited  transportation. SB  83 ensures  fair payment                                                               
for telehealth,  aligns with existing Alaska  Medicaid practices,                                                               
and  follows  similar legislation  in  over  33 other  states  to                                                               
expand access and improve care.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:07:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 83.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:07:50 PM                                                                                                                    
EMILY  NENON,  Director,  Alaska Government  Relations,  American                                                               
Cancer   Society  Cancer   Action  Network,   Anchorage,  Alaska,                                                               
testified in  support of SB  83 and  stated that this  is another                                                               
step in  modernizing Alaska's telehealth laws,  a process ongoing                                                               
since  just   before  the  pandemic.   She  said   telehealth  is                                                               
especially  vital  in  Alaska.   Telehealth  allows  patients  to                                                               
consult  from  home  and  only  travel  for  necessary  exams  or                                                               
treatments,  while  physicians  and health  systems  still  incur                                                               
costs for facilities and staff support.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:09:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 83.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:10:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:10:19 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MERRICK moved  to report  CSSB 83(HSS),  work order  34-                                                               
LS0413\O,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:10:37 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN found  no objection and CSSB  83(HSS) was reported                                                               
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.