Dear Neighbor,

Making positive changes to our state’s health care system is one of my highest priorities.  The director of the Alaska eHealth Network (a non-profit membership organization formed to advance solutions for health information exchange) first presented me with an idea to use modern technology to connect labs, clinics, individual practitioners, pharmacists, and hospitals to provide the best quality of care to Alaskans.  After doing further research, it became obvious that this was a 21st century solution to Alaska’s growing health care challenges. 

Therefore, on March 2nd, I introduced Senate Bill 133, an act to create a statewide electronic health information exchange system.

Senator Bettye Davis, Chair of the Senate Health & Social Services Committee, has signed-on as a co-sponsor and over 300 health organizations in Alaska are eager to participate in the electronic Health Information Exchange System.  Each day, the legislation is gaining momentum and support.

Senate Bill 133 moved through Senate Health and Social Services Committee and has been heard in Senate Finance Committee.

The bill seeks to modernize Alaska’s healthcare IT infrastructure by developing a secure electronic Health Information Exchange (HIE) system to improve the safety, cost, effectiveness, and quality of healthcare in Alaska. 

The benefits of this system are so widely recognized that this bill has received the support of healthcare providers and stakeholders from around the state including:

• The Alaska VA Healthcare System
• Alaska State Medical Association
• Alaska Primary Care Association
• Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
• Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
• Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
• AARP
• Premera Blue Cross
• and many other private practices, hospitals, health organizations and individuals from around the state.

By developing an electronic health information exchange system, Alaska’s healthcare system will save approximately $250 million and would save Medicaid $10 to $12 million (includes both state and federal dollars). 

Senate Bill 133 seeks to develop an electronic HIE system that would allow individual Alaskans to have their own personal health record and to authorize their health care providers to exchange electronic medical records in a timely manner.  The bill further will establish strict standards to secure and protect the confidentiality of the health information of a patient.  These standards include a system by which patients can see who has viewed their records, restrictions on how information may be used, patient consent requirements, an ability to opt out of the health information exchange system, and notification of confidentiality violations.

Other healthcare legislation I have sponsored or co-sponsored include: SB 163, SB 10, SB 13, SB 18, SB 32, SB 49, SB 79, SB 87, and SB 118.

Earlier this month I met with the Kenai River Sportfishermen’s Association.  One of their board members is Bob Penney who gave former Fairbanks Senator Bettye Fahrenkamp a mounted Alaska-shaped piece of the Trans Alaska Pipeline.  The piece hung in her office until her untimely death in 1991.  After I came to Juneau in January, my friend Tim Beck loaned the piece to me and it now hangs in my office here in Juneau.

As the session draws to a close, please feel free to contact me any time.

     Sincerely,
   

In this issue

Electronic Health Network

Piece of History

CONTACT ME
ANYTIME

IN JUNEAU:
(907) 465-3709
Toll Free: 1-877-665-3709
Fax: (907) 465-4714
State Capitol Room #7
Juneau, AK 99801

IN FAIRBANKS:
(907) 451-4347
1292 Sadler Way
Suite 308
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Stimulus Grants Symposium

This event will streamline access to grant information for Alaskans and provide an invaluable opportunity to speak directly with agency officials.

April 14th at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage from 11am to 5pm.

The Legislative Information Office in Fairbanks will be open for teleconferencing.

See Press Release 

For more information contact:
Senator Murkowski
Senator Begich
Congressman Young