SB 178-EXPAND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:34:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   DUNBAR  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration of  SENATE BILL NO.  178 "An Act relating  to early                                                               
intervention services for certain  children; relating to optional                                                               
services under the medical assistance  program; and providing for                                                               
an effective date."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:35:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGHES  asked  whether   the  appropriation  request  of                                                               
$440,000 is coming from the mental health trust budget.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:35:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SUSAN  KESSLER,   Research  Analyst  4,  Senior   and  Disability                                                               
Services  Division,  Department  of  Health,  Fairbanks,  Alaska,                                                               
answered  question on  SB 178.  She replied  that the  additional                                                               
funding is not coming from the  budget of the Alaska Mental Trust                                                               
Authority; it comes from general state funds.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:36:11 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGHES  noted  that  the   second,  larger  fiscal  note                                                               
involves Medicaid  funding of $5.459 million,  split roughly half                                                               
federal  and half  state,  with $2.729  million  coming from  the                                                               
state's  general fund.  She highlighted  the challenges  posed by                                                               
fiscal constraints.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:36:43 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. KESSLER stated her belief  that additional funding would also                                                               
come  from the  general  fund, alongside  efforts  to create  new                                                               
early-intervention  Medicaid billing  codes and  establish rates.                                                               
She said a combination of  state and federal Medicaid funds would                                                               
pay for these services over the long term.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:37:42 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:38:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  reconvened the  meeting and  solicited the  will of                                                               
the committee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:38:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL moved  to report SB 178,  work order 34-LS0918\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:38:23 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR found no objection and SB 178 was reported from the                                                                
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.