Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Committee Votes Summary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: Senate Health and Social Services Committee advances SB 95 and SB 121, adopts SCR 2; sets deadlines for SB 122 and SJR 15
Summary
At its March 27 hearing the committee moved several measures from committee, adopted a resolution supporting crisis-care efforts, set an amendment deadline for SB 122, and deferred Senate Joint Resolution 15 for further drafting.
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee handled five agenda items on March 27 and recorded the following formal actions.
Senate Bill 95 (Child Care Assistance Grants): The committee opened and closed public testimony on SB 95 and a member moved the bill from committee with individual recommendations. The committee announced no objections and the bill moved from committee.
Senate Bill 121 (Health insurance allowable charges): The committee adopted two amendments (one clarifying that equal-pay language applies to out-of-network providers; another applying a 450% CMS-Medicare fee-schedule floor to all providers) and moved the bill from committee as amended.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (support crisis care and Medicaid reform): The committee opened and closed public testimony and, with no amendments offered, moved SCR 2 from committee with individual recommendations and a forthcoming fiscal note. Committee members described SCR 2 as supporting expanded crisis services and the continuum of care, including crisis teams and residential beds, and noted access and billing questions remain for some provider plans.
Senate Bill 122 (health insurance network standards): The committee took public testimony (Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska testified in opposition) and set an amendment deadline for Wednesday, April 2. Committee members discussed concerns about network adequacy language in SB 122 and asked the carrier to provide information on federal network adequacy requirements and examples from other states.
Senate Joint Resolution 15 (oppose Medicaid cuts): The committee did not adopt a committee substitute at this hearing; the chair presented conceptual amendments for discussion, and the committee set the measure aside for further work, noting possible language changes (including clarifying fiscal figures and population impacts) before a CS is filed.
All measures will proceed through the Legislature’s referral process; some will require further fiscal and data analysis in later committees.
