HOUSE BILL NO. 111 "An Act relating to the practice of dental hygiene; relating to advanced practice permits for dental hygienists; relating to dental assistants; prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against a dental hygienist who holds an advanced practice permit; relating to medical assistance for dental hygiene services; and providing for an effective date." 9:38:12 AM Co-Chair Foster indicated the committee heard the bill last on May 15, 2021, and there was one amendment. REPRESENTATIVE IVY SPOHNHOLZ, SPONSOR, thanked members for hearing the bill. She explained that the bill created an advanced practice permit for experienced dental hygienists who had 4,000 hours of clinical experience and passed an exam issued by the Alaska Board of Dental Examiners. She furthered that the bill would allow experienced licensed hygienists to provide preventative oral health care to underserved populations at senior centers, health care facilities, day care centers, schools, those eligible for public assistance, and rural underserved communities. 9:40:18 AM Representative Spohnholz continued that importantly, the bill had been crafted with the support of the Alaska Dental Hygienists Association, Alaska Dental Society, and the Board of Dental Examiners and the process was very collaborative. Representative Spohnholz stated that the amendment corrected a technical issue. Representative Wool MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1 (copy on file): Page 6, Line 23: *Sec. 9. Except as provided in sec. 8 of this Act, this Act takes effect January 1, 2023. [Replaced 2022 with 2023]. Co-Chair Foster OBJECTED for discussion. Representative Wool reviewed the amendment. He explained that the bill was introduced in the prior year and the effective date was 2022. The amendment updated the date to January 1, 2023. Co-Chair Foster asked if the sponsor approved the amendment. Representative Spohnholz responded. Co-Chair Foster WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 9:43:33 AM Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony. Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony. 9:44:50 AM Co-Chair Foster requested a review of the fiscal notes. SARA CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (via teleconference), explained the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) published fiscal impact fiscal note allocated to Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (FN3 (CED). She indicated that the fiscal note for $1,700 covered legal costs for the board to amend regulations, printing, and postage in first year of the program. She added that most of the costs would be recuperated through licensing fees. RENEE GAYHART, DIRECTOR, HEALTH CARE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES (via teleconference), relayed that the published fiscal impact fiscal note for the Department of Health (DOH) allocated to Medicaid Services (FN4 (HSS) was needed to cover the costs associated with the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). The funding would reconfigure a new provider type, allow for provider enrollment, and allow for claims processing in the MMIS system. She added that the fiscal noted totaled $275,000. Vice-Chair Ortiz MOVED to report CSHB 111(FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHB 111(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new fiscal impact note by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and a new fiscal impact note by the Department of Health and Social Services. Co-Chair Foster reviewed the agenda for the afternoon meeting.