CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that the committee would hold a substantive hearing on HB 411-PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS. REPRESENTATIVE HUGH FATE, sponsor of HB 411, informed members that he introduced the measure at the request of physician assistants. When the health provider statutes were enacted, physician assistants were simply admitted at that time but they were not given the same standards as other health providers. HB 411 will enable physician assistants to do several things. As providers they will be allowed to authorize license plates for the disabled. They will be put under the insurance programs for malpractice insurance and be able to receive funds disbursed under health insurance programs. They will have the same opportunities regarding insurability. He pointed out that in House committee hearings, he was asked if HB 411 will impact the general fund. It will not. The uniform code of schedules pays physician assistants about 85 percent of the amount paid by Medicaid or Medicare to a physician. HB 411 will have no impact on that amount. He noted that physicians' assistants now provide health care in many areas in rural Alaska yet they must still be under the supervision of a physician. HB 411 will merely provide parity for physician assistants with other health providers. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS acknowledged the presence of Senator Therriault. He then took teleconference testimony. MS. SHARON HOLT, chief fiscal officer of the Sunshine Community Health Center, Talkeetna, stated wholehearted support for HB 411. She said that the center has four physician assistants whose services are critical to the communities served by the center. Because the current state statute does not include physician assistants in the list of health care providers, the center periodically has its billings for medical services denied by third party payers. That represents a significant barrier to health care for individuals with health insurance, as well as the clinic's ability to maximize potential revenues, particularly for small, rural health clinics. She urged members' support of HB 411. MR. JIM WOJCIEHOWSKI, President of the Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants, urged members to expedite the passage of HB 411. He noted that Representative Fate's overview was excellent: HB 411 corrects an oversight in the original statute. He pointed out that physician assistants were relatively new to the state 20 years ago but are now the sole providers in many rural areas. MS. MARY MARSHBURN, Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, commented that Section 3 of the bill adds physician assistants to the list of health care providers who can sign disabled parking permits. She believes that is a good addition to the bill. MR. ED HALL, member of the Academy of Physician Assistants, stated support for HB 411 and its companion bill, SB 265. He believes the measure will diminish patient barriers with insurance. He encouraged members' support. SENATOR HALFORD moved to calendar HB 411 with its accompanying fiscal notes at the Chairman's discretion. There being no objection, the motion carried. There being no further business to come before the committee, CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS adjourned the meeting at 10:54 a.m.