Today, Governor Mike Dunleavy expanded his special session to include two pieces of legislation that will strengthen the state’s ongoing response to the recent COVID surge. A proposed new bill will expand the use of telemedicine and telehealth services, provide additional tools to expand Alaska’s health care workforce, and enhance capacity within the state’s healthcare system to help respond to the recent surge in COVID-19.
In January, Dunleavy introduced legislation to allow Alaska to join the 34 other states would have adopted a Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact. HB 83 and SB 67 would strengthen Alaska’s healthcare delivery system by reducing barriers to licensure for Registered and License Practical Nurses, and enhance the ability for nurses from other states to practice in Alaska. The Governor’s action adds those bills to the special session call and they can be immediately taken up House and Senate Health and Social Services Committees.
This comes as hospital officials ask Dunleavy to issue a new disaster declaration to ease the pressure of COVID-19 cases. The Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association says the declaration is needed to lower regulatory hurdles for field hospitals and other potential triage scenarios medical workers soon could face.
Dunleavy ended the state’s initial COVID-19 disaster declaration earlier this year, citing Alaska’s success at keeping people out of the hospital and the state’s vaccination rate, which was leading the nation at that time. Alaska recently set its high mark for current COVID-19 hospitalizations.
The State Legislature is in a Third Special Session which is currently scheduled to end on September 16th.