[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6279544,"mediaKeyId","2621757-3d33832141eb8b06dc482c6289f44fac","parentId",2621757,"title","Panel advances bill to expand safe infant surrender boxes, adds tribal, signage and safety measures","audioSeconds",1184,"startMs",1230000,"endMs",2414000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621757-3d33832141eb8b06dc482c6289f44fac&start=1230&end=2414","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621757-3d33832141eb8b06dc482c6289f44fac/thumbnail_1230000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279544/Alaska/Panel-advances-bill-to-expand-safe-infant-surrender-boxes-adds-tribal-signage-and-safety-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279544-4a89b1747a78952a2313ffda7e248f69/orig.mp4?Expires=1775237092&Signature=C~VbBIqalev6ZBwXvTIRxe4mN-3JVFvwgIFLOAv3xOw~oWotDDX0qU7acwzo57HfTJNGBV75CExTlZqOQCaaRtF9NPakmyUYa6a~bNoXEo4KT18k1alRNodp8t8M6zRv2FIlEBW3flY3T7Kakr3pV51rGf-Mk8Yc2vVuVsGQoeuipqA19Xmd~pLOHQVbHTR5zcvoKJaZCAs4HVPV6H~ADmJ2EACym2BISkZ0XLy~UKc4fiyW6plTRxjQEIXV-fIR5L~stQrjpWhovAs6yjrtkLE1FhOl-FGaQ6YA7PowyxrewVeXleeXtf8~bI54qDSxFNLR1ygJ3h~PM2-kXAbB9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 13 adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 9, which updates Alaska’s safe infant surrender statute to add protections and operational standards for safe-surrender boxes.

The substitute adds “health facility” as defined in AS 47.07.900 when owned or managed by a tribal health organization so tribal facilities are explicitly covered. The CS also amends AS 47.10.013 to require clear signage on approved devices listing a crisis hotline phone number, a list of alternatives to using the device, and a statement that placing an infant in the device “constitutes abandonment and may lead to involuntary termination of the parent’s right to the child, and release of the child for adoption or other permanent placement.” The substitute further instructs the department to consider size, safety and means to minimize unauthorized use when approving a proposed device, and it requires immediate contact with an Indian child’s tribe if the department determines the child is an Indian child.

Senator Robert Myers, sponsor of SB9, told the committee the bill is meant to “save lives” by adding another tool to allow parents in crisis a safe option to surrender infants rather than abandoning them. Committee aide Aria Wigan read the rationale for the new signage language, saying the intent is to ensure a surrendering parent is aware of a crisis hotline and alternatives, and to make explicit the legal consequences that may follow surrender.

Senator Hughes raised concern that the signage language—particularly the use of the term “abandonment”—could deter a frightened parent from using a safe-surrender device if they interpret the sign as saying they are committing a crime. Senator Myers acknowledged the wording is “a bit of a loaded word” and said the sponsor’s office and others would review the language as the bill moves through additional committees.

The substitute also gives the Department of Health discretion to approve a device’s size so boxes are large enough for newborns but not large enough to encourage misuse, according to the committee aide’s summary.

Actions and procedural history: The committee adopted the committee substitute as the working document and later moved SB9 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes; the chair observed no objections when the measure was reported from committee.

What remains unresolved: Committee members asked for further coordination with the Division of Family and Community Services on the practicality of implementation and for careful review of the signage language to avoid discouraging use. The measure will be considered in subsequent committees of referral.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/13/2025 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 13 adopted a committee substitute for SB9 to expand safe-surrender device coverage to tribal health facilities, require clear signage with crisis resources and legal notices, and direct the department to consider size and safety when approving devices.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6279549,"Senate committee advances telehealth parity bill but removes provider pay mandate",893,313000,1206000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621757-3d33832141eb8b06dc482c6289f44fac&start=313&end=1206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621757-3d33832141eb8b06dc482c6289f44fac/thumbnail_313000.jpg","/articles/6279549/Alaska/Senate-committee-advances-telehealth-parity-bill-but-removes-provider-pay-mandate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279549-0aad88ae863288d3d91e0359e8b87322/orig.mp4?Expires=1775237092&Signature=aB1BNsjCB1yzS7-qFKpRCSqPRDKzzyqHTpKVZO~YvjlNTMAA4wDr58MOcj46qonz8zqmFu-qg9rE4e2RIHDFK1BHrRZJRucesF0zoyIG10kl-O7LnGHPmky7N-QS4wK0ZjxdmTsZn4YVU2fJuPtws4eRKVUSuhLKgCf3ipy~N2Pp~ygNPUNSZHKas9G39s44clAnafP5DcAJZ~T~pyw2wrZ3M87e-HKcyX7kPErHVCmfXZfUSB3fQjCl9MWbNSfAtoh0viUdsebzurNT9CyjUWHykc2ogM48slJ70GkuuhyGZqk5fi99LBtmQTXHjiyhfjBQ2D0CZnQ7xSM3MuEE9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 13 adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 83, a measure that would codify telehealth reimbursement rules and set an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.

The committee substitute (version O) removes a provision that would have required insurers to apply identical reimbursement rates to all health-care providers and adds language explicitly covering behavioral health services. The substitute also eliminates the sunset date tied to House Bill 265 (2022), making the COVID-era telehealth regulatory changes permanent.

Aria Wigan, committee aide, summarized the changes for the record, saying the prior version’s section requiring equal reimbursement for each provider was removed and that the phrase “including behavioral health services” was added to the services covered. She also said the substitute removed the sunset for HB265 and set an effective date of 01/01/2026.

Why it matters: The changes would preserve telehealth access rules created during the COVID-19 emergency and could affect how Medicaid and private insurers reimburse telehealth visits. Senator Hughes pressed for cost projections tied to Medicaid and whether removing the sunset date could increase Medicaid spending in later years.

Director Laurie Winghire of the Division of Insurance told the committee she does not administer Medicaid and could not provide Medicaid cost projections: “I don’t do Medicaid so I wouldn’t have that information. You’d need to get it from the Department of Health, ma’am.” She also said insurers who were surveyed told the committee staff they already pay telehealth visits at parity with in-person visits and that the office had not received letters of opposition from carriers: “they all advised us that they're already paying at parity.”

Committee debate also addressed a deleted provision (referred to in the hearing as section 3) that would have altered pay based on provider licensure. Senator Giesel said the proposed statutory change would have created “disproportionate pay for providers depending on their licensure” and preferred to omit that subject from SB83; Senator Clayman said the removed language will be addressed in separate legislation (SB121).

Actions and procedural history: The committee adopted the committee substitute as its working document after a staff summary and discussion. Senator Giesel moved the CS from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes; there were no recorded objections and the bill “moves from committee.” The committee did not take a recorded roll-call vote during the hearing; the chair noted no objections when the CS was reported from committee.

What remains unresolved: Members asked for Medicaid-specific cost projections beyond 2030 and whether private insurers had reviewed and accepted the substitute’s changes now that the Medicaid sunset had been removed. Committee members noted that the bill will still go to Finance for further review, where insurers and other stakeholders can present fiscal concerns.

The committee reported SB83 out with its committee substitute and recommendations; paperwork was signed following the session.","The Alaska Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 13 adopted a committee substitute for SB83 that locks telehealth reimbursement rules into law, removes a provision on provider-specific pay differences, and sets an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026; members raised but did not resolve cost questions tied to Medicaid.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6279539,"Committee hears resolution urging all-payer model to sustain crisis care; caregivers testify Medicaid cuts threaten rural care",514,2442000,2956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621757-3d33832141eb8b06dc482c6289f44fac&start=2442&end=2956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621757-3d33832141eb8b06dc482c6289f44fac/thumbnail_2442000.jpg","/articles/6279539/Alaska/Committee-hears-resolution-urging-all-payer-model-to-sustain-crisis-care-caregivers-testify-Medicaid-cuts-threaten-rural-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279539-ab491c55163f277825e6b22c3950a49c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775237092&Signature=DBTXv7HpQ8SpOXgwAKYr9U~gI03ifxzRKpA36Zjyveg~XP3qGQ6MuJtg0PnMvhPIvUUatmPCg5YVuTjhutsqOmqmxH5aBcMyaFg6OU0usZhjn3OKS9ttncK7G2E3HmZPYqZfPJ-juX9H2EIZSg9aui0xGo8XogWU5tOk1VPcelIDzYXQWZ5R2Pel5YphNkZ1xrXAaqSCrlbOmZmp0gQnGsu6qnlNNUemS0~oXWCwsqv8I3-V6AmcPITFncSAz8axAIXzJVZpcoLSw8SRnY6pNIK5HegkO4e-jEkDFObZzXDmZx5m8O4zuophjLYfjeuxKz3~n68CkXGwDwsUDzQZTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Committee Resolution 2 (SCR2), introduced March 13 in the Alaska Senate Health and Social Services Committee, urges the governor to direct the Department of Health and the Division of Insurance to convene public and private payers, stakeholders and legislative leaders to develop recommendations for an all-payer model to sustain crisis-care services.

Committee aide Aria Wigan described crisis care as a model that includes a 24/7 crisis call center and crisis stabilization services and said the crisis call line launched in Alaska in July 2022. Wigan told the committee that long-term sustainability of the service is threatened by funding gaps and administrative barriers, and that SCR2 seeks an all-payer approach to create a stable funding model.

Invited testimony came from caregivers who said cuts to Medicaid or unstable funding would force Alaskans — particularly in rural communities — out of their homes to get care. Melanie Sugunik (self-identified from the Native Village of Unalakleet) described caregiving shortages in her region and pleaded for Medicaid support so elders and disabled residents can remain in their communities: “Without caregivers, without Medicaid, that choice is being taken away.” Evelyn McNamee, a caregiver in Wasilla and a retired RN, told the committee that clients fear losing access to care if cuts proceed and that caregivers themselves face income insecurity that affects care quality.

Committee members said SCR2 connects to other Medicaid and waiver policy work; the chair noted the resolution mentions the “section 1115 behavioral health and substance use disorder waiver.” The committee took invited testimony but set the resolution aside for a later date and said it would reopen public testimony when it returns.

Actions and procedural history: SCR2 was introduced for invited testimony; no committee vote was taken. The committee accepted invited testimony and then set the resolution aside to be taken up at a future meeting.","SCR2, introduced March 13, urges the governor to direct Health and the Division of Insurance to convene stakeholders to recommend an all-payer funding model for crisis care. Caregivers from rural Alaska testified that funding gaps and proposed Medicaid cuts threaten local caregiving capacity and access to home/community care.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel advances bill to expand safe infant surrender boxes, adds tribal, signage and safety measures

Senate committee advances telehealth parity bill but removes provider pay mandate

Committee hears resolution urging all-payer model to sustain crisis care; caregivers testify Medicaid cuts threaten rural care