SHES - 3/6/95 SB 100 DISCRIMINATION UNDER GROUP HEALTH INS.    Number 005 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social Services (HESS) Committee to order at 10:15 a.m. and introduced SB 100 as the first order of business before the committee. JACK HEESCH, Alaska Academy of Physicians Assistants, stated that SB 100 prevents discrimination against physicians assistants and acupuncturists. He explained that under SB 100 a state licensed practitioner who is covered under a group insurance policy would require that the group insurer cover all similarly licensed practitioners. The bill does not mandate that such services be covered, SB 100 merely says that if the service is covered then all such services should be covered. Mr. Heesch pointed out that a physician assistant can provide approximately 75-80 percent of the same services as their principle physician. Physician assistants are trained to provide similar medical services as the doctors with whom they work and their training is less expensive. He stated that physician assistants are more willingly to work in remote areas; this would provide some solution to the access problems in rural Alaska. Mr. Heesch noted support for SB 100 for physician assistants by the Alaska Health Care Coalition. He discussed the support this legislation received last year and said that many groups had been asked to provide letters of support. He explained that since SB 100 does not mandate or require service, it would not effect anyone fiscally. The Department of Administration, Division of Retirement and Benefits has provided a zero fiscal note. An AETNA representative did not believe that SB 100 would not effect them fiscally. Mr. Heesch pointed out that last year the Department of Labor, Worker's Compensation, and the Department of Commerce, Division of Insurance, provided zero fiscal notes to this legislation. CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if anyone was in opposition to SB 100. Upon hearing no opposition, Chairman Green stated that she intended to move SB 100 out of committee. She asked if anyone would like to waive the right to testify in order to move forward with this legislation. Number 090 DAVID FORD, Acupuncturist, stated that he had practiced in Alaska for 11 years and nationally for 21 years. He related his experience that acupuncturists treat those patients at the end of the road. Eighty-five percent of the patients of acupuncturists have either complete remission of their symptoms or remission to the point of living comfortably with their condition. This has been confirmed in a January 30, 1995 article in the Wall Street Journal which stated that individuals receiving acupuncture saved the American West Life Insurance Company 30-70 percent over those only receiving medical practice. He noted the various insurance companies that currently cover acupuncture. Mr. Ford pointed out that three states have mandated drug courts which allow the choice of drug offenders and abusers to either go to jail or receive acupuncture. This program has a 75 percent long-term success rate with those who receive acupuncture versus a 15 percent success rate with those who receive other treatment methods. He indicated that Alaska could save money by setting up such a program; Anchorage spends $30,000 per drunk per year. This program could save money while helping those individuals to reenter society as productive members. SENATOR MILLER moved that SB 100 be moved out of committee with individual recommendations. SENATOR SALO objected. SENATOR SALO pointed out that last year there was an attempt to add marital and family therapists to the list of providers. She noted that SB 100 did not have marital and family therapists on the list. She offered an amendment to add marital and family therapists to the list of acceptable providers. SENATOR MILLER said that SB 100 would be forwarded to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee of which Senator Salo is a member. He suggested that perhaps, Senator Salo could have a written amendment prepared for the Labor & Commerce Committee, the last committee of referral for SB 100. SENATOR SALO indicated that would be appropriate and she removed her objection. CHAIRMAN GREEN stated that without objections, SB 100 would be forwarded out of committee with individual recommendations.