Legislative Watch

SB 87: provides incentives for health care providers who care for patients over the age of 65.  PAs are included in the definition of health care provider.

HB 78: Seeks to establish a loan repayment program and employment incentive program for certain health care professionals employed in the state.  Tier II professionals specifically include PAs.  The program provides direct incentives.

HB 79: Requires insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders, describes the method for establishing a covered treatment plan for those disorders, and defines the covered treatment for those disorders.  As currently written, it is devoid of PAs. I thought that PAs should be able to determine a treatment plan and what is deemed “medically necessary.”

HB 28: sponsored by Rep. Thomas would allow a non-resident to be issued a temporary courtesy license for up to 180 days for work in Alaska if that person has an active license in another state and has actively practiced at least two of the five years preceding the application.

HB 38: sponsored by Rep. Kawasaki would establish a medical school at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

HB 15: Concerns the prevention and evaluation of and liability for traumatic brain injuries in student athletes.

SB 22: Same summary as HB 15.

SB 70: Seeks to establish the Alaska Health Benefit Exchange.

SB 14: Seeks to add a new section to the current code to provide for the protection and reasonable accommodation of a health care provider’s expression of conscience pertaining to a health care service.