[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6265789,"mediaKeyId","3088785-162f93403b05d1e926237c6eeebeac0d","parentId",3088785,"title","Committee hears broad support for bill expanding pharmacist patient-care services; SB 147 held for further consideration","audioSeconds",873,"startMs",610000,"endMs",1483000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3088785-162f93403b05d1e926237c6eeebeac0d&start=610&end=1483","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3088785-162f93403b05d1e926237c6eeebeac0d/thumbnail_610000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265789/Alaska/Committee-hears-broad-support-for-bill-expanding-pharmacist-patient-care-services-SB-147-held-for-further-consideration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265789-161128fd430ff0be74ebe7d13b6663b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166524&Signature=lYj51YBloqB4f8x8bHAqLXWXZAAbflg1YKuSnOCmPlbk55Ed-x817Oul0vKNoC4QfsHWCbWhQGLIa01gpSfV0XXKt9krz1gEbzIFaPNP-iM57Klntq2TCYnniPJHto3Ucy~kAyy6O1aSyfXP630afGS6ADS4GmPvYYs3Trd5kGqbCjKjMr~Hy3U9pcUQokTF~vtxZOW60nY-NaNUvWyeMiBw36WYKciwcK-3XCXELchwcCCJSuXpeirG60PkrkyegSZspH-a2JeyJhoOeWsZV1dAYPmbh1W5MqVmz9QUwe5QD3FmT1cy-zKwQv5muZgreJZ7Zq-Ru~2gh7ld6I7FTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Health and Social Services Committee members heard multiple supporters of Senate Bill 147, a bill to expand pharmacist-provided patient care services, during an April 20 committee hearing in Juneau. The committee closed testimony and held the bill for further consideration; no final committee vote was taken.

Sponsor comments framed SB 147 as a limited expansion of pharmacists' authority within existing professional training and standards. \"It does not expand pharmacist authority beyond the services that they are well trained to perform,\" sponsor Senator Giesel told the committee, adding that the bill would not authorize pharmacists to prescribe abortion-inducing medications and that Alaska statute AS 18.16.010 remains unchanged.

The committee received several pieces of supportive testimony from practicing pharmacists, pharmacy students and association representatives. Eric Holland, a pharmacy student in a joint program with Idaho State University, said Alaska lacks an in-state pharmacy program and urged passage so newly trained pharmacists can practice to the scope of their education. Amy Young, a pharmacist with nearly 20 years licensed experience, recounted establishing a walk-in immunization clinic and collaborating in team-based, non-opioid pain-management programs. Britney Carnes, a Fairbanks pharmacist, said pharmacists regularly are consulted by other clinicians and asked the committee to allow pharmacists to work within an appropriate scope of practice already used in other states.

Committee members asked whether expanding pharmacist services would affect malpractice insurance. Dr. Ashley Shaber, chair of the Alaska Board of Pharmacy, said many pharmacists personally carry malpractice insurance and many employers also provide coverage; she said employers in states that expanded pharmacist practice had not reported an increase in claims. Dr. Brandy Signa Martin of the Alaska Pharmacy Association added that the association had engaged Pharmacists Mutual, a malpractice insurer, and offered to provide the committee a summary of considerations from insurers.

The committee did not adopt amendments during the hearing. The chair said members should submit planned amendments to the sponsor's office by 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 23. The committee scheduled its next meeting for April 24 at 3:30 p.m., when it plans to introduce other pharmacy-related bills and may continue consideration of SB 147.

The bill remains in committee for further work; no committee report or vote was recorded on April 20.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/22/2025 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES","oneSentenceSummary","Senators heard testimony supporting Senate Bill 147 to expand pharmacist-provided patient care services; the committee held the bill for further consideration and asked for possible amendments by April 23.","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},6265794,"Senate committee advances resolution urging federal 'Ensuring Lasting Smiles' policy",261,253000,514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3088785-162f93403b05d1e926237c6eeebeac0d&start=253&end=514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3088785-162f93403b05d1e926237c6eeebeac0d/thumbnail_253000.jpg","/articles/6265794/Alaska/Senate-committee-advances-resolution-urging-federal-Ensuring-Lasting-Smiles-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265794-5e1f26df88af506ea566a1c6a9073a5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166524&Signature=HHNv3cGzWY57Zm-591dQv8PDmTMkQaplmRQ3XbFTWVXBKlLTEh0-4QAvnGZxN55tfM4aO7G2n30~hRdLH4e3yV40Y1bhz0kX~39gVdttqRVq9U8FZJnO-O8m7dvWfl-IJVLdfKtiRVO6jAaEizf3QeB9CT7UqeE--9Mi6emqC7NgYc~w59XkgwZOEoanEh-ccfGSpHOQJ1ETFaLSDBIJVKdzBmSvD4G2NDT~tBvZJZQpheVcGivMja~0GiEAcrmZODyehz34YrqFZU~jgx6cucR8CFVQ1YXuZa-5w3W9yuySQs1JpOaULEpjZO2PlJj1utWBvsTsPVn~-3nwUFKLuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health and Social Services Committee advanced Senate Joint Resolution 16, known in testimony as the \"Ensuring Lasting Smiles\" resolution, from committee after brief public testimony and sponsor remarks during its April 20 hearing in Juneau.

The resolution asks Alaska’s congressional delegation to support federal legislation clarifying that medically necessary dental and facial treatments for congenital conditions are covered under federal benefit rules. \"By supporting this resolution, our state legislature has an opportunity to champion fairness and equity in health care,\" Senator Greg Jackson said in closing remarks to the committee. He asked the state to send a signal to Congress backing policies that prioritize health outcomes for people born with congenital differences.

The resolution was introduced at the April 10 hearing with invited testimony and returned to committee on April 20 for public testimony and a committee decision. Committee members heard one public commenter by remote call. For the record, Brian Brubaker, representing himself and identifying that his daughter has hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, described the financial strain faced by families needing extensive dental and surgical care. \"Teeth are not cosmetic. Teeth are needed for proper speech and nutrition,\" Brubaker said, adding that some procedures can cost families \"up to a hundred thousand dollars out of pocket.\" He also told the committee he believes a federal rule currently treats some of these treatments as cosmetic.

Senator Dunbar moved to report SJR 16 from committee with individual recommendations and any attached fiscal note; there were no objections and the motion carried. The committee did not record a roll-call vote in the hearing transcript; the chair announced that SJR 16 \"moves from committee.\" The committee paperwork was signed following the vote.

The resolution does not itself change state law or create a benefit; it is a formal expression of the Legislature’s position asking Congress to consider federal changes. Committee members did not direct staff to draft state-level legislation during the hearing. The sponsor noted prior invited testimony (April 10) and the committee placed the resolution on the record to move forward to the next steps in the Senate process.

Meeting participants noted the limited scope of the action: it asks federal attention and carries a fiscal note only if implemented at the federal level or if the state later enacts related measures. The committee clerk and staff signed the committee report after the motion passed.

The committee adjourned at about 4:01 p.m.","The Alaska Senate Health and Social Services Committee voted to move SJR 16 from committee after brief testimony urging federal action to ensure insurance coverage for treatments for congenital conditions, citing high out-of-pocket costs for families.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears broad support for bill expanding pharmacist patient-care services; SB 147 held for further consideration

Senate committee advances resolution urging federal 'Ensuring Lasting Smiles' policy