comprehensive, authoritative, nonpartisan 
A Publication of Alaska Center for Public Policy 

February 28, 2014 - Vol 8, Issue 7

In this Issue
Visit ACPP
Affordable Care Act in the News
Bill Watch: Bills on the Move
Please Respect Our Copyright
Bill Watch: Bill Tracking Methodology
Bill Watch: Drugs
Bill Watch: Health Professional Workforce and Education
Bill Watch: Medical Assistance and Health Insurance
Bill Watch: Mental Health Issues
Bill Watch: State Boards and Licenses
Bill Watch: Family Health Issues
Bill Watch: Workers' Compensation
Bill Watch: Public Safety
Bill Watch: Environmental Issues
Bill Watch: General Health Issues
Are You Interested in Learning More about Policy in Alaska?
Alaska Health Policy Calendar
Subscribe to Alaska Health Policy Review
AHPR Staff and Contributors
Resources

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From the Editor
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Good day, readers.

 

Last week, I mentioned that Alaska Health Policy Review now has a Facebook page. Creating a Facebook page is relatively easy. The real work is in promoting the page. Last week we had 59 "likes." Today, we have 60 - a big, sincere thank you to that very kind person - and sadly, still short of my goal of 100 "likes."

 

Here is my request of you all: Please visit the Facebook page. If the page has value to you, please "like" it. If not, please let me know why you don't want to "like" it. You can leave a comment or you can email me. Thank you so much.

 

Now for some fun: Do you want to play the role of earthquake victim? Are you a health care practitioner who wants to practice responding in an emergency? Alaska Shield needs you.

 

Mock patients are needed so emergency response teams can practice helping injured Alaskans in an emergency situation. Health care practitioners are needed to make the exercise as realistic as possible.

 

Volunteers are needed in Anchorage and in the Mat-Su area between March 28 and April 1, 2014. For a complete list of dates, times and locations, and to register, please go to: www.haleborealis.com

 

Last Saturday, I attended the public meeting at Loussac Library in Anchorage, hosted by the Anchorage legislative delegation.  

 

The meeting started at 9:00 AM. I arrived around 9:30 AM and listened to testimony for about three and a half hours. The Assembly Chambers, where the meeting was held, stayed comfortably crowded throughout the time I was there.  

 

I attended in my role as editor of this publication hoping that I could report back to you the health or health policy topics discussed, but education and oil and gas were more the focus for the people in the room. Still, it was interesting to hear a civil exchange of ideas in a public forum.  

 

If you wanted to attend and did not, or if you want a less formal venue in which to speak your mind, several Anchorage legislators plan constituent meetings tomorrow, March 1, 2014.

 

Senate District H representatives, Sen. Berta Gardner and Reps. Andy Josephson and Harriet Drummond will host a town hall meeting from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Stellar Secondary School, 2508 Blueberry Road.

 

Chris Tuck, District 22 House Representative, will hold a neighborhood meeting at Elim Caf�, 561 West Dimond Boulevard also from 1:00 to 2:30 PM.

 

Regardless of how you choose to spend your weekend, I wish for you all a relaxing or productive time, whatever it is you need it to be.

 

Thank you for reading Alaska Health Policy Review.  


Managing Editor


A recent Urban Institute newsletter highlighted timely and interesting research about the Affordable Care Act.

 

The Inevitability of Disruption in Health Reform 

  

A concern often voiced by pundits with regard to the Affordable Care Act is that it was disingenuous to claim that those who have health insurance and are happy with it would be unaffected by the law. In fact, some adverse disruptions have occurred. In this brief, Judy Feder argues that it is impossible to enact health insurance reform without some disruption. However, Feder claims that the amount of disruption caused by the ACA is modest, especially in comparison with alternative strategies.  

 

Tax Preparers Could Help Most Uninsured Get Covered

 

In this brief by Stan Dorn, Matthew Buettgens, and Jay Dev of the Urban Institute, the authors propose that government and private sector leaders explore engaging for-profit and non-profit tax preparers as partners in reaching the eligible uninsured during the open enrollment period.

 

Overlapping Eligibility and Enrollment: Human Services and Health Programs Under the Affordable Care Act 

 

Stan Dorn, Julia Isaacs, Sarah Minton, Erika Huber, Paul Johnson, Matthew Buettgens, and Laura Wheaton, all of the Urban Institute, suggest that states, using data from human services programs, can simplify efforts to identify and enroll consumers who need health care coverage.

 

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Important Information about Alaska Health Policy Review

The formatting of this electronic version of Alaska Health Policy Review may be degraded due to variations in Internet service providers, browsers, and email applications. To ensure that you are reading a complete and properly formatted version of the publication, please click on "For the most readable copy of the newsletter please click here" located just above the banner at the top of the newsletter.  


Bill Watch: Bills on the Move

Every issue of Alaska Health Policy Review published during the legislative session will include a list of new health and/or health policy-related bills and resolutions introduced during the preceding week. Details for each new bill will include the bill number, short title, the name of the primary sponsor or sponsors (upper case letters), co-sponsors, cross sponsors (where applicable), and a brief description.

The information in today's issue of Alaska Health Policy Review is current as of Thursday, February 27, 2014, at 1:00 PM.

HB 323 Licensing Radiologic Technologists 

Sponsor: Rep. TUCK 

Description: The bill requires licensing of occupations related to radiologic technology, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine technology.

 

HB 324 Controlled Subst. Prescription Database 

Sponsor: Rep. KELLER 

Description: The bill allows third-party database providers to maintain the controlled substance database and to permit the submission of information by an employee of the pharmacist-in-charge regardless of whether the employee is a pharmacist or practitioner.

 

HB 328 Board/Licensing of Massage Therapists 

Sponsors: Reps. NAGEAK, Tuck, Munoz  

Description: The bill establishes a massage therapist board and licensing requirements.

 

HB 336 Alcohol Sales Near Schools/Church 

Sponsor: Rep. TARR 

Description: The bill extends to 400 feet the distance required between a school or church and establishments that sell alcohol.

 

HB 344 Invasive Aquatic Plant Species Control 

Sponsor: Reps. OLSON, Chenault, Seaton  

Description: The bill bars the import, sale, or release into the waters in Alaska of Elodea Canadensis (Canadian Waterweed or Pondweed).

 

HB 348 High-Risk Chemicals for Child Exposure 

Sponsors: Reps. TARR, Kawasaki  

Description: The bill directs the Department of Health & Social Services to identify chemicals of high concern to which children are at risk of exposure and to publish that list.

 

HB 355 Mental Health First Aid Training 

Sponsor: Rep. TARR 

Description: The bill establishes in the Department of Health & Social Services authorization to administer a Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program to increase detection and appropriate response to mental illnesses and substance abuse issues.

 

HB 356 Advisory Committee on Wellness 

Sponsor: Rep. SEATON  

Description: The bill establishes an advisory committee on wellness to create incentives and methods to decrease the frequency and severity of disease among persons covered by a group health policy obtained through the Department of Administration.

 

HB 360 Regulation of Smoking 

Sponsors: Reps. HOLMES, Olson, Millett, Edgmon, Higgins, P. Wilson, Gara 

Description: The bill prohibits smoking in certain public locations in Alaska. Examples of such places are sports arenas, ferries, bus shelters, office buildings, and health care facilities.

 

HB 361 Licensing of Behavior Analysts 

Sponsor: Rep. SADDLER  

Description: The bill requires licensing of behavior analysts and sets forth licensing requirements.

 

HB 362 Synthetic Drugs 

Sponsors: Reps. MILLETT, Tuck  

Description: The bill prohibits the offer, display, marketing, advertising for sale, or sale of illicit synthetic drugs in Alaska.

 

HB 366 Involuntary Commitment 

Sponsor: Rep. PRUITT  

Description: The bill relates to reports of involuntary commitment.

 

HB 369 Immunity for Drug Related Offense 

Sponsor: Rep. PRUITT 

Description: The bill limits liability from criminal prosecution for a person who seeks medical assistance for a person experiencing a drug overdose.

 

HCR 19 Supporting Efforts of Recover Alaska 

Sponsors: Rep. HERRON, Edgmon  

Description: The resolution supports the efforts of Recover Alaska to reduce the effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

 

HCR 21 Child Abuse Prevention Month 

Sponsos: Rep. TARR, Tuck  

Description: The resolution proclaims April 2014 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

 

HJR 29 Social Security Disability/SSI Appeals 

Sponsor: Rep. HERRON  

Description: The resolution supports the commitment of the Disability Law Center of Alaska to investigate and assess the integrity of the social security disability insurance and supplemental security income appeal process to insure that Alaskans with disabilities receive the benefits to which they are legally entitled.

 

SB 186 Controlled Substances Advisory Committee 

Sponsors: Sen. DYSON, McGuire 

Description: The bill requires the Controlled Substance Advisory Committee to meet at least twice a year.

 

SB 187 Child Welfare: Confidential Information 

Sponsor: Sen. COGHILL 

Description: The bill adds protections to minor children in contentious households and prohibits the publishing or distribution of audio or video recording of an interview of a child for a criminal or child protection investigation.

 

SB 188 Board/Licensing of Massage Therapists 

Sponsor: Sen. EGAN, Ellis 

Description: The bill establishes a Board of Massage Therapists and related licensure requirements.

 

SB 197 Naturally Occurring Asbestos 

Sponsor: Sen. OLSON  

Description: The bill extends the termination date to December 31, 2014 of the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities' interim project authorization regarding naturally occurring asbestos.

 

SB 198 Workers' Compensation Medical Fees 

Sponsors: Sens. COGHILL, Giessel, Dyson 

Description: The bill sets limits on the cost of medical treatment and services performed outside of Alaska.

 

SB 200 Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child 

Sponsor: Sen. MCGUIRE 

Description: The law allows a parent of an unborn child to bring action as plaintiff for the death of the child caused by a wrongful act or omission by another.

 

SB 204 Student Restraint, Seclusion, Psyc Drugs 

Sponsor: Sen. COGHILL 

Description: The bill requires that schools' restraint and seclusion policies be made available to students, parents, and the public.

 

SB 209 Regulation of Smoking 

Sponsors: Sens. MICCICHE, Meyer, McGuire 

Description: The bill prohibits smoking in certain public locations in Alaska. Examples of such places are sports arenas, ferries, bus shelters, office buildings, and health care facilities.

 

SJR 28 Vietnam Vets: Service-Related Diseases

Sponsor: Sen. WIELECHOWSKI  

Description: The resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass S. 1602, the Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act of 2013.

 

 

Please Respect Our Copyright

Alaska Health Policy Review is sent to individual and group subscribers for their exclusive use. Please contact us for information regarding significant discounts for multiple subscriptions within a single organization. Distributing copies of the Alaska Health Policy Review is prohibited under copyright restrictions without written permission from the editor; however, we encourage the use of a few sentences from an issue for reviews and other "Fair Use."

We appreciate your referral of colleagues to the ACPP website in order to obtain a sample copy. The Alaska Center for Public Policy holds the copyright for Alaska Health Policy Review. Your respect for our copyright allows us to continue to provide this service to you.

For all related matters, please contact the managing editor, Jacqui Yeagle.

 

Bill Watch: Bill Tracking Methodology

Bills listed in Alaska Health Policy Review were selected based on a series of subjective criteria to determine whether they were "health or health policy-related." Then we carefully watch new bills as they are filed and add the pertinent bills to the screened list. The bills are divided into several general categories. This facilitates finding bills that match readers' particular areas of interest.

The information listed for each bill includes the bill number, the short title, 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.
 
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
(S) CRA: Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee
(H) TRA: House Transportation Committee
(S) TRA: Senate Transportation Committee
(H) RES: House Resources Committee
(S) RES: Senate Resources Committee
(H) MLV: Military and Veterans' Affairs
(H) EDT: Economic Development, Trade & Tourism Committee
(H) FSH: Fisheries

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Note: Green text indicates activity in the last seven days.


Bill updates are current as of February 27, at 1:00 PM.

Bill Watch: Drugs

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE 

STATUS

DATE

HB 53 Consultation for Opiate Prescription 

Heard and held in (H) HSS 

03/26/13

HB 90 Vitamin D Supplements 

Heard and held in (H) HSS 

02/06/14

HB 178 Reclassifying Certain Drug Offenses 

Heard and held in (H) JUD

04/03/13

Moved out of  (H) L&C
02/10/14

HB 324 Controlled Subst. Prescription Database 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/21/14

HB 362 Synthetic Drugs 

Referred to (H) JUD

02/26/14

HB 369 Immunity for Drug Related Offense 

Referred to (H) JUD

02/26/14

SB 162 Hydrocodone Prescription By Optometrists 

Moved out of (S) RLS

02/24/14

SB 56 Reclassifying Certain Drug Offenses 

Heard and held in (H) FIN

04/13/13

SB 66 Imitation Controlled Substance 

Scheduled to be heard in (S) JUD on 03/07/14 at 1:30 PM in Beltz 105 (TSBldg) 

02/27/14

SB 173 Synthetic Drugs
Scheduled to be heard in (S) JUD on 03/05/14 at 1:30 PM in Beltz 105 (TSBldg)
02/14/14

SB 186 Controlled Substances Advisory Committee 

Referred to (S) JUD

02/21/14


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Bill Watch: Health Professional Workforce and Education

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

HB 6 Pharmacy Audits 

Referred to (H) FIN and L&C

01/16/13

HB 7 Practice of Naturopathy 

Referred to (H) HSS and L&C

01/16/13

HB 43 University Institutes of Law and Medicine 

Referred to (H) EDC and FIN

01/16/13

HB 44 Advance Health Care Directives Registry 

Heard and held in (H) HSS

02/14/13

HB 160 Licensing of Athletic Trainers 

Referred to (H) L&C and FIN

03/11/13

Scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD on 02/28/14 at 1:00 PM in Capitol 120
02/17/14

HB 311 Direct-Entry Midwives

Referred to (H) L&C
02/19/14

SB 8 Pharmacy Audits 

Heard and held in (S) L&C

04/03/13

SB 80 Out-of-State Physician Licensing 

Referred to (S) FIN  

02/21/14
Scheduled but not heard in (S) L&C on 02/27/14
02/27/14
SB 156 Direct-Entry Midwives

Referred to (S) L&C

02/05/14


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Bill Watch: Medical Assistance and Health Insurance

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

Heard and held in (H) L&C
03/20/13

HB 124 Public Retiree Med. Benefits: Dependents 

Referred to (H) STA and FIN

02/15/13

HB 134 Medicaid Payment for Mediset Prescription 

Scheduled but not heard in (H) FIN

04/08/13

HB 173 Restrict Medicaid Payment for Abortions 

Heard and held in (H) FIN

02/25/14

HB 191 Long-Term Care Insurer Competition 

Referred to (H) L&C

03/28/13

HB 196 School District Employee Health Insurance 

Heard and held in (H) L&C

04/08/13

HB 203 Reimbursement of Health Insurance Claims

Referred to (H) L&C and FIN

04/10/13

Referred to (H) HSS
01/30/14

HB 300 Air Ambulance Services 

Heard and held in (H) L&C  

02/21/14

HB 356 Advisory Committee on Wellness 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/26/14

HCR 8 Expand Medicaid Under Affordable Care Act

Referred to (H) HSS

03/20/13

HJR 14 Delay Implementing Affordable Health Care Act

Returned to (S) RLS

04/14/13

SB 30 Teachers & Pub Employee Retirement Plans 

Scheduled but not heard in (S) FIN

04/02/13

SB 49 Restrict Medicaid Payment for Abortions 

Moved out of (H) FIN

02/27/14

SB 90 School District Employee Health Insurance

Heard and held in (S) FIN

04/12/13

Referred to (S) HSS
04/12/13

SB 150 Expand Medicaid Coverage

Referred to (S) HSS
01/31/14
SB 159 Air Ambulance Services
Referred to (S) RLS

02/21/14

SB 165 PERS Credit for Military Service 

Referred to (S) L&C

02/07/14

SJR 4 Military Pensions 

Referred to (S) CRA and STA

01/23/13

 

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Bill Watch: Mental Health Issues

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

Heard and held in (H) EDC
02/12/14
Heard and held in (H) HSS
02/25/14
Scheduled to be held in (H) FIN on 03/04/14 and for public testimony on 03/04/14 and 03/05/14 in (H) FIN at 1:30 PM in House Finance 519
02/27/14

HB 313 Mitigating Factor: Combat-Related PTSD 

Referred to (H) MLV
02/19/14

HB 355 Mental Health First Aid Training 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/26/14

HB 366 Involuntary Commitment 

Referred to (H) STA

02/26/14

SB 20 Approp: Mental Health Budget

Heard in (S) FIN  

01/31/13

SB 39 Statutory Refs to Mental Retardation

Heard and held in (S) HSS

02/11/13

Heard in (S) FIN
01/30/14

SB 204 Student Restraint, Seclusion, Psyc Drugs 

Referred to (S) EDU

02/24/14

 

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Bill Watch: State Boards and Licenses

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

Heard and held in (H) FIN
02/11/14

Heard and held in (H) FIN

02/11/14
Heard and held in (H) FIN
02/11/14
Heard and held in (H) FIN
02/11/14
Referred to (S) FIN
02/19/14

HB 323 Licensing Radiologic Technologists  

Referred to (H) L&C

02/21/14

HB 328 Board/Licensing of Massage Therapists 

Scheduled to be heard in (H) L&C on 03/05/14 at 3:15 PM in Barnes 124 

02/27/14

HB 361 Licensing of Behavior Analysts 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/26/14

Transmitted to House, and pending referral is scheduled to be heard in (H) FIN on 03/06/14 at 8:30 AM in House Finance 519
02/27/14
Heard and held in (S) FIN
02/11/14

SB 166 Board of Nursing; Nurses 

Scheduled to be heard in (S) L&C on 03/04/14 at 1:30 PM in Beltz 105 (TSBldg)

02/27/14

SB 188 Board/Licensing of Massage Therapists 

Referred to (S) L&C

02/21/14

SCR 1 State Food Resource Development Group

Referred to (S) RLS

03/13/13


 

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Bill Watch: Family Health Issues

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

HB 96 Chemicals in Children's Products

Scheduled but not heard in (H) L&C

04/08/13

HB 139 Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Bill reprinted 

01/27/14

HB 184 Newborn Screening for Heart Defects 

Scheduled in (H) HSS, meeting canceled

04/09/13

Referred to (S) L&C
02/26/14
Referred to (H) L&C
01/21/14
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Referred to (H) JUD
01/21/14
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Transmitted to Senate
02/26/14
Referred to (H) EDC
01/27/14

HB 348 High-Risk Chemicals for Child Exposure 

Referred to (H) L&C

02/26/14

HCR 18 Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Referred to (H) HSS
02/19/14

HCR 21 Child Abuse Prevention Month 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/26/14

HJR 29 Social Security Disability/SSI Appeals 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/26/14

SB 6 Funding for School Meals

Moved out of (S) EDC

04/05/13

Returned to (S) RLS
04/02/13
Referred to (S) HSS
01/22/14
Referred to (S) L&C
01/22/14
Heard and held in (S) HSS
02/24/14
Referred to (S) HSS
01/29/14

SB 151 High-Risk Chemicals for Child Exposure

Referred to (S) JUD 

02/24/14

SB 163 Employment of Persons with Disabilities 

Heard and held in (S) L&C

02/12/14

SB 169 Statewide Immunization Program 

Scheduled to be heard in
(S) FIN on 03/03/14 at 5:00 PM in Senate 532
02/24/14

SB 200 Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child 

Referred to (S) JUD

02/24/14

SCR 13 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 

Heard and held in (S) HSS

02/26/14

SJR 20 Military Sexual Trauma 

Referred to (S) JUD

02/10/14


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Bill Watch: Workers' Compensation

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

HB 141 Worker's Compensation Medical Fees 

Referred to (S) L&C  

02/12/14 

HB 149 Workers' Comp for State Firefighters 

Scheduled but not heard in (H) L&C

04/08/13

Referred to (H) L&C
02/03/14

SB 35 Workers' Comp.: Coll Bargaining/Mediation 

Referred to (S) L&C

01/25/13

SB 198 Workers' Compensation Medical Fees 

Referred to (S) L&C

02/24/14


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Bill Watch: Public Safety

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

HB 45 Electronic Bullying in School

Referred to (H) EDC and JUD

01/16/13

HB 54 Placement of a Child in Need of Aid

Moved out of (H) JUD 

04/10/13

HB 55 Authorize Firearms for School Personnel

Referred to (H) EDC and JUD

01/16/13

HB 73 Crimes; Victims; Child Abuse and Neglect

Heard and held in (H) FIN

04/02/13

HB 82 Sexual Assault: Probation/Parole Officer

Referred to (H) JUD and FIN

01/22/13

Scheduled to be heard in (H) STA on 03/04/14 at 8:00 AM in Capitol 106
01/21/14
Referred to (H) EDC
01/21/14
Referred to (H) TRA
01/21/14

HB 295 PERS Credit/Injured Police & Firefighters

Referred to (H) L&C
02/03/14

HB 336 Alcohol Sales Near Schools/Church 

Referred to (H) L&C

02/24/14

HB 360 Regulation of Smoking 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/26/14

HCR 19 Supporting Efforts of Recover Alaska 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/21/14

HCR 21 Child Abuse Prevention Month 

Referred to (H) HSS

02/26/14

HJR 4 Oppose Gun Control Orders & Legislation

Scheduled but not heard in (S) JUD

03/27/13

SB 11 Knives, Gravity Knives, & Switchblades 

Referred to (S) JUD

03/27/13

SB 36 Missing Vulnerable Adult Response Plan

Referred to (S) RLS

04/02/13

SB 81 Treatment Programs for DUI Offenses

Referred to (S) STA and JUD

03/18/13

SB 91 Hazing 

Moved out of (S) EDC

04/10/13

Scheduled to be heard in (S) JUD on 03/05/14 at 1:30 PM in Beltz 105 (TSBldg)
02/24/14
Referred to (S) STA
01/22/14
Moved out of (H) CRA
02/27/14

SB 187 Child Welfare: Confidential Information 

Referred to (S) JUD

02/21/14

SB 209 Regulation of Smoking 

Referred to (S) STA

02/26/14


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Bill Watch: Environmental Issues

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

HB 77 Land Disposals/Exchanges; Water Rights

Returned to (S) RLS

04/14/13

HB 89 Aquatic Invasive Species

Referred to (H) FIN

03/14/13

Heard and held in (H) RES
02/03/14

HB 201 Pesticides and Broadcast Chemicals

Scheduled but not heard in (H) FSH

02/13/14

Referred to (H) RES
01/21/14
Referred to (H) RES
01/21/14
Referred to (H) CRA
01/21/14
Referred to (H) RES
01/21/14
Referred to CRA
01/21/14
Referred to (H) RES
01/27/14

HB 344 Invasive Aquatic Plant Species Control 

Scheduled to be heard in (H) RES on 03/10/14 at 1:00 PM in Barnes 124 

02/27/14

SB 29 Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits

Heard and held in (S) FIN

02/07/13

Referred to (S) RES

02/05/14

SB 197 Naturally Occurring Asbestos 

Referred to (S) TRA

02/24/14


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Bill Watch: General Health Issues

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

HB 144 Biometric Information for ID

Referred to (H) STA and JUD

02/27/13

Referred to (H) STA
01/21/14
HB 226 Commission on the Status of Women
Referred to (H) STA
01/21/14
Referred to (H) L&C
01/21/14
Heard and held in (H) HSS
02/27/14
HB 251 Affordable Care Act Navigators
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Moved out of (H) HSS
02/27/14
HJR 20 Medical Device Tax
Transmitted to Senate
02/26/14

HJR 25 Vietnam Vets: Service-Related Diseases

Referred to (H) RLS
02/19/14

SCR 14 H&SS Regional Best Practice Models 

Heard and held in (S) HSS

02/26/14

SJR 28 Vietnam Vets: Service-Related Diseases 

Referred to (S) HSS

02/21/14


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Are You Interested in Learning More about Policy in Alaska?

Do you have a public policy topic you want to explore? Let us know. Alaska Center for Public Policy seeks to sponsor community-led special research projects. We may be able to provide mentoring for your project idea.

ACPP also seeks volunteers to help with organizational efforts. The following volunteer positions are available. Other ideas are also welcome.

Affordable Care Act researcher: Are you curious about what's in the new health care law? Join us to track the implementation of the ACA. Duties may include
  • Report to ACPP staff and general public on progress and changes to the law.
  • Write white papers, 3 - 5 pages in length, on aspects of the ACA of choice, in consultation with ACPP staff.
  • Attend community meetings about the ACA.
  • Update the ACPP blog and Facebook page with relevant information and promote public events.
  • Generate topic-related content for Alaska Health Policy Review (i.e., get published!).
  • Commitment: 10 hours a week.
General topics researcher: Do you need a reason to research the policy issues that matter to you? Pick a topic and start investigating! Duties may include
  • Conduct policy-related research; write articles for the ACPP blog, Facebook page, and Alaska Health Policy Review.
  • Prepare press releases.
  • Write two white papers, 3 - 5 pages in length, on policy-related topics of choice, in consultation with ACPP staff.
  • Commitment: 10 hours a week. 
Development/marketing coordinator: Do your long-term goals include being a lead researcher with several important grants under your belt? Do you have ideas for capacity building and marketing? Take the first step toward your goals as an intern at ACPP. Duties include
  • Consult with ACPP staff to research and respond to grant proposals.
  • Develop a marketing plan for ACPP.
  • Commitment: 10 hours a week.
Communications and social media coordinator: Are you an expert with fancy social media apps and technology? Do you want to use your skills to support a fun and passionate non-profit communicate the latest on hot policy topics in Alaska? Duties for this position include
  • Manage the ACPP blog and Facebook page.
  • In conjunction with ACPP staff, develop strategies to share the work of ACPP with the general public.
  • Commitment: 10 hours a week.

Do you want the skills and knowledge needed to debate the latest policy topics with your friends and colleagues? Look no further, the Alaska Center for Public Policy can help you!   

 

For more information contact Kelby Murphy, or visit ACPP and complete an application. 

 

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Alaska Health Policy Calendar

This calendar of health policy and related meetings is current as of February 27, 2014.

Alaska Health Care Commission

 

When: Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22, 2014

Where: Juneau

Other information: Teleconference services will be provided for those interested in listening to the meeting and unable to attend the Alaska Health Care Commission meeting in person. The agenda and meeting materials will be posted on the web prior to the meeting.

Contact: For more information about the Commission, contact Executive Director Deborah Erickson or by phone at 907-334-2474.

 

2014 Alaska Rural Health Conference

When: Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22 and 23, 2014
Where: Sheraton Hotel, Anchorage
Other information: At the Alaska Rural Health Conference, learn about and contribute to health care transition in your community and across Alaska. Content will focus on key policy areas: emerging care delivery models in rural settings; technology and its adoption and use in health care; insurance and payment changes and their impact; and using data effectively to inform policy. Registration will open in early 2014.
Contact information: Visit the conference website for the latest information about the agenda, key speakers, and exhibitors.

Business of Clean Energy in Alaska

When: Thursday and Friday, May 1 and 2, 2014
Where: Dena'ina Center, Anchorage
Other information: This two-day event, sponsored by Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP), features experts from across the country and the world who will talk about the economic benefits of developing renewable energy and energy efficiency in Alaska. Conference-goers have the chance to network with elected officials, utility leaders, and business executives from across the state. Registration -- with discounts for registering early -- is now open.
Contact information: Email Katie Marquette or call her at 907-929-7770, ex 14 for more information.

If you have knowledge of a health policy event that you think should be included in our calendar, please email Jacqui Yeagle. Thank you.

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Subscribe to Alaska Health Policy Review
 
The Alaska Health Policy Review is issued electronically, weekly during the regular legislative session and monthly the rest of the year. A standard individual 12-month subscription to the Alaska Health Policy Review is available for $600. Note: Current subscribers will see the change in cost reflected in their next invoice.

During the legislative session, Alaska Health Policy Review features a bill tracking section so you can stay informed about the status of health-related bills just by opening your email! Other features include interviews with health policy makers, original and reprinted health policy research, and a calendar of health policy-related events.  

Discount rates apply for multiple recipients in the same organization, legislators, and small nonprofit organizations. 
Don't miss an issue! Direct orders, comments, and inquiries to Alaska Center for Public Policy by email or by phone at 907-276-2277.


Alaska Health Policy Review Staff and Contributors

Kelby Murphy,
Proofreader
Jacqui YeagleManaging editor