HB 58-CONTRACEPTIVES COVERAGE: INSURE; MED ASSIST  9:58:49 AM CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 58, "An Act relating to insurance coverage for contraceptives and related services; relating to medical assistance coverage for contraceptives and related services; and providing for an effective date." CO-CHAIR FIELDS opened public testimony on HB 58. 9:59:11 AM SERENE O'HARA JOLLY testified in support of HB 58. She said that her doctor recommended oral birth control and that, even though she had a prescription for one year, she was only able to access it one month at a time. She said that the medication worked, but that she had to tell her boss why she needed the entire day off to drive from an outlying area to a pharmacy. She said that no one should have to tell their boss their medical information in order to obtain an already-prescribed medication, and that she missed a day of work each month in order to fill a prescription that was deemed both safe and necessary. She said she has been told that limiting birth control refills to one month is necessary because of the perception that women lose their birth control pills, a claim she described as insulting, noting that she has been allowed multiple months of other medications by the same insurance company. She pointed out that she was lucky to live on the road system and to have an understanding boss. 10:02:02 AM MORGAN LIM, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, testified in support of HB 58. He noted that part of the Affordable Care Act mandate is that people have affordable access to contraceptive care. He said being forced into monthly refills is a burden for residents of Alaska, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19, and the risk of unintended pregnancy is increased. He said one in three women have reported difficulty in accessing consistent birth control during the pandemic. 10:03:39 AM JAN CAROLYN HARDY testified in support of HB 58. She read a statement, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Each year at my annual physical my doctor goes over my prescriptions with me to confirm use and efficacy. Each year if I still want or need the prescription my doctor issues a script for 12 months. Not one month, not six months. 12 months. This is this cost effective in that I do not need to meet with my doctor on a monthly basis or an every six month basis in order to get a refill of a standard, ongoing prescription. Why should this procedure be any different for birth control prescriptions? Can you imagine how costly, time consuming, and oftentimes impossible it is to meet with your doctor every month? Think of child care. Think of the expense of transportation. Think of unpaid time away from work. Think of access. If a patient lives in the villages where medical attention is negligible how could she possibly renew a prescription if required to meet with her doctor prior to receiving a script? Limiting access to birth control is draconian. It is oppressive against a certain segment of our population. Again, thank you for your attention. I am in support of HB 58. 10:05:08 AM PATTY OWEN, Policy and Advocacy Committee, Alaska Public Health Association, testified in support of HB 58. She said HB 58 would improve health care by allowing access to prescribed medication and lowering direct health care costs, allowing individuals the ability to use contraceptives consistently and as prescribed. 10:06:25 AM JACOB POWELL testified in support of HB 58. He said that he takes medication and was recently able to move from monthly refills to an extended period of time between refills, a change he described as "life-changing." He said that when he was having to refill every month, he would miss work or would have to scramble and pay out of pocket if he was out of state. He said that it's ridiculous that women aren't able to access contraceptives consistently. 10:07:47 AM HEIDI ZIMMER testified in support of HB 58. She said that she's disappointed, but not surprised, to be well into the twenty- first century and still be debating access to birth control. She said that birth control allows couples and families to make choices about family structure and timing, and that requiring monthly visits for refills is not feasible. She reminded the committee that contraceptives aren't dangerous, addictive, or sold on the black market, but are basic medical care that should be accessible. 10:09:34 AM LYNETTE PHAM testified in support of HB 58. She said that passing HB 58 could help reduce the odds of unintended pregnancy. Those living in rural areas, or those who can't afford to travel monthly, would be helped by this legislation. 10:10:31 AM CANDACE CAHILL testified in support of HB 58. She pointed out that many people in Alaska lack access to transportation, and that allowing consistent access to birth control would allow families to plan children while saving month in the long run. 10:11:51 AM VALORRAINE DATTAN testified in support of HB 58. She described her health issues that are alleviated by hormonal birth control, and she spoke of the importance of allowing consistent access to prescribed medication. 10:13:21 AM ELIZABETH FIGUS testified in support of HB 58. She said that she captains a commercial fishing boat out of Sitka, and working seven days a week makes it difficult to access care. Having to alter schedules for something as simple as a refill for prescribed medication is frustrating and unnecessary. She said that committee members should understand the importance of economic efficiency, and that HB 58 would save money and time. She stated that she has been testifying in support of the proposed legislation since 2016, and that if it's not passed in 2021, she'll be back to testify again. 10:15:23 AM KRISTIN MAHLEN testified in support of HB 58. She said that she spends her time fishing out of Cordova, and she expressed that it's important for women to access prescribed medication no matter where they are working. She said that family planning is important for everyone, including the state and insurance companies, and that consistent access to birth control lowers the risk of unintended pregnancy. 10:16:55 AM GABE CANFIELD testified in support of HB 58. She said that safe access to birth control is important. 10:17:39 AM CO-CHAIR FIELDS, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 58. 10:17:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE NELSON asked for clarification on the fiscal note. 10:18:12 AM LIZZIE KUBITZ, Staff, Representative Matt Claman, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Claman, prime sponsor, deferred to Ms. Gayhart. 10:18:31 AM RENEE GAYHART, Director, Division of Health Care Services, Department of Health & Social Services, said that the proposed legislation carries a neutral fiscal note. She said that women on Medicaid are currently eligible for either a one or three- month supply, the cost of which can be absorbed. She said that it's preferable to work on the cost of implementation, which she noted would be "zero," and look at claims on the back end for opportunities for cost avoidance. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON pointed out the reference to mail order prescriptions on one of the fiscal notes. MS. GAYHART replied that there are certain prescriptions that are available via mail, and that they would be eligible under HB 58. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON said that the fiscal note seems to refer to a contraceptive available in a 90-day supply. MS. GAYHART clarified that birth control pills may be received via mail. 10:21:58 AM CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that HB 58 was held over.