ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE  April 4, 2014 1:36 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Bert Stedman, Chair Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair Senator Pete Kelly MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Kevin Meyer Senator Johnny Ellis   COMMITTEE CALENDAR  CONFIRMATION HEARING State Medical Board   Dr. Sai-Ling Liu - Nome CONFIRMATION ADVANCED CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 301(HSS) "An Act relating to duties and procedures of the state medical examiner and the Department of Health and Social Services." - MOVED CSSH 301(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18 Encouraging hospitals and birthing facilities in the state to participate in the Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative and to support breastfeeding; and recognizing the benefits of breastfeeding. - MOVED HCR 18 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 301 SHORT TITLE: AUTOPSIES AND DEATH CERTIFICATES SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HERRON 02/07/14 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/07/14 (H) HSS 02/20/14 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 02/20/14 (H) Heard & Held 02/20/14 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 03/04/14 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/04/14 (H) Heard & Held 03/04/14 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 03/11/14 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/11/14 (H) Moved CSHB 301(HSS) Out of Committee 03/11/14 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 03/12/14 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) NT 7DP 03/12/14 (H) DP: SEATON, REINBOLD, PRUITT, KELLER, NAGEAK, TARR, HIGGINS 03/19/14 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 03/19/14 (H) VERSION: CSHB 301(HSS) 03/21/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/21/14 (S) HSS 04/04/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 BILL: HCR 18 SHORT TITLE: BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HUGHES 02/19/14 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/19/14 (H) HSS 03/13/14 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/13/14 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard 03/14/14 (H) HSS AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/14/14 (H) Moved Out of Committee 03/14/14 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 03/17/14 (H) HSS RPT 5DP 1NR 03/17/14 (H) DP: REINBOLD, KELLER, NAGEAK, TARR, HIGGINS 03/17/14 (H) NR: PRUITT 03/24/14 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 03/24/14 (H) VERSION: HCR 18 03/26/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/26/14 (S) HSS 04/04/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER DR. SAI-LING LIU, Appointee State Medical Board Nome, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as Appointee to the State Medical Board. REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 301. KERRE SHELTON, Director Division of Public Health Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to HB 301. REPRESENTATIVE SHELLEY HUGHES Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HCR 18. JENNIFER AIST, Manager Outpatient Clinics and Services Children's Hospital at Providence Hospital Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 18. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:36:54 PM CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Micciche, Kelly, and Chair Stedman. ^CONFIRMATION HEARING CONFIRMATION HEARING  1:37:22 PM CHAIR STEDMAN announced the first order of business would be a confirmation hearing for the State Medical Board. State Medical Board    1:37:44 PM CHAIR STEDMAN related that Dr. Sai-Ling Liu was appointed to the State Medical Board for a four-year term on March 1, 2014. 1:38:08 PM At ease 1:38:44 PM DR. SAI-LING LIU, Appointee, Alaska State Medical Board, Nome, Alaska, testified as Appointee to the State Medical Board. CHAIR STEDMAN requested a synopsis of the history of Dr. Liu's medical work. DR. LIU related that she is a physician at Norton Sound Health Corporation. She said she graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, interned at J.F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, and served a residency at Family Practice Residency of San Joaquin General Hospital. She noted she is a board certified American Board of Family Practice physician. She said she has been working at the Norton Sound Health Corporation since 1990. CHAIR STEDMAN asked why she should serve on the State Medical Board. DR. LIU said she was nominated by the people of Unalakleet. She considers it an honor to serve on the board. She said she would rise to the challenge of serving on the Board. SENATOR MICCICHE asked why Dr. Liu took ten years off. DR. LIU explained that she did research at Stanford University and then attended medical school. SENATOR MICCICHE moved to advance the name Dr. Sai-Ling Liu for appointment to the State Medical Board for consideration by the full membership of the legislature in joint session. CHAIR STEDMAN found no objection and reminded members that this does not reflect any intent by the members to vote for or against the confirmation of the individual during any further sessions. HB 301-AUTOPSIES AND DEATH CERTIFICATES  1:43:52 PM CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of HB 301, noting it was the first hearing of the bill. He spoke of the companion bill, SB 161, by Senator Olson, which moved out of committee. He said the intent today is to hear the bill, take public testimony, and move the bill from committee. REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 301, explained that the bill makes small, but important, changes to statutes. It was requested by constituents regarding the release of the remains form, which looked like the state was encouraging the use of a funeral home, rather than letting the family decide. He noted that his office worked with the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to come up with an improved form. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON referred to a change that was not addressed in the Senate version of the bill. On page 2, line 3, the language used to say "embalming required by law". He said some airlines took advantage of that wording. The wording now says, "if embalming is required by law," otherwise the bill is identical to the Senate version. CHAIR STEDMAN noted a fiscal note from DHSS. 1:46:27 PM KERRE SHELTON, Director, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Anchorage, Alaska, provided information related to HB 301. She said the only difference is that it clarified that embalming is not required by law. The other parts of the bill relate to medical examiner operations. The bill ensures that all deceased under the jurisdiction of the state receive the same treatment and respect. She concluded that the bill is legally defensible and scientifically valid. 1:48:23 PM SENATOR KELLY said he also heard the bill in Senate Finance. CHAIR STEDMAN closed public testimony. 1:48:56 PM SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report CS for HB 301(HSS) from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. CHAIR STEDMAN announced that without objection, CSHB 301(HSS) is reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee. HCR 18-BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE  1:49:37 PM CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of HCR 18. 1:50:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHELLEY HUGHES, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HCR 18, explained the benefits of breast feeding, which include health, mental health, and financial benefits. She said the resolution encourages, but does not mandate, hospitals to obtain the "Baby Friendly" designation by implementing ten steps to successful breast feeding. One hospital in Alaska currently has that designation. The resolution will promote breast feeding within the hospital and after discharge. She related that three of the top eight health issues are impacted by whether a child has been breast fed; obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Breast feeding will free up medical care costs and Medicaid dollars. The societal benefits are improved health, mental health, and environmental health. 1:54:23 PM CHAIR STEDMAN noted one zero fiscal note. SENATOR MICCICHE said he thought the vote would be unanimous. CHAIR STEDMAN opened public testimony. 1:55:22 PM JENNIFER AIST, Manager, Outpatient Clinics and Services, Children's Hospital at Providence Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HCR 18. She added other benefits from breast feeding including increased IQ's of children. She said 9 out of 10 moms breast feed, but many are not getting proper support and care. She said the Baby Friendly initiative was developed by the World Health Organization and is evidence-based. Providence is the only Baby Friendly designated hospital in Alaska. She concluded that breast feeding babies is the most simple, effective method of reducing medical costs and improving health. She thanked Representative Hughes for sponsoring the resolution. 1:58:11 PM SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report HCR 18 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. CHAIR STEDMAN announced that without objection, HCR 18 is reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee. 1:58:44 PM There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair Stedman adjourned the Senate Health & Social Services Standing Committee at 1:58 p.m.