SJR 15-OPPOSE MEDICAID CUTS  3:49:21 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15 Calling on the state's congressional delegation to oppose cuts to federal spending on Medicaid. 3:49:39 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL said the committee would consider a committee substitute (CS), version N, for SJR 15. 3:49:49 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL solicited a motion. 3:49:53 PM SENATOR TOBIN moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for SJR 15, work order 34-LS0631\N, as the working document. 3:50:07 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL objected for purposes of discussion. 3:50:35 PM ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff, Senator Forest Dunbar, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered a summary of changes for SJR 15, version N: [Original punctuation provided.]   SUMMARY OF CHANGES  CSSJR 15: OPPOSE MEDICAID CUTS  32-LS0631 Version A to Version N  Page 2, Line 2: Updates the percentage of Alaska births covered by Medicaid in 2023 to 36 percent and clarifies that nearly 40 percent of enrollees are under age 18. Page 2, Line 12: Updates the percentage of Medicaid enrollees who are Alaska Native to 30 percent. Page 2, after line 15: Adds a clause clarifying that the federal government covers 100 percent of Medicaid costs for Alaska Native enrollees receiving services through Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribally operated facilities, whether directly operated by Indian Health Service or on behalf of a Tribe; and adds a clause stating that states implementing Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act receive a 90 percent federal match for adults covered through the expansion. Page 3, Line 5: Changes the potential cuts from 2 trillion dollars to eight hundred and eighty billion dollars to reflect the current stage of the federal budget negotiation process more accurately 3:51:50 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL asked if the committee had questions. She noted that the sponsor of SJR 15 had incorporated changes that members of the committee suggested. 3:52:20 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL removed her objection. She found no further discussion and [CSSJR 15 was adopted as the working document]. She solicited the will of the committee. 3:52:25 PM SENATOR HUGHES expressed disappointment that "over ten years" was omitted on page 3, line 5 of the CS, noting that a "cut" usually refers to a one-year amount, whereas this totals $880 billion over ten years ($88 billion per year), which she felt was misleading. 3:52:58 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL asked if Senator Hughes would like to offer a conceptual amendment. 3:53:10 PM SENATOR HUGHES moved Conceptual Amendment 1: CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1   On page 3, line 5, following "$880,000,000,000" Insert "over ten years" 3:53:29 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL suggested the amendment read, "Whereas the United States Congress is considering cuts of nearly [$880,000,000,000] to federal spending on Medicaid over the next ten years 3:53:51 PM SENATOR HUGHES withdrew Conceptual Amendment 1. She offered Conceptual Amendment 2: CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 2   On page 3, line 5, following "$880,000,000,000 to federal spending on Medicaid" Insert "over ten years;" 3:54:15 PM SENATOR CLAMAN asked if the ten-year range had received previous discussion. VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL replied yes, it was brought up at the last committee meeting by Senator Hughes. Excluding 10 years from the committee substitute was an oversight. 3:54:40 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL asked if there was objection to Conceptual Amendment 2; finding no objection Conceptual Amendment 2 was adopted. 3:54:48 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL asked if there was further discussion or concerns related to [CSSJR 15, as amended]; finding none she solicited the will of the committee. 3:55:02 PM SENATOR TOBIN moved to report CSSJR 15, work order 34-LS0631\N, as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 3:55:19 PM VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL found no objection and CSSJR 15(HSS) was reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.