SJR 10-MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT  3:15:05 PM CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10, Encouraging Alaska's Congressional delegation and the federal government to raise Medicare reimbursement rates to meet the actual cost of care for the state's senior citizens. 3:15:29 PM SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, introduced SJR 10. She stated that the proposed resolution would be an appeal to the United States Congress to increase the reimbursement rates for Medicare, because providers cannot "make ends meet" with the current Medicare reimbursement rates. 3:16:03 PM CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on SJR 10. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 3:16:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that he supports the proposed resolution. He stated that he has heard from physicians and patients about the inadequate Medicare reimbursement rates. He questioned whether rates would be increased by the state or the federal government. SENATOR GIESSEL responded that the rates are determined by the federal program; therefore, the state has no jurisdiction. In response to a series of follow-up questions, she began that the determination is a nationwide policy decision by the federal government, and it is not made on a state-by-state basis. She continued that if the federal government approves the measure, then more health care providers in the state would be able to afford to see Medicare beneficiaries. She added that currently when seniors reach the age of 65, their primary care provider often will tell them accepting Medicare is not affordable. She pointed out that hundreds of seniors lost providers when Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage closed its clinic because the Medicare reimbursement was so low, and it could not attract enough staff to continue to operate the facility. She answered that providers are not obligated to accept patients covered only by Medicare. She explained that when healthcare providers sign up to be Medicare providers, they accept the reimbursement rate. 3:19:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report SJR 10 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SJR 10 was reported out of the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.