The Alaska Senate voted to expand Alaskans’ access to telehealth and telemedicine services and provide additional tools to bolster Alaska’s healthcare workforce. SB 3006 relates to the rights of patients to have a support person present during treatment and during stays at certain facilities; relating to utilization review requirements; making temporary changes to state law in response to the novel coronavirus disease; relating to telemedicine and telehealth; relating to background checks; and providing for an effective date.
Republican Sen. Mia Costello of Anchorage:
“Mainly, it allows Alaskan workers to be hired faster to address the needs in our hospitals and nursing homes. So, I would have to say this really is an Alaska hire bill because what it does is it allows the 450 positions that are currently needed in our hospitals and nursing home facilities to be filled faster. Nurses, certified nurse assistants, lab technicians, janitors can be hired more quickly and the way that happens in the bill is in the section on the background checks. What this bill does is it says that the hospital or nursing home can conduct the background check and hire the individual and then the state has until July 1st, 2020, to conduct our side of that process, which, by the way, we actually send that over to the department of public safety and then they provide the results to health and social services.”
There were several amendments proposed, including Amendment 4 from Sen. Lora Reinbold, which would allow an individual to object to the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine based on religious, medical, or other grounds.
Reinbold said:
“However, there’s some really good things that got passed in here. I’m deeply, deeply grateful that the opt in…right now, we’re an opt in state. What one of the amendments does is it clarifies that you can also opt out and I’m so thankful to everybody who voted for that. I’m so thankful.”
Reinbold also offered another amendment, which passed, which says that a business, state agency, or political subdivision of the state may not require an individual to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the individual to access an area or service that is open to the public. It passed on a 9 – 8 vote, with three excused absences.
Senate President Peter Micciche:
“This bill is about serving Alaskans at a time when COVID-19 has once again strained our healthcare system. This timely legislation will improve Alaska’s healthcare delivery by streamlining insurance reviews, hiring and onboarding of healthcare workers, and providing tools to encourage appropriate treatment, whenever possible, outside of healthcare facilities currently operating at or over-capacity. With the recent surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, I urge the House to act quickly in the last few days of this special session and send this bill to the governor’s desk for his signature.”
On September 2nd, Governor Mike Dunleavy added Senate Bill 3006 and other healthcare legislation to the call of the third special session. Although not included in the original call, the Senate expedited committee work and prioritized passage of the bill in an effort to provide relief to overstressed healthcare facilities and employees.
SB 3006 passed the Senate by a vote of 13-3. The bill is now on its way to Alaska House of Representatives for consideration. For more information on SB 3006, click here.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360 TV.