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

April 18, 2014 - Vol 8, Issue 14

In this Issue
Visit ACPP
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
Visit ACPP
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From the Editor
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Dear readers,

 

The 28th Alaska Legislature is expected to come to a close in just two days. Typically there is quite a flurry of activity in Juneau in the final hours as legislators scramble to finish within the limited 90-day session. It's a tradition.

 

My personal tradition during that time is to check the Alaska Legislature website frequently and to engage in an extended bout of nail biting while the fate of both my favorite and least favorite bills are decided. Full disclosure: Most of the time the final scorecard is heavily weighted on the side of the least favorite bills. But I enjoy watching the game.

 

What about you, dear readers? Do you have a favorite bill or two you are rooting for? Or alternatively, a bill that gives you the shivers when you think of it becoming law? Do you have a favorite way of celebrating or mourning the results at the end of the session?

 

I invite you to visit our Facebook page and share your comments.

 

Have a wonderful, sunny weekend and thank you for reading Alaska Health Policy Review.  


Managing Editor

Important Information about
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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 April 117, 2014, 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 

Referred to (H) FIN   

04/09/14

HB 178 Reclassifying Certain Drug Offenses 

Heard and held in (H) JUD

04/08/13

Heard and held in (H) L&C
02/28/14

HB 324 Controlled Subst. Prescription Database 

Scheduled but not heard in (H) FIN on 04/04/14 

04/03/14

HB 362 Synthetic Drugs 

Heard and held in (H) JUD 

03/26/14

HB 369 Immunity for Drug Related Offense 

Moved out of (S) JUD; awaiting transmittal to next committee   

04/10/14

HB 370 AWCB Controlled Substance Prescriptions
Pending referral, scheduled to be heard on 04/18/14 in (S) JUD at 1:30 PM
04/16/14

SB 162 Hydrocodone Prescription By Optometrists 

Passed House

04/17/14

SB 56 Reclassifying Certain Drug Offenses 

Heard and held in (H) FIN  

04/12/14

SB 66 Imitation Controlled Substance 

Referred to (H) JUD 

04/15/14

SB 173 Synthetic Drugs
Scheduled to be heard in (H) FIN on 04/17/14; hearing canceled
04/17/14

SB 186 Controlled Substances Advisory Committee 

House Rules to Calendar

04/01/14


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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 

Scheduled to be heard in (S) FIN on 04/18/14 at 9:00 AM  

04/17/14

Effective date of law 04/09/14 
04/10/14

HB 311 Direct-Entry Midwives

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

SB 8 Pharmacy Audits 

Scheduled but not heard in (S) L&C by request of sponsor 

04/16/14

SB 80 Out-of-State Physician Licensing 

Moved out of (S) FIN  

03/19/14
Scheduled but not heard in (S) L&C on 02/27/14
02/27/14
SB 156 Direct-Entry Midwives

Passed House   

04/17/14


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Bill Watch: Medical Assistance and Health Insurance

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

Moved out of (S) L&C
04/16/14

HB 124 Public Retiree Med. Benefits: Dependents 

Referred to (H) STA and FIN

02/15/13

HB 134 Medicaid Payment for Mediset Prescription 

Moved out of (S) HSS    

04/16/14

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

03/17/14

HB 196 School District Employee Health Insurance 

Heard and held in (H) L&C

04/08/13

HB 203 Reimbursement of Health Insurance Claims

Scheduled but not heard in (H) L&C on 04/09/14

04/09/14

Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS on 04/03/14; hearing canceled
04/03/14

HB 300 Air Ambulance Services 

Heard and held in (H) L&C  

02/21/14

HB 356 Advisory Committee on Wellness 

Referred to (S) STA  

04/17/14

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 

Heard and held in (S) STA  

04/08/14

SB 49 Restrict Medicaid Payment for Abortions 

Due back from governor 05/03/14

04/16/14

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
Due back from governor 05/05/14

04/15/14

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

Advanced to third reading in Senate
04/17/14
Scheduled but not heard in (H) JUD on 04/09/14
04/10/14
Heard and held in (S) FIN
04/1014

HB 313 Mitigating Factor: Combat-Related PTSD 

Referred to (H) JUD
03/24/14

HB 355 Mental Health First Aid Training 

Heard and held in (H) HSS  

03/27/14

HB 366 Involuntary Commitment 

Referred to (S) RLS  

04/15/14

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 and held 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

Awaiting transmittal to governor
04/16/14

Awaiting transmittal to governor  

04/16/14

Awaiting transmittal to governor      

04/16/14

Awaiting transmittal to governor

04/16/14
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 

Moved out of (S) L&C     

04/17/14

HB 361 Licensing of Behavior Analysts 

Moved out of (S) FIN 

04/17/14

Heard and held in (H) FIN  

04/07/14

Awaiting transmittal to governor  
04/08/14
Effective date of law same as passage  
04/16/14

SB 166 Board of Nursing; Nurses 

Referred to (H) RLS

04/16/14

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

Awaiting transmittal to governor; fiscal note correction
04/07/14
Referred to (H) L&C
01/21/14
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Referred to (H) RLS
03/12/14
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Moved out of (S) FIN
04/16/14
Referred to (H) EDC
01/27/14

HB 348 High-Risk Chemicals for Child Exposure 

Referred to (H) L&C

02/26/14

HB 374 Statewide Immunization Program
Scheduled but not heard in (H) HSS on 03/25/14
03/26/14
HCR 18 Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Awaiting transmittal to governor
04/14/14

HCR 21 Child Abuse Prevention Month 

Permanently filed Legislative Resolve 36

04/16/14

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 (H) FIN on 04/16/14; hearing canceled    
04/09/14

SB 200 Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child 

Awaiting transmittal to governor    

04/17/14

SCR 13 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 

Awaiting transmittal to governor

04/17/14

SJR 20 Military Sexual Trauma 

Referred to (S) RLS

03/28/14


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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) RLS   

04/09/14 

HB 149 Workers' Comp for State Firefighters 

Heard and held in (H) L&C  

03/31/14

Referred to (H) L&C
02/03/14
Referred to (S) FIN
04/16/14

HB 377 Controlled Substances and Workers Comp 

Referred to (H) HSS

03/14/14

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 (S) JUD

04/17/14

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

Heard and held in (H) STA
03/04/14
Moved out of (H) EDC
04/02/14
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 

(S) FIN referral removed   

04/16/14

HB 360 Regulation of Smoking 

Heard and held in (H) HSS

03/25/14

HCR 19 Supporting Efforts of Recover Alaska 

Awaiting transmittal to governor     

04/15/14

HCR 21 Child Abuse Prevention Month 

Permanently filed Legislative Resolve 36    

04/16/14

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

Heard and held in (H) FIN
04/14/14
Referred to (S) STA
01/22/14
Referred to (H) JUD
02/28/14

SB 187 Child Welfare: Confidential Information 

Scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD on 04/11/14 at 1:00 PM in Capitol 120   

04/10/14

SB 209 Regulation of Smoking 

Scheduled to be heard in (S) FIN on 04/11/14 at 9:00 AM in Senate Finance 532 

04/03/14

SB 212 Assaults on Emergency Responders 

Awaiting transmittal to governor 

04/14/14

SCR 20 Sexual Assault Awareness Month 

Permanently filed Legislative Resolve 39    

04/1614


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Bill Watch: Environmental Issues

BILL NUMBER AND SHORT TITLE

STATUS

DATE

HB 77 Land Disposals/Exchanges; Water Rights

Scheduled but not heard in (S) RES

03/17/14

HB 89 Aquatic Invasive Species

Referred to (S) FIN  

04/15/13

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) FIN
04/02/14
Referred to (H) RES7
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; hearing canceled  

03/10/14

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) RLS    

04/11/14


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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
Awaiting transmittal to governor
04/16/14
HB 251 Affordable Care Act Navigators
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Referred to (H) HSS
01/21/14
Moved out of (S) L&C
04/16/14
HJR 20 Medical Device Tax
Awaiting transmittal to governor
03/21/14

HJR 25 Vietnam Vets: Service-Related Diseases

Held in House under unfinished business
04/16/14

SCR 14 H&SS Regional Best Practice Models 

Awaiting transmittal to governor

04/17/14

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 April 17, 2014.

 

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.

Power of Aging in Alaska Symposium

When: Thursday, May 1, 2014, from 8:20 AM - 5:30 PM

Where: Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage

Other information: Seniors, baby boomers, caregivers, policymakers, providers, and the public are invited to attend the symposium, which is designed to deliver the knowledge and tools needed to develop a strong voice in improving senior services, promoting senior-friendly communities, increasing opportunities for senior community enhancement, and empowering seniors to successfully age in Alaska. The event is sponsored by The Trust, Alaska Commission on Aging, and other partners.

Contact information: To RSVP, download a RSVP form to complete and fax, mail, or email; call 907-465-3250; or email.


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.  

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Alaska Health Policy Review Staff and Contributors

Kelby Murphy,
Proofreader
Jacqui YeagleManaging editor