HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE February 12, 1998 3:03 p.m. COMMITTEE CALENDAR PRESENTATION: ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL TAPE 98-7, SIDE A CALL TO ORDER Representative Con Bunde, Chairman, convened the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting at 3:03 p.m. PRESENT Committee members present at the call to order were Representatives Bunde, Vezey and Dyson. Representative Brice arrived as the meeting was in progress. Representatives Green, Porter and Kemplen were absent. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION JIM BURTON, gave a brief background description of the Alaska Independent Living Council and introduced the individuals who would be addressing the committee. DAWN PEDERSON gave a description of her medical condition and the problems she encountered with her medical insurance benefits. She didn't realize that she couldn't be covered by two programs, i.e., COBRA and Medicaid, so she lost her COBRA coverage. She got a job at Taku Smokeries and subsequently lost her Medicaid and Medicare coverage because she was working. She expressed frustration with having to choose between becoming permanently disabled and her job. JOHN WOODWARD testified he has a traumatic brain injury and is an advocate for other people with disabilities. The state has an opportunity to provide affordable health care to over 11,000 children and 800 pregnant women through House Bill 369, which is supported by the Alaska Independent Living Council. JOYANNA GEISLER testified that last year over 1,000 Alaskans received independent living services which cost, between state and federal funds, about $900,000; the state contribution was about $400,000. An example of services provided is assisting people with a mobility impairment to build ramps into their home, getting the appropriate magnifier for individuals with a vision impairment, or arranging for an interpreter for a deaf individual. One of the most difficult things that independent living providers do is to assist people wanting to move out of a nursing home. The cost is not that great, but it is more than what the Alaska Independent Living Council has available. She was requesting that $100,000 be earmarked specifically for individuals requesting to get out of nursing homes or individuals who are in danger of being placed in a nursing home. The money would be used to help set up community support so these individuals could live safely in their community. RUTH HOMMEDIEU thanked the committee for their support of HCR 19 which establishes the Council for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind. She urged the committee to support the Vocational Rehabilitation budget so the demands and requests for client services can be met. She pointed out that the statewide unemployment rate is 7.5 percent, but the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities is 66 percent. The main philosophy of the Alaska Independent Living Council is to live independently in your own community with community-based support. JERIE BEST thanked committee members for passing House Bill 170. She enthusiastically shared that she had just received the draft copy of a Consumer Protection Act for people needing assistive technology. She has been working on this for four years. She explained the Consumer Protection Act will provide a warranty for individuals needing assistive technology to live a life as normal as possible. COMMITTEE ACTION The committee took no action. ADJOURNMENT The meeting recessed at 3:44 p.m. NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by contacting the House Records Office at 130 Seward Street, Suite 211, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182, (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the second session of the Twentieth Alaska State Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.