HB 284-PIONEERS HOME RX DRUG BENEFIT                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON announced  that the first order  of business would                                                              
be SPONSOR  SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE  BILL NO. 284, "An  Act requiring                                                              
the Department  of Health  and Social  Services to accept  federal                                                              
prescription drug  benefits or to provide comparable  benefits for                                                              
residents  of  the  Alaska  Pioneers'  Home,  including  residents                                                              
eligible  for discount  or free  benefits from  the United  States                                                              
Department  of Veterans Affairs  or the  Indian Health  Service of                                                              
the United States Department of Health and Human Services."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:07:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RIC  DAVIDGE, President,  Vietnam Veterans  of America,  expressed                                                              
his delight with HB 284 and offered to answer any questions.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:08:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if there were still any concerns.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:08:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. DAVIDGE  replied that  the problems had  been resolved  and he                                                              
thanked  the  commissioner  of Department  of  Health  and  Social                                                              
Services.   He  expressed his  hope that  the bill  would pass  so                                                              
that veterans would  no longer have to pay at  the Pioneers' Home,                                                              
for prescriptions  that were given to  them at no charge  from the                                                              
Veterans Administration (VA).                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[HB 284 was held over.]