Alaska Health Policy Review
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March 12, 2010 - Vol 4, Issue 9
In This Issue
"Myth Busting" with Jeff Davis, President of Premera Alaska - Part 2
Take Alaska Health Policy Class in Fall 2010 ... In Your Jammies!
Please Respect Our Copyright
Health Policy Calendar
Bill Watch: Bills on the Move
Bill Watch: Drugs
Bill Watch: Health Professional Workforce and Health Education
Bill Watch: Medical Assistance and Health Insurance
Bill Watch: Mental Health
Bill Watch: State Boards and Issues
Bill Watch: Family Health Issues
Bill Watch: Worker's Compensation
Bill Watch: General Health Policy
Bill Watch: Bill Tracking Methodology
AHPR Staff and Contributors
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From the Editor

Dear Reader,

Kudos all around! As you know if you have been reading recent issues of Alaska Health Policy Review, the housekeepers and other hotel workers of UNITE HERE Local 878 have organized a boycott of the Sheraton and Hilton hotels in Anchorage. Last November, 84 percent of union workers at the Sheraton Anchorage voted to put the Sheraton under boycott due to the refusal of the hotel to address health and safety issues, and the administration's refusal to continue to provide affordable health insurance, among other issues. Hilton workers have been fighting for similar health and safety issues since August 2008, when their last contract expired.

Here is the kudos part: In support of the hotel workers seeking a safer workplace, the Alaska Public Health Association is honoring the boycott by "looking at other venues and dates, and we look forward to your support for the new location and dates. We'll keep the ALPHA members informed of the Summit location and dates as soon as we have them." Way to go President Sandra Woods and the ALPHA board!

In addition, a few weeks ago the Governor's Safety Conference canceled their annual convention at the Sheraton due to the boycott by hotel service workers seeking safe working conditions. A copy of the letter canceling the convention is available online. Kudos and a golden safety helmet go to Commissioner Click Bishop of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Now, on to Part 2 of the Jeff Davis interview. Mr. Davis offers a polished and compelling presentation supporting and defending the role of Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield in particular, and the role played by the American private health insurance industry in general. Seeking to inject a bit of balance into the issue, I would like to suggest a few destinations which are a tad more critical of the role of private health insurance on the American scene.

For example, Physicians for a National Health Program (PHNP) has a rich history of producing well-documented research about unnessesary administrative costs and waste produced by private health insurance. The motto of the California Nurses Association is "We don't need insurance, we need guaranteed healthcare." Finally, I would be remiss if I neglected to mention Healthcare-NOW!, whose byline is "Organizing for a National Single-Payer Healthcare System." I think you will find these alternatives to the role of traditional health insurance in the United States interesting, instructive, and very promising.

Lawrence D. Weiss PhD, MS
Editor, AHPR
[email protected]

"Myth Busting" with Jeff Davis, President of Premera Alaska - Part 2

Dennis McMillian This week we are pleased to present Part 2 of a discussion by Jeffrey W. Davis, president of Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, insurer for 180,000 Alaskans statewide. Part 1 of his presentation was featured in Alaska Health Policy Review two weeks ago. The venue of his presentation was an early morning Anchorage meeting of the Health Care Action Coalition of the local think tank, Commonwealth North, February 18, 2010. An accompanying PowerPoint presentation is available on line, hosted on the Commonwealth North website. Note that part of his presentation included a multiple choice quiz included in the PowerPoint. The correct answers are highlighted for readers. The theme of Davis' presentation is "myth busting," wherein he purports to tackle head-on a number of common criticisms levied against the health insurance industry. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

topicsLinks to selected topics

Health Care Access: Only a Small Slice of the Pie
The Problem with Health Insurance Reform
Taxes and Rates: Who Pays with National Health Reform?
To Smoke or Not to Smoke? Personal Responsibility and Health Care Costs
Better Than Placebo: A Tale of Two Treatments
Paying for Outcomes, Not Widgets
Investments and Reserves

healthHealth Care Access: Only a Small Slice of the Pie
 
Davis: This pie chart talks about what drives our health. I was reading Newsweek in the dentist's office yesterday. I think it was Newsweek, from December. What they were talking about was, "Look at all of these people who are dying because they don't have access to a doctor." I'm sure that there's truth to that -- and these are not our numbers. These are the Centers for Disease Control numbers,  the CDC. They are saying that access to care actually only affects about ten percent of our health status. Okay, so with all this going on -- this building, this campus, the [Providence] campus, all this going on -- and really, the effect is about ten percent. Now, if you really need it, you need it. I mean, it's serious. Genetics is about 20 percent, environment is about 20 percent, and lifestyle choices is about 50 percent of what determines how healthy you are. Okay? So, you know, first-year medical students, when you're thinking about that, 50 percent of what drives health status is personal choice. So, how do you affect that, how do you affect that in the medical model that we have today? Back to topics list
 
problemThe Problem with Health Insurance Reform
 
So, let's move to health insurance reform. Let's stop for a moment to reflect on the points that I hope that I have made with you so far. One is that, the real issue here is the cost of claims. That is the real issue. If we are not careful, we take what was insurance and we make it into something else. That may be okay. That may be what we want to do as a nation, but we need to be clear about what it is we are doing, so let's go through this. We -- Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska -- support many elements of reform. We believe that we need to figure out, as a country, a couple of things. We need to figure out how to get everyone covered. We need to do that in a way though, that doesn't have unintended consequences that make the system break for the 85 percent of the people who are currently covered under it.
 
We know that in Alaska, because we've just went through it, that the existing law provides for access. So access is not the issue, the issue is affordability. How do we get at that? We'll talk about that in a minute. Our concern with the Senate bill and the House bill -- but the Senate bill was where the real action was, and who knows whether this will rise from the ashes of Phoenix, or not? We are not predicting it, but the forces that were driving health care reform remain. We still have unsustainable rates of increased costs. We still have, pick your number, 45 million people uninsured, and we still need to do something about that.
 
We were concerned about the Senate bill because we were convinced, or our actuaries were convinced, that it would add significant cost. And if our issue is already cost, adding additional cost is not what we were trying to accomplish as a society. Why would it do that? Well, one of the first ways it would add cost is that there were minimum benefits that were called out in the Senate bill. It was bronze, and silver, and gold, I think were what they called them. The least rich of those plans, the bronze plan, is significantly more expensive than what people are currently buying in the Alaska market. So simply going from where people are now, to the least rich plan that would be available, would have a significant impact on premiums.

" ... if you're my 25-year-old third-year medical student son, and you are looking at this, and your premium now becomes $700 a month or you have a $700 a year tax penalty, which one are you going to choose?"

And somewhere, depending on what plan you were on, it could be as high as 160 percent. I think [that] was the number that Senator Murkowski was quoted in one of her editorials. So that's not inconsequential. If you are paying $100 today, and you have to move to a minimum plan, it may cost you $260 tomorrow. That's not inconsequential. Also, we believe that there was a mandate to buy coverage, and there's a lot of controversy around it. Some people are saying, "It's unconstitutional to make me buy coverage!" and other people are saying, "You have to buy coverage!"
 
Here's the deal though. If you want to allow anyone who has a pre-existing condition to come in and buy coverage, then you have to have all of the people who don't have a pre-existing condition also come in and buy coverage. Otherwise, you don't have a pool to insure those and you've now broken the rules of insurance. You've taken on uninsurable event -- someone who is already sick -- brought it into the pool, with no additional revenue to pay for those claims. The mandates, even though there was a mandate, they started to become very weak. I believe it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $700 a year, was the tax penalty, potentially, you would pay for not buying coverage.
 
Well, if you're my 25-year-old third-year medical student son, and you are looking at this, and your premium now becomes $700 a month or you have a $700 a year tax penalty, which one are you going to choose? If the "Bank of Dad" won't pay for it, you're going to choose, probably, the $700 year tax penalty. That was our concern, that you have taken away the pre-existing condition exclusion. The quid pro quo has to be a mandate to bring people in and the mandate wasn't there.
 
In the early 90s in Washington state, in May of 1993, they passed health care reform legislation that did exactly that. They contemplated a mandate, but the first thing, the easiest thing to implement was the removal of the pre-existing condition exclusion. So that went away, and the state never figured out how to do the mandate. What happened was, in a very short period of time, premiums for the individuals who were currently covered doubled and quadrupled. People who had had insurance previously, dropped out of the market because now they couldn't afford it. People with pre-existing conditions came into the market, which is what drove the premiums up, and within a couple of years, you couldn't buy an individual policy in Washington because no one would sell it to you. Everyone had exited the market because they simply couldn't afford it. It almost took what was then Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska out. I mean, almost bankrupted the company in a very short period of time. So, the consequences of these decisions are fairly significant. I will just illustrate it with a story.
 
There was a letter, a very wonderful letter, heartfelt, written from one of our members to our board of directors during this time. She said, "I want to thank you so much for the coverage while I was pregnant, and for the care for my child who has medical issues after he [or she] was born. It was just awesome, you know, thank you so much, you are all so great. And, oh by the way, I can't afford to keep your coverage, so I'm dropping it. But if I ever get pregnant again, I'll be sure and buy another plan from you."
 
That's rational economic behavior. "I have a three month pre-existing condition exclusion. I'm two months pregnant. I've got seven months to go here, so I'm going to buy a policy, use it, when I'm done I'm going to drop it, and if I get pregnant again I'll buy another one." Rational economic behavior, not insurable, and not sustainable. Back to topics list
 
taxesTaxes and Rates: Who Pays with National Health Reform?
 
New insurance taxes: half of the trillion dollar bill that was attributed to the Senate bill, over ten years, was going to be paid for through new taxes. Taxes on health insurance, primarily, and as we talked about with the high-risk pool assessment, what happens to those taxes? We don't have a huge pile of money to pay taxes. We have members who pay premiums, and if there's taxes, then those taxes get added to the premiums. So these taxes would, in fact, drive up rates. There also was what were called "Cadillac Plan Taxes." So, for plans that were rich benefits over a certain threshold, there was an excise tax, I believe it was 45 percent of the benefit over that threshold. Well, in a place like Alaska, where costs are really high, 50 percent higher than Washington on average, then that can become a real problem -- or if you are a public employer, or if you are a union employer, the big brouhaha about the unions getting special dispensation for that.
 
And finally, the Senate bill would have changed the way carriers could rate groups and individuals. What we have today is a situation where, if you go to Geico and you want to buy automobile insurance, they look at your risk. What's your driving record? How old are you? You're not a twenty-something boy, right? You are older than that -- are you married? They assess the risk, and if they think you are a better risk they give you a better rate. If you are a twenty-something boy, you get a really high rate.

"The real problem is not access. The real problem is affordability, .... we have tinkered with the things that make insurance work as a financing mechanism, ... we end up with is rates that are much higher than we had before ... an unintended consequence ..."

Same thing with health insurance. When you come, the actuaries can predict for a population what their risk for a particular person is. Those who are expected to be lower risk get lower rates, and those that are expected to be higher risk get higher rates. That's the way insurance works. Well, what the Senate bill contemplated was something called "adjusted community rating," which took this range of rates and squished them together around the mean, around the average, under the the belief that everyone should pay the same. Why should sick or older people pay more than younger, healthier people?
 
We're all going to pay the same. It's an egalitarian approach. Well, that's great unless you are one of these people who were paying the lower rate before, and now you find your rates significantly increased because of the effective date of this law. As we looked at our plans, some of our members would have seen 200 to 400 percent increase is in their rates, because of the effect of adjusted community rating. So you add all that up and you say, "What we are trying to do is get people access, right? That's what we're trying to accomplish. Get people insured."
 
The real problem is not access. The real problem is affordability, and now, because we have tinkered with the things that make insurance work as a financing mechanism, in fact, what we end up with is rates that are much higher than we had before -- with an unintended consequence, we believe. And not alone in this, the Society for Actuaries believe the same thing, that it would've ended up adding significant costs.
 
Audience Member: I know in Massachusetts, they had a mandate as well, and I remember that being pretty controversial in terms of how they were pricing it. How much more substantial was that, because they accomplished a 98 percent insurance rate, and what kind of bubble are we looking for to make sure everyone [garbled].
 
Davis: I'm not an expert in Massachusetts. I know a little bit about it. First of all, they started with a very low rate of uninsured. I think it was somewhere, four to six percent of the population was uninsured. They've signed a bunch of people up, but the people that signed up were people whose premiums were subsidized, so they had an income level that was low enough that they qualified for subsidies. They could buy care now, and someone else was paying for it. I know the results for Blue Cross of Massachusetts is they lost somewhere in the neighborhood of $70 million on that block of business in the last year because of the other changes that went along with it. So, are more people covered? Yes. Is it way more expensive than the state expected in terms of subsidies? Yes. And has it had this impact on overall rates that was hoped would not happen, but did? And that answer is "yes" there, too. So, Massachusetts is a mixed bag and overall, I think it is an unsustainable situation.
 
If the current system is financially unsustainable -- and I just talked a lot about why what was being proposed wouldn't work -- if you're so smart, what would you do? That would be a legitimate question for you all to be asking right now. I don't have all of the answers. Nobody does, but I can tell you some things that we believe are really important and where we should concentrate because they get to the cost issue and that, as we've seen is, as I hope I've demonstrated to you, is the real crux of the matter. Back to topics list
 
smokeTo Smoke or Not to Smoke? Personal Responsibility and Health Care Costs
 
So the first thing that we are emphasizing is personal responsibility. And this isn't "everyone become a triathlete." This is, be the best you can be where you are, and get no worse. Don't go farther down the road towards ill health, but do what you can to either stay where you are or get better. The reason that I'm saying that is important, because this is personal responsibility. Half of health status is personal responsibility. And where do we spend our money? We spend our money on chronic disease, on cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Those are the big three in consuming most of the dollars. Particularly diabetes and heart disease are largely driven by lifestyle, although cancer is as well. We still have, what is it, 30 percent of adults, still smoking?
 
So, if you want to impact costs, as much as we don't like it, because we have to look in the mirror and say, "Oh wait, this isn't about those evil insurers, well it is about them, but it's really about me, too." So, I've got to look in the mirror and say, "What is it that I'm doing? Am I going to the gym, or am I not going to the gym? Am I grabbing that bag of chips or am I not?" I have to ask those questions.

"Half of health status is personal responsibility. And where do we spend our money? We spend our money on chronic disease, on cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. ... We still have, what is it, 30 percent of adults, still smoking?"

We are working with our large groups. Jeff [Ranf] has a client that he represents, the Foraker group, who has been very innovative in this area in working with the employers who are members of Foraker to say, "This is important, and we are going to give you the tools to do this, but you have to do this. If you want to be part of this group, you've got to come along on this journey." Why is that? Because it makes a difference. There are employers who have worked hard in this who can say, "For the last ten years, our costs haven't gone up." Wow, really? Haven't gone up? Okay, that takes something that's financially unsustainable and makes it sustainable. Back to topics list
 
betterBetter Than Placebo: A Tale of Two Treatments
 
The next is to effectiveness research. If we all started a drug company and come up with some awesome new medication, the standard that we have to achieve for that new medication to be released on the market, is it has to not kill you. It has to be safe, and it has to be better than placebo. Wow, there's a standard to aspire to! Better than placebo. So, if we already have a drug that does a great job of treating something, and now we have another drug that costs ten times as much that maybe is equally effective, maybe not as effective but costs ten times as much, what do we do with that? [It has to] be better than placebo, and we throw it on the market and we put the ads in magazines and we tell you, "Ask your doctor. You've got to have this!"
 
Audience Member: You advertise at the Superbowl.
 
Davis: You advertise at the Superbowl. If you don't have this medication, you are not cool. If you're taking the old one, oh man, you are so yesterday. So we need effectiveness research and some of this was in the Senate bill but this was controversial, too. If we come up with a new medical device, same thing. There's nothing that says, "Is this better than what we had before?" And this is a really tough one.

I'm dealing with a situation now. It actually happens to be a friend of mine, a member, who's got cancer. It's a terrible situation. There are alternative treatments for his cancer. The literature says, the research, the peer-reviewed journals, the best science we have, says that these two treatments that are being compared are equal -- side effects, effectiveness, they are equal. This one costs 5 to 20 times more than this one. He's convinced this is the one he needs. So what would you do with that? My clients are looking at this every day saying, "Why are my costs going up so much? What are you going to do about that? And oh, by the way, I want you to pay for this, I don't care if it costs 20 times as much." That's the dilemma. That's why we are the people people love to hate, because they want their costs to be lower but they want everything, and you can't have both of those.
 
This is an area where we as a country are really going to struggle, and I don't know what the answers are. I don't know what the answers are, but we need to start looking at these things and trying to come up with where we think we can have an effect. We need to pay for outcomes. Back to topics list
 
payingPaying for Outcomes, Not Widgets
 
[Addressing a group of medical students attending the presentation] Medical students, chances are what you are going to be paid for is the number of widgets, the number of things you do, is what you're going to be paid for, and not for the health outcomes that you achieve. That's in today's world. We need to switch that around. I don't get paid for the number of talks I give. I get paid for the bottom line of results that I produce, and we need to figure out how to do that in medicine, and there are experiments around that now. We need to continue to drive down that road. We need increased efficiency.
 
Audience Member: I agree with that, but I wonder how you can level the playing field for patients with pre-existing conditions, and for doctors who work with patient populations who are sicker and they are not going to have good outcomes and it's definitely not the doctor's fault.
 
Davis: That's part of the complexity, because it's much easier just to pay for widgets. It's much easier to do that, but we are working with a number of groups in Alaska and in Washington, and creating pilots that try to address those issues. We are doing it with the providers because this is three words on a page, but it is a fundamental shift in how we think about this. Do you start to say, "We're going to pay you to take care of this diabetic. What we are looking for is them to be stable." Or maybe it is for their lab results to improve, or maybe it's the emergency room visits to go down because now they are being treated by you instead of in the emergency room. It's more complicated, but it gets us to the right thing. It gets us to paying for what we really want.
 
Audience Member: I've read that what a lot of countries are doing to address that is, whereas one case would be a single procedure, rather extending that to the treatment for a certain illness, and then the value that is associated with that rather than the cost that's associated with that, and so it's not just an individual procedure, it's a full-on treatment.
 
Davis: There are lots of examples of that, and I've been around this business a long time. I remember in 1984, when Medicare came out with DRGs, Diagnosis-related Groups, in 1984, and it was the big new thing. "We are going to pay hospitals based on cases, rather than the number of days, or the widgets that went into it." An amazing thing happened. Hospitals emptied out. All the hospitals were like, "Holy smokes, now what do we do?" We bought MRIs.
 
There are examples of that. There's nothing new under the sun, but people are coming back around to say there are other ways. Can you do it with a diabetic over a year, instead of just a treatment episode? Those sorts of things.

Audience Member: That really is the question of the whole debate around managed care. Because it goes to personal responsibility. To how does someone else manage your care and change your behavior? Because the system we have doesn't do that, in the broader sense. Insurance does not do it.
 
Davis: No, insurance is a financing mechanism, is all it is. We've inherited this mantle of, "Okay, you've got to fix it." Wait a second, what about you guys? I want you to fix it, but it is complicated, and it is going to take all of us.

"I'm just a pass-through guy. I'm just a financing guy. We're just a bank, alright? It's about health costs."
 
Audience Member: Is the cost of the chronic disease, personal choice, is that 70 percent of the total cost of health care?
 
Davis: Chronic disease is about 70 percent total cost. It's estimated that personal lifestyle choice is somewhere between 25 to 30 percent of the total, that we could take about 25 to 30 percent out by personal lifestyle choices. It's estimated that there's about another 30 percent that's around, if you could just take the areas of the country that are most efficient and effective in treating a certain thing, and kind of spread that knowledge. It's effectiveness research. There's another 30 percent or so there. What we are really talking about is bringing down the rate of increase, but the dilemma here is that health costs drive health insurance costs, because really it's about health costs, not about health insurance.

I'm just a pass-through guy. I'm just a financing guy. We're just a bank, alright? It's about health costs. Health costs are growing about six percent a year overall, and the economy is growing at about four percent overall. Okay, we've got a two percent problem and that doesn't sound like much, but here is the deal: If you don't address that by 2045, the entire federal budget goes to debt and Medicare.
 
The unfunded liability for Medicare at current rate of increase is $54 trillion. The entire household wealth of the United States -- this is pre-meltdown of last year, maybe it's back -- the entire household wealth of the United States is $45 trillion. If you owe $54 trillion and you only have $45 trillion, you've got a problem. This current system is financially unsustainable. This is real stuff, so I applaud the people who are trying to fix it.
 
To the last point, which is we all need to work for effective reform. For it to be effective, and for us not to have unintended consequences, we have to be really, brutally honest with ourselves about what we are trying to accomplish, and how we are trying to accomplish it, and what the economics of that and the financing implications of that are, and how are we going to pay for it. We are going to have to deal with some really tough questions in the process.
 
Audience Member: Jeff, where are the increases in health care costs coming from now? I know, we keep looking at the pharmaceutical costs. Last year, it was negative inflation, brand-name drugs went up nine percent, and specialty drugs went up ten percent, but that's 22 percent of the cost that you get to pay for. But, who else is going up, typically?
 
Davis: Thank you for asking. The primary costs drivers are people are using more health care services. And why are they doing that? Well, we are getting older. Hate that part. We are also getting heavier, that's not good.  We also have more services to use, like the MRI, and the next thing is a major driver of what we call "intensity." Aging is a part of that. Lifestyle choices, again, is a part of that, and there are more new and expensive facilities, technologies, and procedures to cover, and providers rational behavior. Where we are seeing costs go up, to your question, is pharmacy is one place. Utilization is another. We are continuing to see increases on the professional and facility side, but not out of line of what you would expect in terms of cost per unit, but significant changes in the intensity, particularly on the inpatient side. If you look year over year, you are seeing a different patient and service mix, year over year, than we saw before, and a big part of that is technology-driven, and consumer demand-driven. Back to topics list
 
investmentsInvestments and Reserves
 
Audience Member: Wouldn't it also be true that a big chunk of revenue for health insurance companies comes from their investments, so all other things being equal, in years when the investments are bad, the premiums rise, and in years when investments are good, maybe the premiums won't rise so much?
 
Davis: That would be a reasonable hypothesis. I can't speak for all carriers, but I can speak for us and tell you how that works.  Not-for-profit, taxable, money goes back in the business to build the business and build reserves. We have to have significant reserves. Think swine flu, okay? If the swine flu really rolled out the way people thought, we need to be able to pay for that or whatever the next pandemic is. We have these reserves and they're invested, conservatively invested, but over 2009, like everybody else, the value of our reserves shrunk. As the value of our reserves shrunk, we didn't say, "Oh we need to make more money to build those reserves back up." It was part of the cushion that we lost.
 
So we had less reserve versus the risk then we had before. As the markets come back, that's been built back. Now if that market hadn't come back, to your hypothesis, our reserves are measured as a percentage of risk-based capital. If we have a dollar in risk, we need at least a dollar of reserve -- well, actually you need a lot more than a dollar of reserve. We need about seven dollars in reserve to be able to weather exactly what you described. Our risk-based capital is about 700 percent. It went from seven to down and around the sixes, and now it's back up in the sevens. If it continued to go down, maybe getting around 400 percent, then we probably would have had to respond as you've suggested. In the short run, I don't think that's an effect that you would see, and it would probably be a fairly small effect around the margin, may be one to two percent given the operating income percentages that I gave you earlier.
 
Audience Member: Jeff, this might be an unfair question, to kind of go along with what [the previous audience member] said. Are there companies that have that, on the public perception, would have that issue where they are actually raising, or lowering premiums as determined by, what [the previous audience member] just asked, taking Premera out of it?
 
Davis: I don't know, Jeff, I can just speculate. Again, let's look at the math. So let's say you are a for-profit carrier, and your target operating income is six percent, okay? And you have a hit on your reserves, and you need to build it. So let's say, wow, we are going to drive our operating income up by ten percent. So we are going to go from six to six point six. So that's what I say, it be a point or two around the margin. I'm going to go from six to eight. So there may be an effect, but it's going to be one or two percent on the premium, not 10, or 20, or 30 percent or anything like that. As I look at the math, that's what I would come up with. Back to topics list

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Take Alaska Health Policy Class in Fall 2010 ... In Your Jammies!

Early warning! AHPR Editor Lawrence Weiss will be teaching HS 690 Alaska Health Policy in Fall 2010, a class offered by the Master of Public Health Program at UAA. This course is also open to persons who are not in the MPH program with permission of the department. It will be entirely online so you can do most of it at 2 a.m. in your jammies if you like.

The focus will be on health-related public policy in Alaska. The educational style will be fast-moving, highly interactive, and intellectually challenging. The curriculum will explore what health policy is, what impact it has on day-to-day practical operation of health care, how it is created, who influences it, and how national policies may affect health policy in Alaska.

Teleconferenced guest speakers will include some or all of the following: state legislators, lobbyists, program administrators, and advocates. Main source materials will include selections from approximately 1,800 pages of back issues of Alaska Health Policy Review, and a variety of relevant websites and other online resources. Students will conduct a high priority health policy analysis with practical application in Alaska, and will have the opportunity to have it reviewed for possible publication in Alaska Health Policy Review.

Sound interesting? Contact Katie Frost, [email protected], administrative assistant in the UAA Department of Health Sciences. Ask her to put you on the "interested" list for HS 690 Alaska Health Policy so you can learn more about it and have the opportunity to sign up later this year. This class will be interesting, fun, and a great opportunity to network with like-minded health policy wonks!

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Health Policy Calendar

This calendar of health policy-related meetings is current as of March 11 at 8:00AM. Please visit the Alaska State Legislature's list of committee hearings for the most current listings, as they are subject to change.

Friday, March 12, 2010, 3:15 PM
What: House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee
Where: Barnes 124, Juneau
Other Information: Confirmation Hearings for multiple labor boards in Alaska, including the Board of Pharmacy; Board of Marital and Family Therapy; Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives; Board of Nursing; Board of Examiners in Optometry; Board of Pharmacy; State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board; Board of Professional Counselors; and Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners; Teleconferenced

Friday, March 12, 2010 3:30 PM MEETING CANCELED
What: Senate Health and Social Services Finance Subcommittee
Where: Beltz 105 (TS Building), Juneau
Other Information: Pre-Closeout and Question/Answer Session; Testimony by invitation only; Teleconferenced

Saturday, March 13, 2010, 10:00 AM
What: House Anchorage Committee
Where: Assembly Chambers in the Z.J. Loussac Library, Anchorage
Other Information: Areawide Issues; Public Testimony

March 14-20, 2010
What: Cover the Uninsured Week
Other Information: For more information, go to www.CoverTheUninsured.org

Monday, March 15, 2010, 1:00 PM
What: House Judiciary Standing Committee
Where: Capital 120, Juneau
Other Information: HB 71 Advance Health Care Directives Registry; Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled; Teleconferenced

Monday, March 15, 2010, 1:30 PM
What: Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee
Where: Butrovich 205, Juneau
Other Information: SB 250 Ins. Coverage: Autism Spectrum Disorder; SCR 13 Supporting Senior Caregivers; Other Bills Scheduled; Teleconferenced

Monday, March 15, 2010, 3:15 PM
What: House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee
Where: Barnes 124, Juneau
Other Information: HB 376 Extend Bd of Psychologist and Psych. Assoc.; Other Bills Scheduled; Teleconferenced

Monday, March 15, 2010, 6:30-8:00 PM
What: Ovaries & Testes: How Chemicals Affect Reproductive Health & More!
Where: Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center (Corner of 7th Ave and C Street)
Other Information: Sponsored by the Alaska Community Action on Toxics and the Alliance for Reproductive Justice, who are presenting a lecture by Dr. Sarah Janssen, a physician and scientist with expertise in chemicals that mimic hormones and interfere with fertility, reproduction and development of the brain. For more information, please contact ACAT at 222-7714 or [email protected].

Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 1:30 PM
What: Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee
Where: Butrovich 205, Juneau
Other Information: SB 172 Alaska Health Care Commission; Other Bills Scheduled; Teleconferenced

Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 3:00 PM
What: Senate Health and Social Services Finance Subcommittee
Where: Beltz 105 (TS Building) Juneau
Other Information: Budget Closeout, Testimony by invitation only; Teleconferenced

Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 4:00 PM
What: Joint House and Senate University Boosters Committee
Where: House Finance 519, Juneau
Other Information: Business Leaders to Legislature: We Need to Grow Our Own Alaska Workforce

March 18-19, 2010
What: 2010 Women's Summit, "Interpersonal Violence in Alaska: Why Alaska Ranks at the Top and Strategies for Success.
Where: Juneau
Other Information: Sessions at the Summit include presentations on abuse during pregnancy and violence in reproductive settings, sex trafficking and sexual violence in Alaska, new ways to educate teenagers about interpersonal violence, legislative visits, a networking lunch with legislative staff lunch and more. For more information on the Summit, or to reserve a seat at the luncheon, please call 334.3055 or email [email protected].

April 28-30, 2010

What: The 4th Biennial Alaska Rural Health Conference
Where: Sheraton Anchorage Hotel
Other Information: "Planning for the Decade Ahead;" Access additional information and register here.

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Bill Watch: Bills on the Move

It was quite a busy week for health policy bills. Many committees are starting to wrap up and hold their pre-closeout sessions, so some of the bills that had been stalled since the first session are now being heard and making some progress. One example is Senator Davis' bill relating to Medicaid and Health Insurance for individuals during cancer trials. It had been dormant this session until just last week, when it was moved quickly through the Senate, and is now making its way through the House. Several health policy bills were heard in committees, and moved on to be heard in subsequent committee hearings. There are many bills scheduled for hearings next week, so be sure to check the Health Policy calendar for specific dates and times.

SB 10 Medicaid/Ins for Cancer Clinical Trials was read for the second and third time on the Senate floor, passed unanimously, and transmitted to the House on March 8; it was then read for the first time on the House floor, and referred to (H) HSS on March 10.
 
SB 258 Dental Care Insurance was heard and held in (S) L&C on March 2. SB 263 Extend Board of Professional Counselors was heard in (S) L&C on March 11. HJR 46 Supporting Denali Commission was heard and moved out of (S) CRA on March 9, and referred to (S) RLS on March 10. HB 361 CPR Training for 911 Dispatchers was heard and moved out of (H) CRA on March 9, and referred to (H) HSS on March 10. SB 168 Trauma Care Centers/Fund was heard in (S) FIN on March 10.

HB 71 Advance Health Care Directives Registry is scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD on March 15. SB 250 Ins. Coverage: Autism Spectrum Disorder and SCR 13 Supporting Senior Caregivers are scheduled to be heard in (S) HSS on March 15. HB 376 Extend Bd of Psychologist and Psych. Assoc. is scheduled to be heard in (H) L&C on March 15.

SB 172 Alaska Health Care Commission was heard and held in (S) HSS on March 10, and is scheduled to be heard again in (S) HSS on March 17. HB 302 Mental Health Budget was moved from (H) RLS to (H) Calendar on March 10. HB 354 AK Capstone Avionics Revolving Loan Fund was heard and moved out of (H) L&C on March 8, and referred to (H) TRA on March 10.

The following is a list of all health-related bills recently proposed or sitting in various legislative committees. For a description of the process of selecting and tracking health policy bills, as well as the full names of committees and their abbreviations, refer to the end of the Bill Watch section.
 
Bill information is current as of March 11 at 8:00 AM.

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Bill Watch: Drugs

HB 17 Prohibit Tobacco Use Until Age 21
Sponsor: Rep. Crawford
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) L&C, then (H) FIN, 01/20/09
Description: This bill requests to change the legal age from 19 to 21 for the purchase, sale, exchange, and possession of tobacco. Specifically, it requests that any statute listing the legal age as 19 for the above activities be amended to the age of 21.
 
HB 277 Certify Emergency Use of Epinephrine
Sponsor: Rep. Peggy Wilson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/19/10
Description:  This bill proposes the addition of a state program in the Department of Health and Social Services that would provide prescriptions to eligible individuals for emergency use of epinephrine.
 
HB 283 Purchase/Consumption of Alcohol
Sponsor: Rep. Crawford
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (H) JUD, amended, and moved out of committee, 3/01/10, referred to (H) FIN, 03/04/10
Description: This bill amends a previous statute concerning the legalities of purchasing, soliciting, or drinking alcohol among underage individuals and those with alcohol-related felonies. Specifically, it clarifies the conditions under which a person would be committing an alcohol-related crime.
 
HB 284 Pioneer Home Rx Drug Benefit
Sponsor: Rep. Gara
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS at 3:00 PM, 03/09/10
Description: This bill proposes a law requiring the Department of Health and Social Services to accept federal prescription drug benefits or to provide comparable benefits for residents of the Alaska Pioneers' Home.

HB 327 Controlled Substances/Dextromethorphan
Sponsor: Rep. Johansen
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD at 1:00 PM, 03/10/10
Description: This bill is related to SB 52 Salvia Divinorum (introduced during last year's session), in that it proposes to add the substance to an existing list of controlled substances.

SB 52 Salvia Divinorum As a Controlled Substance
Sponsor: Sen. Therriault
Committee(s) and date of last action: 03/18/09 (S) Referred to Finance
Description: Salvia divinorum and Salvinorin A are compounds of a plant used for medicinal purposes and with hallucinogenic properties. There has been an increase in its use, and has the potential for misuse and abuse. This bill requests that it be listed as a controlled substance.
 
SB 197 Emergency Contraceptives
Sponsor: Sen. Dyson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (S) HSS, 01/19/10
Description: This bill proposes to allow pharmacists in Alaska the "right to refuse to refer, recommend, or dispense emergency contraceptives." In addition, it would provide immunity for pharmacists from any civil liability resulting from such a refusal.
 
SB 215 Pioneer Home Rx Drug Benefit
Sponsors: Senators Wielechowski, Olson, Kookesh, Ellis, and Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (S) FIN, 02/10/10
Description: This is the Senate companion bill to HB 284.

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Bill Watch: Health Professional Workforce and Health Education

HB 28 Clinical Laboratory Science Professionals
Sponsor: Rep. Crawford
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) L&C, then (H) FIN, 01/20/09
Description: This bill outlines the definitions related to "clinical laboratory scientist," including the allowable duties of a phlebotomist under the supervision of certain medical professionals, and the criteria for licensure and removal of license for laboratory scientists. It also establishes the composition and duties of a volunteer advisory board for clinical laboratory science professionals, to be effective October 1, 2009.
 
HB 50 Limit Overtime for Registered Nurses
Sponsors: Representatives Wilson, Gara, Tuck, Petersen, Lynn, Seaton, Gatto, Cissna, Munoz, Gardner, Ramras
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) FIN, 04/15/09
Description: This bill cites the frequent overtime work schedules among nursing professionals as contributors to employee turnover and inadequate health care. It requests that a previous statute be amended to include limitations related to overtime among nursing schedules. These limitations include that no nursing professional is to work more than 80 hours during a 14-day period, and that time between each shift should be no less than 10 hours. Other amendments incorporate the availability of an anonymous complaint system in the workplace of nurses, and mandatory adoption of these provisions by all entities employing nursing professionals.
 
HB 51 Limit Overtime for Registered Nurses
Sponsor: Rep. Gardner
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) HSS, then to (H) FIN, 01/20/09
Description: This bill is identical to HB 50.
 
HB 58 Educ Loan Repayment Program
Sponsors: Representatives Thomas, Wilson, Millett, Harris
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) FIN, 04/01/09
Description: This bill requests that general funds be set aside for incentive use to recruit individuals in occupations facing a shortage. Dentists and licensed practical nurses are among the occupations listed that would have access to these funds and incentive programs. Allocation of these funds is grouped by geographical location, with more funding available to professionals who are employed in rural areas of the state. A minimum of one year of employment is required for eligibility, and the amount of funding increases incrementally with the number of years of employment.
 
HB 110 Psychologists' Licensing & Practice
Sponsor: Rep. Herron, by request of the Alaska Psychological Association
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read for the first time in the Senate and referred to (S) EDC, 02/26/10
Description: The sponsor states that "Under current law, AS 08.86.180(b) [see section 2] exempts from licensure employees of a "governmental unit, educational institution or private agency" who may practice some aspect of the psychology profession as a condition of employment. Both the Association and the Board of Psychologist and Psychological Examiners believe this is too broad of an exemption. HB 110 would restrict the exemption to school district personnel under appropriate supervision of onsite activities and federal employees. Other changes in the bill are removal of a time limit for licensure reexamination, and the expansion of the definition of the practice of psychology to include unpaid services." The bill was amended on January 29, to remove a section of the original bill that proposed to amend the definition of "to practice psychology."

HB 204 Postsecondary Medical Educ. Prog.
Sponsor: Rep. Dahlstrom
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) FIN, 04/03/09
Description: This bill proposes to increase the number of medical students enrolled in the University of Washington's Medical School program, WWAMI. Specifically, the bill proposes an increase from 20 to 24 medical students.

HB 223 Training for Psychiatric Treatment Staff
Sponsor: Dept. of Health and Social Services
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) HSS, 04/08/09
Description: This bill proposes detailed specifications for the educational and experiential requirements for caregivers in a psychiatric treatment setting, as well as the educational experience required by supervisors of psychiatric treatment staff.
 
HB 235 Prof Student Exchange Loan Forgiveness
Sponsors: Rep. Munoz
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and moved out of (H) EDC, and referred to (H) FIN, 02/08/10
Description: This bill provides loans and interest forgiveness for those loans to no fewer than five individuals seeking professional degrees in dentistry, optometry, and pharmacy. It also requires that eligible recipients be state residents, and increased incentives are provided to those who deliver post-graduate services in areas of need.
 
HB 282 Naturopaths
Sponsor: Rep. Munoz
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) L&C, 03/10/10
Description: This bill is "An Act relating to naturopaths and to the practice of naturopathy; establishing an Alaska Naturopathic Medical Board; authorizing medical assistance program coverage of naturopathic services; amending the definition of 'practice of medicine'; and providing for an effective date."

HB 335 Physician Shortages: Grants
Sponsor: Rep. Gara and others
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (H) HSS, 02/10/10
Description: This bill is also known as the "Medicare and Primary Care Access Act," and it proposes the establishment of state-funded grants for the specific use of providing "incentives by expanding the availability of nonprofit primary care clinics when the clinics can provide cost-effective help to solve medical access problems."
 
SB 8 Psychologist's Licensing and Practice
Sponsor: Sen. Hoffman
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) EDC, then (S) L&C, 01/20/09
Description: This bill proposes an amendment to a previous statute regarding the ability of a psychological professional to take a psychological associate examination for licensure. Specifically, it adds that an individual is ineligible for examination if they failed an exam within the last six months and that this amendment is not applicable to a psychologist employed in a school district or a psychologist employed by the U.S. government while in the discharge of that employee's service.
 
SB 12 Limit Overtime for Registered Nurses
Sponsor: Sen. Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) FIN, 04/15/09
Description: Identical to HB 50, this bill cites the frequent overtime work schedules among nursing professionals as contributors to employee turnover and inadequate health care. It requests that a previous statute be amended to include limitations related to overtime among nursing schedules. These limitations include that no nursing professional is to work more than 80 hours during a 14-day period, and that time between each shift should be no less than 10 hours. Other amendments incorporate the availability of an anonymous complaint system in the workplace of nurses, and mandatory adoption of these provisions by all entities employing nursing professionals.
 
SB 18 Postsecondary Medical and Other Educ  
Sponsors: Senators Wielecheowski, Thomas, Ellis
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) FIN, 03/16/09
Description: This bill proposes to raise the number of new students enrolled in medical education through the WWAMI program from 20 to 24 by 2010, and from 24 to 30 by 2012.
 
SB 70 Naturopaths
Sponsor: Sen. Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) L&C, (S) FIN, 04/01/09
Description: "An Act relating to naturopaths and to the practice of naturopathy; establishing an Alaska Naturopathic Medical Board; authorizing medical assistance program coverage of naturopathic services; and providing for an effective date."
 
SB 139 Incentives for Certain Medical Providers
Sponsors: Senators Olson, Wielechowski, Meyer, Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) FIN, 04/07/09
Description: "An Act establishing a loan repayment program and employment incentive program for certain health care professionals employed in the state; and providing for an effective date."

HB 392 Incentives for Certain Medical Providers
Sponsor: Rep. Herron
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (H) HSS, 02/23/10
Other Information: This is the House companion bill to SB 139.

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Bill Watch: Medical Assistance and Health Insurance

HB 30 Repeal Defined Contribution Plans
Sponsors: Representatives Harris, Hawker, and Munoz
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) L&C, 01/20/09
Description: This is the companion bill to SB 23, and is "An Act repealing the defined contribution retirement plans for teachers and for public employees; providing a defined benefit retirement plan for teachers and public employees; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date." From the sponsor: "By providing a retirement plan which is totally portable (such as a 401[k] or 457 plan), we risk employees leaving their positions for other opportunities. The result will be higher employee turnover, less loyalty from the employees, fewer experienced employees and educators, and a more transitory workforce. Per dollar of benefits paid, a defined contribution plan is more expensive than a defined benefit plan."
 
HB 61 Medical Assistance Coverage
Sponsors: Representatives Cissna and Gruenberg
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) HSS, then to (H) FIN, 01/20/09
Description: This bill requests many changes to medical assistance eligibility for Alaskans. Among the changes are 1) disabled persons: increasing the eligibility for those in a family whose income does not exceed 250% of the official poverty level for Alaska; 2) individuals under the age of 19: increasing the family income eligibility from 175% to 200% of the federal poverty level for Alaska; 3) pregnant women: increasing the family income eligibility from 175% to 200% of the federal poverty level for Alaska.
 
HB 62 Medical Assistance Eligibility/Premiums
Sponsors: Rep. Hawker
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) HSS, then to (H) FIN, 01/20/09
Description: This bill, also known as the "Denali Kid Care Accountability Act," amends a previous Alaska Statute on medical assistance eligibility requirements. Specifically, it adds sections requiring recipients of medical assistance in families whose income is between 175 and 250 of the federal poverty level to pay premiums, on a sliding scale, for medical assistance. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to set the premium at no less than 2% of the recipient's income, and establish a system of collecting premiums from recipients. This bill requests that these changes go into effect following the approved revisions and funding to make these changes.
 
HB 87 Med Benefits of Disabled Peace Officers
Sponsors: Representatives Millett, Dahlstrom, Gardner, Gara, Kerttula, Kawasaki
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) L&C, 01/26/09
Description: This bill proposes waiving payment of premiums for major medical insurance for disabled peace officers who have at least 20 years of credited service as peace officers of the public.
 
HB 118 Medical Assistance Eligibility
Sponsor: Rep. Gara
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, then to (H) FIN, 02/25/09
Description: "An Act expanding, and relating to advertising about, medical assistance coverage for eligible children and pregnant women; relating to the poverty guideline and cost sharing for certain recipients of medical assistance; having the short title of the 'No Child Left Uninsured Act'; and providing for an effective date."

HB 178 Payments to Physicians: Medicare/Probono
Sponsor: Rep. Gara
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) HSS, 03/12/09
Description: This bill proposes the following: "An Act providing for state incentive payments to physicians who provide qualified services to Medicare recipients and services to patients for which there is no charge to the patient; having the short title of the 'Doctors for Seniors Act'; and providing for an effective date." Thus, the bill proposes to create state incentive programs for physicians to increase the number of providers who will see new and existing Medicare patients, at no additional charge to the patient.
 
HB 187 Ins. Coverage: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sponsor: Rep. Petersen
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (H) HSS, 01/28/10
Description: "An Act requiring insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders, describing the method for establishing a treatment plan for those disorders, and defining the treatment required for those disorders; and providing for an effective date."

HB 292 Grants to Disaster Victims
Sponsor: Rules by Request of the Governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Moved to (H) FIN, 02/19/10
Description: This bill establishes the conditions upon which disaster relief funds are granted to individuals throughout Alaska. Specifically, it adds that when the president does not declare a major disaster, but the governor declares a disaster emergency in Alaska, the governor is allowed to issue grants to certain individuals affected by the disaster, not exceeding $5,000.

SB 216 Grants to Disaster Victims
Sponsor: Rules by Request of the Governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (S) FIN, 02/05/10
Description: This is the Senate companion bill to HB 292, and is identical.

HB 328 Traumatic Brain Injury: Program/Medicaid
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (H) HSS, 02/05/10
Description: "An Act establishing a traumatic or acquired brain injury program and registry within the Department of Health and Social Services; and relating to medical assistance coverage for traumatic or acquired brain injury services."

HB 207 Maximum Benefit from the Fishermen's Fund
Sponsor: Rep. Harris
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (H) RLS, 02/04/10
Description: From the sponsor: "The Alaska Fisherman's Fund was established 1951 to provide for the treatment and care of Alaska licensed commercial fishermen and crew who have been injured while fishing on shore or off shore in Alaska. The upper limit on claims in the fund has been $2,500 since 1959. If $2,500 in 1959 dollars was adjusted for the Consumer Price Index, it would be worth approximately $18,229.64 today. While the limitation in state law has remained unchanged, health care costs have steadily risen.

HB 207 updates the Alaska Fishermen's Fund limit to $10,000. This is intended to help ensure that Alaska's fishermen have better access to health care when injured while fishing. Updating the claim limit to $10,000 will bring this very worthwhile program back to providing a meaningful level of assistance as the payer of last resort for commercial fishermen and crew that sustain injuries or illness while fishing."

HB 309 Dental Care Insurance
Sponsor: Rep. Thomas
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS at 3:00 PM, 03/09/10
Description: "An Act prohibiting health care insurers that provide dental care coverage from setting a minimum age for receiving dental care coverage, allowing those insurers to set a maximum age for receiving dental care coverage as a dependent, and prohibiting those insurers from setting fees that a dentist may charge for dental services not covered under the insurer's policy."

SB 163 Maximum Benefit from the Fishermen's Fund
Sponsor: Sen. Paskvan
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (S) FIN, 02/23/10 and moved to (S) RLS on 02/24/10
Description: This is the Senate companion bill to HB 207, and is identical.
 
HB 259 Adult Public Assistance Eligibility
Sponsor: Rep. Keller
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) HSS, 02/25/10
Description: This bill is described as "an act relating to citizenship requirements and an alcohol impairment and drug testing program for applicants for and recipients of adult public assistance.
 
HB 260 Medicaid: Preventive Care/Disease Mgt.
Sponsor: Rep. Keller
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS at 3:00 PM, 03/11/10
Description: This bill adds an additional section to an established Alaska Statute on medical assistance services, and proposes that the following preventive care and disease management services be added to home waivers for eligible recipients: medication management; coordination with a primary care provider; use of evidence-based practice guidelines; patient education; provider collaboration; routine health and outcome assessments; and other preventive and disease management services identified by the department in regulation.
 
HB 265 Medicaid Coverage for Dentures
Sponsors: Representatives Gardner, Petersen, and Gara
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) HSS, 02/23/10
Description: This bill amends an existing medical assistance eligibility statute, stating that if a Medicaid recipient receives approval for partial or complete dentures, the amount awarded for payment should not exceed $1,150 for each recipient in a fiscal year. In addition, no additional restorative benefits would be given during a two-year period following the approval of payment for dentures.
 
SB 199 Medicaid Coverage for Dentures
Sponsor: Sen. Ellis
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read for the first time in the House, and referred to (H) HSS, then (H) FIN, 03/01/10
Description: This is the Senate companion bill, and is identical, to HB 265.
 
HB 270 Medicaid for Medical and Intermediate Care
Sponsor: Rep. Munoz
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/19/10, then (H) FIN
Description: This bill proposes to amend the eligibility requirements for a selected group of individuals who are not eligible for other types of medical assistance. Specifically, it raises the income eligibility threshold to 300 percent of the federal poverty level for individuals receiving care in a medical or intermediate care facility.
 
HB 286 Medicaid for Medical and Intermediate Care
Sponsor: Representatives Gara and Gruenberg
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/19/10
Description: Amending the eligibility threshold for medical assistance for persons in a medical or intermediate care facility.
 
HJR 35 Const Am: Health Care
Sponsor: Representatives Kelly, Keller, Peggy Wilson, and Gatto
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD at 1:00 PM, 03/11/10
Description: This resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska, that would prohibit the interference of any laws with an individual's right to purchase health care insurance from a privately owned company. Also, it would prevent the passage of laws that "compel a person to participate in a health care system."
 
HCR 9 Home Health Aides for Seniors
Sponsors: Representatives Cissna and Gruenberg
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (H) HSS, then to (H) FIN, 02/25/09
Description: This bill promotes the expansion of home health services to older Alaskans and adults with disabilities by requesting that the governor direct the Department of Health and Social Services to apply to the federal government for additional waivers under the home and community-based waiver program to better serve older Alaskans and adults with disabilities through a federally reimbursable service either as a separate service or as a service that may be combined with other waivers.
 
SB 10 Medicaid/Ins for Cancer Clinical Trials
Sponsor: Sen. Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read for the second and third time, and passed CSSB 10 unanimously, transmitted to the House, 03/08/10; Read for the first time on the House floor, and referred to (H) HSS, 03/10/10
Description: This bill requests that a health insurance company be required to provide coverage for any medical expenses incurred during the course of participation in an approved clinical trial.
 
SB 11 Dependent Health Insurance; Age Limit
Sponsor: Sen. Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: 03/20/09 Referred to (S) L&C, then (S) FIN
Description: This bill requests that among health insurance policies covering dependents of enrollees, the defined age for "dependent child" be raised from 23 to 26 years of age.
 
SB 13 Medical Assistance Eligibility
Sponsor: Sen. Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS at 3:00 PM, 03/09/10
Description: This bill requests that the family income eligibility requirements for medical assistance among children and pregnant women be raised from 175% to 200% of the federal poverty level, effective immediately.
 
SB 23 Repeal Defined Contrib Retirement Plans
Sponsor: Sen. Elton
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) FIN, 03/25/09
Description: "An Act repealing the defined contribution retirement plans for teachers and for public employees; providing a defined benefit retirement plan for teachers and public employees; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date." From the sponsor: SB 23 returns guaranteed pension and health care benefits to Alaska public employees. Analyses by actuaries and the state Division of Retirement and Benefits show that Alaska's defined benefit pension - paying a guaranteed monthly benefit plus health care - costs the same as the new defined contribution system but provides much better benefits. SB 23 repeals the laws putting public employees into risky individual savings account plans, and enrolls them in the least expensive pension plans, the current public employee tier III and teacher tier II.
 
SB 32 Medicaid: Home/Community Based Services
Sponsor: Sen. Ellis
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) FIN, 04/14/09
Description: This bill requests an amendment to a previous statute outlining medical assistance among health facilities, adding medical assistance eligibility for home and community-based services.
 
SB 38 Pharmacy Benefits Managers; Managed Care
Sponsor: Sen. Elton
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) L&C, then (H) FIN, 04/06/09
Read and referred to (S) HSS, 01/21/09
Description: This bill proposes to change language in a previous statute, amending "managed care entity" to "health care insurer."
 
SB 61 Mandatory Universal Health Insurance
Sponsors: Senators French and Ellis
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (S) L&C, then (S) FIN on 03/16/09
Description: This bill proposes the establishment of the Alaska Health Care Program (AKCP), a program given the task of ensuring that all Alaskans have access to affordable health care insurance covering all essential services. The AKCP will be monitored and managed by an Alaskan Health Care Board of 13 members, 12 of which are to be appointed by the governor. Similar to SB 160 (25th legislative session), this bill includes
  • A framework for personal choice: This bill facilitates a relationship between health insurance providers and individuals, and doesn't assume that a one size fits all solution will meet the health care needs of all Alaskans.
  • A unique voucher system: By pooling money from all stakeholders, a sliding scale voucher system will ensure that every Alaskan can take personal responsibility for acquiring health insurance coverage. The system will also make it easy for multiple entities to contribute towards a health plan for an individual.
  • A health care clearinghouse: The clearinghouse will disseminate information about quality health care products, assisting Alaskans who are utilizing vouchers under the Alaska health care plan.
  • The Alaska health care fund: This fund will receive contributions from individuals, businesses and government to ensure that all interested parties contribute to the health of Alaskans.
SB 65 Medicaid for Adult Dental Services
Sponsors: Senators Davis and Ellis
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) HSS, 01/21/09
Description: This bill is "An Act repealing the repeal of preventative and restorative adult dental services reimbursement under Medicaid; providing for an effective date by repealing the effective date of sec. 3, ch. 52, SLA 2006; and providing for an effective date."
 
SB 79 Med Benefits Disabled Peace Officers
Sponsors: Senators McGuire and Paskvan
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) FIN, 03/05/09
Description: This bill proposes waiving payment of premiums for major medical insurance for disabled peace officers who have at least 20 years of credited service as peace officers of the public.
 
SB 82 Medicaid for Adult Dental Services
Sponsors: Rules by request of the governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (S) HSS Finance, 02/04/09
Description: This bill is "An Act providing for an effective date by delaying the effective date of the change of coverage of adult dental services under Medicaid; and providing for an effective date."
 
SB 87 Medical Assistance Eligibility
Sponsor: Sen. Wielochowski
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) FIN, 02/11/09
Description: This bill proposes an additional eligibility category for Medicaid services. Specifically, it adds children, pregnant women, and other specified individuals in families with incomes between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, individuals in this income category would be required to pay a yearly premium for medical assistance. The premiums would be determined by a sliding scale based on annual income. The range for premiums would be set at no less than $240 per year and no more than $1200 per year.
 
SB 155 Medical Assist for Cognitive Disabilities
Sponsor: Sen. McGuire
Committee(s) and date of last action: 03/18/09 (S) Referred to (S) HSS, then to (S) FIN
Description: "The department shall establish in regulation a system for setting medical assistance reimbursement rates based on the functional level of care needed by an eligible recipient with a diagnosed cognitive disability, regardless of the recipient's need for medical or personal care support. The system must address eligible recipients' needs for appropriate assessment, rehabilitation, case management, ongoing support and respite or companion services, regardless of whether the services are provided in a health care facility or under a home and community-based waiver granted under 13 AS 47.07.045."

SB 238 Medicaid for Medical and Intermediate Care
Sponsor: Sen. Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (S) FIN, 02/03/10
Description: This is the companion bill to HB 286, which amends the eligibility threshold for individuals in certain health care facilities.

SB 250 Ins. Coverage: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sponsor: Health and Social Services
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (S) HSS at 1:30 PM, 03/15/10
Description: "An Act requiring insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders, describing the method for establishing a treatment plan for those disorders, and defining the treatment required for those disorders; and providing for an effective date."

SB 258 Dental Care Insurance
Sponsor: Sen. Huggins
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) L&C, 03/02/10
Description: "An Act prohibiting health care insurers that provide dental care coverage from setting a minimum age for receiving dental care coverage, allowing those insurers to set a maximum age for receiving dental care coverage as a dependent, and prohibiting those insurers from setting fees that a dentist may charge for dental services not covered under the insurer's policy."

SB 296 Long-Term Care Insurance
Sponsor: Sen. McGuire
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (S) L&C, 02/24/10
Other Information: This bill proposes to amend the existing regulations regarding long-term care insurance, to include more clear and specific language about the insured's policy and benefits. In addition, the bill proposes to implement and administer a long-term care insurance premium assistance program, that would provide assistance to an individual who obtains long-term care insurance from an insurer in the private market.

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Bill Watch: Mental Health

HB 52 Post-Trial Juror Counseling
Sponsor: Rep. Kerttula
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in and moved out of (H) JUD, 02/26/10, and referred to (H) FIN, 03/01/10
Description: This bill proposes to make available up to 10 hours of psychological counseling for any juror serving in a criminal trial where graphic images or content are presented.
 
SB 21 Mental Health Care Insurance Benefit
Sponsor: Senators Davis and Ellis
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then (S) L&C, then (S) FIN, 01/21/09
Description: This bill proposes to implement parity in the types of medical services covered under existing health insurance plans. Specifically, it proposes that health care insurance policies be prohibited from denying coverage or discriminating health care services related to mental health, alcoholism or substance abuse; that there be no difference in coverage between physical and mental health coverage; and that these changes take effect no later than July 1, 2009.
 
SB 66 Mental Health Patient Grievances
Sponsor: Sen. Davis
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) HSS, 01/21/09
Description: This bill proposes new regulations related to patient grievances in a mental health setting. Specifically, it aims to streamline the grievance process so as to ensure that patients' rights are honored and are not deterred by the grievance filing process.

HB 302 Mental Health Budget
Sponsor: Rules by request of the Governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Moved from (H) RLS to (H) Calendar, 03/10/10
Description: Appropriates $195 million to mental health, with a $161 million operating budget from the general fund, $2 million from federal funds, and $33 million from other sources of funding.  

SB 231 Mental Health Budget
Sponsor: Rules by request of the Governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (S) FIN, 02/10/10
Description: This is the companion bill for HB 302.

SB 263 Extend Board of Professional Counselors
Sponsor: Rules by Request of Leg Budget and Audit
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (S) L&C, 03/11/10
Description: This bill proposes to extend the termination date of the Board of Professional Counselors by ten years, from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2018, to take effect immediately upon signature.

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Bill Watch: State Boards and Issues

HB 25 Health Reform Policy Commission
Sponsor: Rep. Hawker
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) HSS, then (H) FIN), 01/20/09
Description: This bill proposes that issues related to health care and health care policy be given high priority among government officials. Specifically, it proposes the addition of a new chapter in the Alaska Statute 18, establishing the Alaska Health Reform Policy Commission, outlining the composition and duties of that commission, to be effective immediately.
 
HB 75 Health Commission/Planning
Sponsors: Representatives Cissna and Gruenberg
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) HSS, then (H) FIN, 01/20/09
Description: This bill requests the establishment of the Alaska Health Commission, whose purpose is to provide policy recommendations ensuring quality, accessibility, and affordability of health care throughout the state. The commission is to have 15 members, of the following composition: one member from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, one member from the University of Alaska Health Education and Training Program, one member representing the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, one member from the Alaska Primary Care Association, one member from the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, one member from the health industry, one member from the Alaska Nurses Association, two health care consumer members/advocates, and six members of the Alaska legislature. This act is to take effect by July 1, 2009.

HB 376 Extend Bd of Psychologist and Psych. Assoc.
Sponsor: Health and Social Services
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) L&C at 3:15 PM, 03/15/10
Other Information: This bill proposes to extend the termination date of the Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners from June 30, 2010, to June 30, 2018.
 
SB 35 Extend Suicide Prevention Council
Sponsors: Senators Davis, Ellis, and Therriault
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) RLS, 04/11/09
Description: This bill amends a previous act to extend the termination of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council from June 30, 2009 to June 30, 2013.
 
SB 40 Extend Suicide Prevention Council
Sponsor: Sen. Therriault
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then to (S) FIN, 01/21/09
Description: This bill is identical to SB 35.
 
SB 172 Alaska Health Care Commission
Sponsor: Sen. Olson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) HSS, 03/10/10, and scheduled to be heard again in (S) HSS at 1:30 PM, 03/17/10
Description: This bill establishes the Alaska Health Care Commission as a permanent entity.

SB 247 Extending Board of Pharmacy
Sponsor: Sen. Olson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (S) FIN, 02/24/10
Other Information: This bill proposes to extend the Board of Pharmacy to June 30, 2018, to take effect immediately.

SB 248 Extend Bd of Marital & Family Therapy
Sponsor: Sen. Olson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Referred to (S) FIN, 02/24/10
Other Information: This bill proposes to extend the Board of Marital and Family Therapy to June 30, 2014, to take effect immediately.

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Bill Watch: Family Health Issues

HB 34 Partial-Birth Abortion
Sponsors: Representatives Coghill, Newman, Keller, and Dahlstrom
Committee(s) and date of last action: 01/20/09 Referred to (H) HSS, then to (H) JUD
Description: This bill proposes to amend the language in a previous statute, requesting that the definition of "partial-birth" abortion include terms indicating intention and deliberation, the presence of partial vaginal birth, and the knowledge that the birth will result in the death of a child.
 
HB 35 Notice and Consent for Minor's Abortion
Sponsors: Representatives Coghill, Newman, Keller, and Dahlstrom
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) HSS, 04/03/09, then JUD, FIN
Description: This bill proposes several amendments to a previous statute regarding abortion among pregnant women under 17 years of age. These include the prohibition of a medical professional to perform an abortion without parental notification and consent, with the exception of an immediate and potentially lethal risk to the minor.
 
HB 176 Nursing Mothers in the Workplace
Sponsor: Rep. Cissna
Committee(s) and date of last action: (H) HSS, then (H) L&C, 03/09/09
Description: "An Act relating to break times for employees who nurse a child."

SCR 12 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day
Sponsor: Sen. Meyer
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS at 3:00 PM, 03/11/10
Description: This bill would establish September 9, 2010, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.
 
SB 5 Partial-Birth Abortion
Sponsors: Senators Dyson and Therriault
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then (S) JUD, 01/21/09
Description: This bill is identical to HB 34.
 
SB 6 Notice and Consent for a Minor's Abortion
Sponsors: Senators Dyson and Therriault
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then (S) JUD, 01/21/09
Description: This bill is identical to HB 35.
 
SB 15 Info, Anesthesia, Consent for an Abortion
Sponsor: Sen. Dyson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then (S) JUD, 01/21/09
Description: This bill proposes that all pregnant women considering abortion should be given information regarding their options to reduce pain to an unborn fetus prior to the procedure, to take effect immediately.
 
SB 16 Definitions: Person/Child/Human/Etc
Sponsor: Sen. Dyson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then (S) JUD, 01/21/09
Description: This bill requests to define the above terms to include a human born in any stage of fetal development; it is noted that this bill does not intend to extend the rights of human life to an unborn human.
 
SB 42 Nursing Mothers in Workplace
Sponsors: Senators Ellis and Wielechowski
Committee(s) and date of last action: 03/26/09 Heard and Held in (S) L&C at 1:30 PM Beltz 211, then to (S) HSS
Description: This bill proposes that an employer be required to provide "reasonable" unpaid break time for mothers who are nursing a child, and that a private room or area be made available for nursing mothers. This bill does not require that employers allow children of nursing mothers in the workplace.
 
SB 44 Safe Abandonment of Infants
Sponsor: Sen. Menard
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then (S) JUD, 01/21/09
Description: This bill requests an amendment to a previous statute, proposing that parents who safely surrender an infant 60 days or younger be exempt from prosecution or penalty.
 
SB 181 Ultrasounds Preceding Abortions
Sponsor: Sen. Dyson
Committee(s) and date of last action: (S) HSS, 04/06/09
Description: This bill proposes that Alaska follow several other states in requiring that a doctor perform an ultrasound on women considering an abortion. The sponsor states, "Senate Bill 181 is intended to bring Alaska into conformity by ensuring that a woman's consent to an elective abortion in our state is a better informed decision. The bill ensures that when an ultrasound is performed by the physician performing the abortion, that the ultrasound image be displayed such that it is visible by the woman, should she so choose to view the ultrasound. In so doing it shifts the burden of responsibility. No longer would the mother in crisis need to ask to see the ultrasound. Instead the physician would be required to display the ultrasound screen to her."

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Bill Watch: Worker's Compensation

SB 20 Worker's Comp Medical/Rehab Records
Sponsors: Senators French and Thomas
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) L&C, then (S) JUD, 01/21/09
Description: This bill proposes that any documents containing personal and confidential information of an employee that is receiving, or has received, worker's compensation, are kept in a confidential location away from the public's view.

HB 314 Workers' Compensation
Sponsor: Labor and Commerce Committee
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in and moved out of (H) JUD, 02/25/10, referred to (H) FIN, 02/26/10
Description: This bill is "An Act relating to fees and charges for medical treatment or services, the crime of unsworn falsification, investigations, and penalties as they relate to workers' compensation; and providing for an effective date.

HB 346 Workers' Compensation Advisory Board
Sponsor: Rep. Olson
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and amended in (H) L&C, 02/24/10, and referred to (H) FIN on 02/26/10
Other Information: This bill proposes that a Workers' Compensation Advisory Board be established, with a variety of members who would be required to meet every six months. If established, the bill would take effect immediately, and the Board would be in place until June 30, 2015.

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Bill Watch: General Health Policy

HR 14 Oppose Federal Health Reform Bills
Sponsor: Rep. Chenault
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (H) HSS, 02/17/10
Other Information: This bill proposes a list of negative consequences to Alaska, and suggests "that the House of Representatives urges the Alaska Congressional delegation to vote against the current health care reform bills and to develop health care reform that is affordable and accessible to all legal residents," and  "that the House of Representatives urges Governor Parnell  and the Administration to review the constitutionality of the special deal for other states contained in the current federal health care reform bills." Once passed, it is requested that the resolution be sent to President Obama.

HJR 46 Supporting Denali Commission
Sponsor: Community and Regional Affairs committee (CRA)
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (S) CRA and moved out of committee, 03/09/10, and referred to (S) RLS, 03/10/10
Other Information: This bill urges Congressional support of the Denali Commission.

HB 71 Advance Health Care Directives Registry
Sponsors: Representatives Holmes, Dahlstrom, Millett, and Kawasaki
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD at 1:00 PM, 03/15/10
Description: This bill amends a previous statute by adding that a health care facility will not be subject to civil or criminal liability in the event that they act in reliance to an advance health care directive or fail to check an advance health care directive registry for a patient in their facility. In addition, HB 71 proposes the establishment of an advance health care directive registry within the Department of Health and Social Services, where individuals or their guardians can file advance health directives. This registry would be confidential and may not be used for another purpose.
 
HB 168 Trauma Care Centers/Fund
Sponsor: Rep. Coghill
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (S) HSS, 02/22/10 and referred to (S) FIN, 02/24/10
Description: "An Act relating to state certification and designation of trauma centers; creating the uncompensated trauma care fund to offset uncompensated trauma care provided at certified and designated trauma centers; and providing for an effective date."

SB 168 Trauma Care Centers/Fund
Sponsor: Health and Social Services, by request of the Governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (S) HSS at 1:30 PM on February 10
Description: This is the Senate companion bill to HB 168, and is identical.

HB 304 Ban Smoking in Public Places
Sponsors: Representatives Salmon and Buch
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) STA, then (H) JUD, 01/19/10
Description: This bill proposes to amend current laws related to smoking in public places, as well as smoking in any enclosed establishment serving as a place of employment. It includes several specific areas where smoking should be prohibited, including waiting areas for public transportation, facilities providing mental health services, legislative buildings, and health clubs.

HB 361 CPR Training for 911 Dispatchers
Sponsor: Rep. Fairclough
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (H) CRA and moved out of committee, 03/09/10, referred to (H) HSS, 03/10/10
Other Information: This bill proposes that all 911 dispatchers be required to have certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to their employment.

HB 399 Community Health Assessments
Sponsor: Rep. Cissna
Committee(s) and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (H) HSS, 02/23/10
Other Information: This bill would establish a health impact assessment program within the Department of Health and Social Services, with the goal of creating healthy communities and reducing health disparities, to take effect July 1, 2012.

HB 354 AK Capstone Avionics Revolving Loan Fund
Sponsor: Rep. Keller
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard and moved out of (H) L&C, 03/08/10, and referred to (H) TRA, 03/10/10
Other Information: This bill proposes an amendment to existing legislation on avionics loan funding, to include both owners and leasers of aircraft. The legislation would apply to medevac carriers who lease their aircraft. Representative Keller proposed the bill to increase air traffic safety, stating on his website, "The program was developed to provide low-interest loans to in-state private and commercial aircraft owners to upgrade their avionics, or on-board navigational aids and computer systems."

SCR 13 Supporting Senior Caregivers
Sponsors: Senators Bund and McGuire
Committee(s) and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (S) HSS at 1:30 PM, 03/15/10
Other Information: This bill proposes, "Supporting senior caregivers and encouraging the Department of Health and Social Services to provide additional education on the effects of aging and the importance of senior caregivers."

SB 41 New Driver's/Permit: CPR/First Aid
Sponsor: Sen. Ellis by request of the Governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Read and referred to (S) HSS, then to (S) STA, 01/20/09
Description: This bill requests that new applications for driver's permits or licenses only be issued to individuals who have completed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid training in the one year prior to the application. This does not apply for individuals who have already obtained a driver's license or permit in Alaska or another state, and is to be effective January 1, 2010.
 
SB 49 Blood Donation Awareness Fund
Sponsor: Sen. McGuire
Committee(s) and date of last action: Moved to (S) FIN, 02/27/09
Description: This bill requests that the opportunity to donate $1 or more to the Blood Donation Fund be made available to all applicants for motor vehicle or identification documents. These donations would be place in the Blood Donation Awareness Fund, and would be used to promote blood donation activities throughout Alaska.

SB 169 Approp: Trauma Care Fund
Sponsor: Health and Social Services, by request of the Governor
Committee(s) and date of last action: Heard in (S) FIN, 03/10/10
Description: "An Act appropriating $5,000,000 to the uncompensated trauma care fund; and providing for an effective date."

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Bill Watch: Bill Tracking Methodology

Bills listed here were selected based on a series of subjective criteria to determine whether they were "health-policy related." All bills currently sitting in the Senate and House Health and Social Services committees were examined, and any that obviously dealt with non-health-related education or social services issues were eliminated. Every other House and Senate committee was then examined for health-related bills, which were included in the final list.
 
After determining the full set of health-related bills still in committee or pre-filed for the new session, they were divided into several general categories. This was done to facilitate finding bills that dealt with certain key health policy issues and to make overall navigation of the list easier. The remaining bills were categorized as "general" health policy-related because of the wide range of subjects they covered.
 
The information listed for each bill includes the bill number, the short title, the primary sponsor or sponsors, the committee in which the last action on the bill took place, and the date on which the last action on the bill took place. A short summary of each bill is also included.
 
Abbreviations have been used for committee names. The committee names and their abbreviations are:
  • (H) HSS: House Health and Social Services Committee
  • (S) HSS: Senate Health and Social Services Committee
  • (H) L&C: House Labor & Commerce Committee
  • (S) L&C: Senate Labor & Commerce Committee
  • (H) EDC: House Education Committee
  • (S) EDC: Senate Education Committee
  • (H) FIN: House Finance Committee
  • (S) FIN: Senate Finance Committee
  • (H) JUD: House Judiciary Committee
  • (S) JUD: Senate Judiciary Committee
  • (H) STA: House State Affairs Committee
  • (S) STA: Senate State Affairs Committee  
  • (S) RLS: Senate Rules Committee
  • (H) CRA: House Community and Regional Affairs Committee
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AHPR Staff and Contributors

Lawrence D. Weiss, PhD, MS, Editor
Kelby Murphy, Senior Policy Analyst
Jacqueline Yeagle, Newsletter design and editing

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A standard 12-month subscription to Alaska Health Policy Review is available for $850. Please inquire about discount rates for multiple recipients in the same organization, legislators, and small nonprofit organizations.
 
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