HB 155: MEDICAID RATE AUDIT PROCEDURES Number 046 REP. G. DAVIS testified as PRIME SPONSOR of HB 155. He recalled the committee's lengthy previous consideration of the bill (on Feb. 24) and said that in the interim there had been much discussion between himself, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home Association (ASHNA), and some additional research concerning the bill. He announced that it had been agreed that he should ask the committee to pass the bill to the House Finance Committee, where concerns about the bill's fiscal notes and other concerns would be addressed in a subcommittee. He noted a request for some technical amendments, passed out copies to all members, read them, and asked for unanimous approval. Number 105 CHAIR TOOHEY called for objections to the amendments, and, hearing none, declared the amendments passed. REP. G. DAVIS noted the distribution of a letter to Rep. Toohey from Jay Livey, commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services, describing the department's efforts to bring their audits up to date within a year by contracting out work. He said a representative from the department was present to testify as to the department's preference and the concurrence of the ASHNA to pass HB 155 to the House Finance Committee, where the substantial fiscal note could be addressed. Number 132 REP. BUNDE moved passage of HB 155 from the committee, and asked unanimous consent for the passage to be with individual recommendations. REP. KOTT objected, saying he wanted to hear a representative of the Department of Health and Social Services attest as to the department's agreement with the committee's action. Number 143 ELMER LINDSTROM, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, testified for the record that Rep. G. Davis had accurately expressed the department's position. He repeated that the department opposed passage of the bill as drafted, but believed that its concerns might be better addressed in the Finance Committee. REP. KOTT withdrew his objection to the motion to pass HB 155 from committee. CHAIR TOOHEY asked again for objections to the motion to pass HB 155 from committee, and, hearing none, declared the bill passed from committee as moved, with individual recommendations. There being no further business before the committee, CHAIR TOOHEY ADJOURNED the meeting at 3:17 p.m.