Announcement

President's Report
by: Rod Betit (January 12, 2007)

Summary: LEGISLATIVE SNAPSHOT (‘Ctrl + click’ on Bill # takes you to latest version of bill on Web) (Red font denotes change in status since last update)

Full Story: PRESIDENT’S REPORT January 12, 2007 LEGISLATIVE SNAPSHOT (‘Ctrl + click’ on Bill # takes you to latest version of bill on Web) (Red font denotes change in status since last update) House Bills Bill # Sponsor Title/Description Position Status HB4 Lynn An Act amending the CON requirements to apply only to health care facilities that are nursing homes or residential psychiatric treatment centers or that are located in a borough with a population of not more than 25,000, in the unorganized borough, or in a community with a critical access hospital. Oppose Pending HB18 Meyer An Act making WWHAMI amendments that change the functions and powers of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education to give it authority to increase the number of medical students placed, and adds a requirement for payback of financial assistance if the student does not return to Alaska to practice medicine. Support Pending HB35 Kawasaki An Act extending the termination date for the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives; and providing for an effective date. Pending Pending HB55 Kelly An Act relating to Postsecondary Education that authorizes expansion of the WWHAMI program to 20 students. Support Pending HB71 Kawasaki An Act requiring licensure of occupations relating to radiologic technology, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine technology Pending Pending Senate Bills Bill # Sponsor Title/Description Position Status SB8 Davis Relating to a mental health patient’s right to choose the gender of the hospital staff providing intimate care to the mental health patient and to the duties of hospital staff in caring for patients receiving mental health treatment. Pending Pending SB27 Davis Relating to eligibility requirements for medical assistance for certain children, pregnant women and persons in medical or intermediate care facilities. Pending Pending SB28 Davis Relating to limitations on mandatory overtime for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in health care. Pending Pending SB29 Dyson Requiring certain hospitals to make certain disclosures on patient billings. Pending Pending SB32 Wilken An Act relating to postsecondary educational services and programs for Alaska residents; relating to a student loan repayment program for medical doctors, and amending the duties of the State Medical Board that relate to the program; relating to a student loan repayment program for registered nurses, and amending the duties of the Board of Nursing that relate to the program Pending Pending Other Measures Bill # Sponsor Title/Description Position Status None at this time ________________________________________ Final regulations dealing with barrier crimes and criminal history checks were adopted by Commissioner Karleen Jackson on January 5, 2007. These regulations become operative 30 days after their filing by the Lt. Governor. Go to http://www.hss.state.ak.us/publicnotice/regulations.cfm#LtGovernor and click on ‘Final Regulations’ link to see the complete regulation language. Human resources managers should become familiar with these new requirements immediately to avoid hiring conflicts once the new rules become effective. ________________________________________ Officials of the Alaska Marine Highway System have confirmed that they have altered the schedule for the fast ferry M.V. Fairweather to make a special sailing to accommodate ASHNHA annual meeting travelers so they can return to Juneau in order to catch evening flights out of Juneau on August 9, 2007. This will be a terrific sailing with incredible scenery. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Marine Highway officials for making this possible. Instructions will be sent to those of you who have confirmed your intent to travel on the ferry as to how to make your reservation. The M.V. Fairweather will leave Petersburg on Thursday August 9, 2007 @ 1:30PM and will arrive in Juneau at 5:30PM. Transportation from the ferry terminal in Juneau to the airport will be arranged by ASHNHA. ________________________________________ California launched a new universal coverage proposal built around an individual mandate model. Key features of the proposed program include: Requiring all individuals to have a minimum level of coverage (individual mandate). Requiring people to carry coverage is the most effective strategy for fixing the broken health care system. The core problem for California is that those with insurance pay the cost of health care delivered to 6.5 million uninsured. Everyone must participate equally. An employer mandate will not achieve universal coverage because it fails to address the needs of part-time, seasonal, and unemployed uninsured Californians. Providing low-income individuals affordable coverage: Low-income Californians will be provided expanded access to public programs, such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, and lower-income working residents will be provided financial assistance to help with the cost of coverage through a new state-administered purchasing pool. Requiring insurers to issue health insurance: Insurers will be required to guarantee coverage, with limits on how much they can charge based on age or health status, so that all individuals have access to affordable products. Increasing Medi-Cal rates significantly to reduce the “hidden tax” associated with low Medi-Cal reimbursement and to encourage greater provider participation in the Medi-Cal program, Medi-Cal rates for providers, hospitals, and health plans will be increased. Facilitating and enforcing the individual mandate: Systems will be established to facilitate enrollment of uninsured persons who use the health care system. Providers will play an important role in supporting enrollment by instituting such strategies as on-site enrollment at provider locations, as well as by underscoring the expectation that everyone present a coverage card at the point of service. In addition, the salary tax withholding and payment process with the Employment Development Department and the state income tax filing process will be utilized to promote compliance with the individual mandate. The Financing Plan Employers with 10 or more employees who choose not to offer health coverage will contribute an amount equal to 4% of payroll toward the cost of employees’ health coverage. The plan will direct $10-$15 billion to hospitals and doctors, who will then return a portion of this coverage dividend associated with universal coverage; hospitals will contribute 4% of gross revenues and physicians will contribute 2% of gross revenues. The redirection of $2 billion in medically indigent care funding, which includes health care safety net, realignment, and other funding sources. Additional federal reimbursements for Healthy Families Program expansion, Medi-Cal rate increases, Medi-Cal coverage of parents as well as single adults through a Medi-Cal Section 1115 Waiver. The ‘Minimum Benefit’ The minimum health insurance benefit that an individual must purchase will be a $5,000 deductible plan with maximum out-of-pocket limits of $7,500 per person and $10,000 per family. For the majority of uninsured individuals, the State estimates this minimum coverage can be purchased for $100 or less per month for an individual and $200 or less for two persons. Uninsured persons at any income level can purchase their own health coverage that meets the above requirement or, if income eligible, may obtain coverage with a state subsidy. The debate has barely started but key parties are already staking out their territories. We will keep you posted on key developments as this moves forward. ________________________________________ ________________________________________ The deadline for submitting 2007 ASHNHA dues payments and receive a 5% early payment discount is January 31, 2007. Be sure your organization’s payment is made in time to receive this discount. If you are not uncertain if your dues payment has been received at ASHNHA, please contact Brenda MacKinnon, ASHNHA Office Manager, at 586-1790. ________________________________________ Upcoming Meetings of Interest: • ASHNHA 2007 Winter Meeting (Juneau) - NEW DATES March 29-30, 2007. A room block has been reserved at the Gold Belt Hotel for the nights of March 29 and 30. The phone numbers are - toll-free: 888-478-6909 or 907-586-6900. Meetings will be held at the Centennial Hall adjacent to the Hotel. The ASHNHA Board meeting will occur on March 30. • AHA Annual Meeting (D.C.) - May 6 through 9, 2007 in Washington, D.C. • National Rural Health Association Meeting (Anchorage) - May 14 through 17, 2007 in Anchorage, Alaska. • ASHNHA 2007 Annual Meeting (Petersburg) – to be held in conjunction with education sessions August 6 through August 9, 2007 in Petersburg. The ASHNHA meeting will take place on August 8 & 9.

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