State of Alaska
Fiscal Note
Bill Version: CSSB 175(HSS)
2022 Legislative Session
Fiscal Note Number: 4
(S) Publish Date: 4/15/2022
Identifier: SB175-DOH-MS-2-18-2022 Department: Department of Health
Title: HEALTH CARE SERVICES BY TELEHEALTH Appropriation: Medicaid Services
Sponsor: WILSON Allocation: Medicaid Services
Requester: (S) HSS OMB Component Number: 3234
Expenditures/Revenues
Note: Amounts do not include inflation unless otherwise noted below. (Thousands of Dollars)
Included in
FY2023 Governor's
Appropriation FY2023 Out-Year Cost Estimates
Requested Request
OPERATING EXPENDITURES FY 2023 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
Personal Services
Travel
Services
Commodities
Capital Outlay
Grants & Benefits
Miscellaneous
Total Operating 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Fund Source (Operating Only)
None
Total 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Positions
Full-time
Part-time
Temporary
Change in Revenues
None
Total 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Estimated SUPPLEMENTAL (FY2022) cost: 0.0 (separate supplemental appropriation required)
Estimated CAPITAL (FY2023) cost: 0.0 (separate capital appropriation required)
Does the bill create or modify a new fund or account? No
(Supplemental/Capital/New Fund - discuss reasons and fund source(s) in analysis section)
ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS
Does the bill direct, or will the bill result in, regulation changes adopted by your agency? Yes
If yes, by what date are the regulations to be adopted, amended or repealed? 12/31/23
Why this fiscal note differs from previous version/comments:
Not applicable, initial version.
Prepared By: Linnea Osborne, Manager Phone: (907)465-6333
Division: Finance and Management Services Date: 02/18/2022
Approved By: Sylvan Robb, Assistant Commissioner Date: 02/18/22
Agency: Department of Health and Social Services
Printed 4/13/2022 Page 1 of 2 Control Code: gnORz
 CSSB 175(HSS) - Fiscal Note 4
FISCAL NOTE ANALYSIS
STATE OF ALASKA BILL NO. SB175
2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Analysis
This bill establishes that health care providers may provide health care services through telehealth without an initial in
person consultation as long as they are providing services that are within their authorized scope of practice and as long as
the provider holds a certificate or license in good standing. It further allows health care providers who are licensed in
another state to provide services if the patient has been referred by a provider currently licensed in Alaska or a federal or
tribal health care program.
This legislation also directs that a health care provider shall advise the patient that some or all of the services fall outside
their authorized scope of practice, and recommend the patient contact an appropriate provider for those services. This bill
also stipulates that the health care provider may not charge a fee for those services for which they are not authorized to
provide health care. Further, this bill requires that a fee for service provided through telehealth must be reasonable and
consistent with fees typically charged for the same service and may not exceed those fees.
This bill establishes that a physician, osteopath, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse and only these
practitioners may examine, diagnose, and provide treatment for opioid use disorder. This bill explicitly excludes other
providers from providing these services.
This bill addresses permissibility to prescribe controlled substances as listed under AS 11.71.14011.71.190 or botulinum
toxin through telehealth by physicians, podiatrists, osteopaths, and physician assistants as long as they comply with AS
08.64.364. The bill would allow an advanced practice registered nurse to prescribe, dispense, or administer a controlled
substance as listed under AS 11.71.14011.71.190 other than buprenorphine if they first conduct an inperson examination
on the patient.
This bill provides a definition for health care provider as given under AS 08.11, AS 08.15, AS 08.20, AS 08.29, AS 08.32, AS
08.36, AS 08.38, AS 08.45, AS 08.63, AS 08.64, AS 08.65, AS 08.68, AS 08.71, AS 08.72, AS 08.80, AS 08.84, AS 08.86, and AS
08.95, respectively, and provides the definition of telehealth as that given in AS 47.05.270(e).
This bill requires the department to pay for all services provided through telehealth in the same manner as if the services
had been provided in person, except as provided in section b, which outlines rate setting and the adoption of regulations.
Promulgation of associated regulations will take approximately twelve months following State Plan Amendment approval
by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with implementation effective after December 31, 2023.
Since many of the proposed changes in this bill make permanent practices already in place through the COVID19
pandemic, it is anticipated these costs could be absorbed within the current program funding resulting in a zero fiscal
note.
(Revised 11/23/2021 OMB/LFD) Page 2 of 2
SB175-DOH-MS-2-18-2022 Page 2 of 2 Control Code: gnORz


Statutes affected:
SB0175A, AM SB 175, introduced 02/01/2022: 11.71.140, 11.71.190, 08.64.364, 47.05.270, 08.64.363, 47.07.069
SB0175B, AM CSSB 175(HSS), introduced 04/15/2022: 11.71.140, 11.71.190, 08.64.364, 08.68.710, 47.05.270, 08.64.363, 08.68.705, 11.71.900, 08.80.480, 21.07.250, 47.07.040, 47.07.069, U.S.C, 47.30.520, 47.30.620, 47.37.140, 47.37.030, 47.37.270