SB 244-NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ACUPUNCTURIST  CHAIR CON BUNDE announced SB 244 to be up for consideration. SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER, sponsor of SB 244, explained that AS 21 only applies to employers not large enough to fund their own health plans. This bill does not apply to individual insurance, self-funded employer groups, government programs, Medicare, military, federal employees or Medicaid. 1:37:50 PM SENATOR RALPH SEEKINS asked for examples of group health care service in Alaska. 1:39:49 PM at ease 1:40:06 PM KATIE CAMPBELL, Life and Health Actuary, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development, replied that the only non- profit health organization Alaska has is Primera; it doesn't have HMO's. SENATOR SEEKINS asked if this bill would only apply to Primera. MS. CAMPBELL replied no; it would apply to all health insurers like Aetna. 1:41:18 PM CHAIR BUNDE asked if the fiscal note would change with this new information. SENATOR WAGONER replied yes, the Division of Retirement and Benefits fiscal note would change and join the packet on its way through the legislature. 1:43:15 PM SENATOR SEEKINS said he heard this should save the state money since acupuncture can address some medical problems with cheaper treatments. He wanted to hear what the allopathic community thought about it. 1:46:17 PM SENATOR BEN STEVENS asked if there would be an additional fiscal note to the one from 2/7. MS. MILHORN replied yes. SENATOR BEN STEVENS asked: In the analysis of the fiscal note provided on 2/7/06, it says, 'Adding this provider type to the list of covered providers under AS 21.06 would not expand additional coverage for their services without a plan modification.' So, am I interpreting that to say that even if we pass this, unless the provider approves a plan modification that it's not going to cost anything? MS. FREDA MILLER, Health Benefits Manager, Division of Retirement and Benefits, replied that that fiscal note was prepared before she learned additional information after speaking with their third-party administrator for the health plans. 1:48:31 PM SENATOR SEEKINS moved SB 244 from committee with individual recommendations and with the understanding that the new fiscal note would catch up with it in the next committee. Senators Ben Stevens, Davis, Ellis, Seekins and Chair Bunde voted yea; and SB 244 was moved from committee.