House and Senate Interim Committees on Public Health, Welfare and Labor – September 17, 2009
Posted on September 17th, 2009
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Location: Room 151, State Capitol
Committee Information:Members on Committee
Agenda: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/Lists/Meetings/Attachments/11892/I7761.pdf
Attachments: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Pages/MeetingAttachments.aspx?ItemId=11892&CalType=ME&List=Meetings&btnok=nook
This committee reviews matters pertaining to public health, mental health, mental retardation, public welfare, human relations and resources, the aged and problems of the aging, environmental affairs, water and air pollution, labor and labor relations, and similar legislation.
10:05 am – Committee called to order by Rep. Gregg Reep. Minutes reviewed and approved. Rep. Reep made open comments.
10:10 am – Rep. Curren Everett is asking for adoption of Interim Study Proposal ISP 2009-004 – “An Act to Create a Community-Based Providers Task Force for Community-Based and Juvenile Services and Treatment; and For Other Purposes.” See Exhibit C at the attachments link above.
10:13 am – Rep. Tracy Pennartz is asking about the ISP and seems concerned about the inclusiveness of the groups involved. She is getting insurances that the groups she is concerned about will be included in the proposal.
10:17 am – Jay Bradford, Insurance Commissioner, is making a presentation on Grants Recieved for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Jay Bradford is a former long time legislator who served in both the House and the Senate for about 30 years. He was serving the House when I served my first term. Perhaps the biggest shock in his political career was when Jay Dickey beat him for Congress.
10:20 am – Melissa Simpson, Senior Insurance Information Program (SHIP) Manager is talking about funding for a new program that seeks to gain coordination and cooperation with other organizations to get information out about benefits to those they do not know about them. One item is a Medicaid savings program. She is asking that information be giving to churches and non-profits in communities. They will be paying the organization $25 per application for the programs. The organization will be trained to provide assistance in completing the paperwork. Ms. Simpson says that this is all federal money and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be spending all these funds. Mr. Bradford says he wants to get all of this money out and doesn’t want to leave any of it on the table. [Take not of this folks, our government now pays people to find people to give money to. And we wonder why we are in such sad financial shape.]
10:28 am – Rep. Stewart is asking if they would travel to other parts of the state to provide training. Ms. Simpson responded that they will.
10:31 am – Sen. Bledsoe is asking if those that need the program can fill out applications right now. They can.
10:32 am – Rep. Linda Tyler is campaigning for U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln informing the committee about some bill the Senator is co-sponsoring to do with kidney transplants. [The bill actually sounds fine, but it very much sounded more like a campaign commercial.]
10:34 am – Dr. James Phillips, Branch Chief at the Infectious Diseases Division of the Arkansas Department of Health is providing and update on preparations for H1N1 (Swine) Flu Outbreak.
10:36 am – Dr. Halverson thinks that it probably should not be called “Swine Flu” but rather H1N1 because it is a novel form of H1N1.
10:37 am – He says that although the severity of H1N1 will probably not be as bad as was first thought, they fear the prevalence will be. This is because most people have not had exposure before and therefore do not have the adaptive immunity.
10:39 am – The projections is 90,000 deaths from H1N1 in the U.S., extrapolating to Arkansas, that would be approximately 900 for the State of Arkansas.
10:40 am – He is emphasizing the fact that you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.
10:41 am – He said that the Arkansas Children’s Hospital is already overrun with children with flu-like symptoms. And he mentioned that H1N1 prevailed through the summer which is uncommon.
10:43 am – They were already planning to give seasonal vaccines to school children, but it looks like they will now also have the H1N1 vaccine available in time to offer it as well. They will also be having mass flu clinics, also called drive-thru vaccine clinics, around the state.
10:46 am – The vaccine is coming to the state and distributed to doctors free of charge. There is expected to more than enough for everyone. The public cannot be charged for the vaccine but a limited adminstrative charge may be charged.
10:47 am – He said they are willing to work with churches provided they abide by the agreement.
10:50 am – He is discussing anti-virals. A vaccine is not an anti-viral. He is said they are discouraging the use of anti-virals as a preventative treatment because to do so increases the likelihood that resistance will occur. Anti-virals should only be used in severe cases and for those with weakened immune systems.
10:53 am – He is encouraging people to wash their hands, cover coughs, and stay home if they are sick. He is even jokingly discouraging handshakes to politicians. Seriously though, he did recommend that we keep hand sanitizer availiable and use it often.
10:54 am – Dr. Halverson is talking about the importance of those with symptoms to stay home, not to go to work sick. He is encouraging businesses to make exceptions to sick leave policies. He is especially emphasizing that they don’t want people to go to the doctor just to get a doctors note.
10:57 am – He is encouraging those with chronic illnesses to make arrangements with their doctor to be able to get needed anti-virals and other prescriptions telephonically.
10:59 am – I have mistakenly been referring to Dr. Halverson above as Dr. Phillips. My apologies. Dr. Phillips has not made any of the comments above.
11:03 am – Dr. Halverson is said that they had initially thought that school closures may be a method they would use to reduce vectoring, but after researching and understanding the severity of H1N1 they will not likely be doing that.
11:05 am – Dr. Phillips said they have as a goal to immunize all school children who are not allergic to eggs. He hopes that a good “herd immunity” will be developed.
11:07 am – Rep. Clark Hall is asking if there is an ideal time to get the shot. Dr. Phillips said that immunity begins about 10 days after vaccine and the peak performance is about 6 weeks after, but that a stabile good performance is maintained throughout the season.
11:10 am – Dr. Phillips said that if you have had H1N1, then you have a resistance, but they are saying that unless you have had confirmatory tests to insure that you have had H1N1, then you should get the vaccine because it will do no harm.
11:15 am – Dr. Halverson said that businesses and public facilities need to invest in infrastructure to provide hand sanitizer and “no-touch” restroom facilities.
11:16 am – Rep. Stewart asked about the vaccination program being compulsatory. We were assured that the vaccines are all voluntary.
11:18 am – Rep. Flowers is asking about side-effects. Dr. Phillips said the side effects are minor similar to the current seasonal flu virus. Dr. Halverson said that police and fire are no longer in the highest risk priority groups as they had been when the H1N1 was first being evaluated.
11:24 am – Rep. Flowers is asking about the charges. As Dr. Halverson stated earlier, they vaccine is free, but the adminstration fees may be charged up to the regional medicare rate, which is usually about $20.
11:27 am – Only one shot will be required for those 9 and older. But for children under 9 will require two shots.
11:29 am – We have now moved on to the the review of the State Board of Nursing Regulation Chapter One (General Provisions) by Ms. Faith Fields, Executive Director of Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
11:30 am – Rep. Stewart asked if any of the loans are eligible for loan forgiveness programs. Ms. Fields said they are. She recommend that those seeking loan forgivenss need to contact their financial aid office at the school they attended.
11:35 am – After a few informational questions, we moved to the review of the Workers’ Compensation Commission Quarterly Reports for April – June 2009 presented by Alan McClain. See Exhibit G in the attachments link above. Reviewed without question or comment.
11:39 am – Bill Paschall, Public Relations for Paschall & Associates is presenting a report of substance addition in Arkansas. The Open Society Institute provided a grant to study this, specifically the “treatment gap.” Ernie Oakleaf with Opinion Research Associates is presenting the poll.
11:42 am – Findings: 92% of Arkansans believe that drug addiction is a problem, 70% of Arkansans believe that it is a serious problem.
11:44 am – 57% of Arkansans believe too little is being spent on treatment; only 7% believe too much is being spent. 61% of Arkansans believe less money should be spent on warehouseing prisoner and more should be spent on treatment and prevention. 69% of Arkansans favor increasing the tax on beer, wine, and liquor to fund addiction treatment.
11:48 am – Senator Pritchard is making the point that he appreciated that the polling included information where the money would come from and who and how it would be paid to fund additional treatment options. [I personally feel that the way the questions somewhat create a false dilemma.]
11:50 am – Hahahahaha! Rep. Pennartz is making the exact point that he question creates a false dilemma. She make the point that if fails to capture the cause and effect.
11:55 am – A member from the audience requested to make comments. He is involved in substance abuse and transitional assistance group.
11:56 am – Meeting adjourned.
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