2024 New Law Alert: Alaska
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Three new laws impacting the practice of medicine were recently passed by the Alaska State legislature. Importantly, these laws are expected to be signed by the Governor but are not yet effective at the time of writing this post.
Senate Bill 91: Telehealth and Multidisciplinary Care Teams.
This new law expands HB 265 that was passed in 2022. The changes now allow out-of-state physicians and multidisciplinary care team members to provide telehealth services when an Alaskan needs to receive ongoing treatment or follow-up care for a suspected or diagnosed life-threatening condition.
Senate Bill 45: Direct Healthcare Agreements.
This new law allows patients and healthcare providers to enter into direct healthcare agreements (DHCA). A direct healthcare agreement can be between a healthcare provider or healthcare business and a patient or the representative of a patient. The patient pays a flat, periodic fee (generally monthly) in exchange for routine visits and access to their healthcare provider. Health care services provided under a direct health care agreement are limited to the type of health care services that a primary care provider may provide to a patient.
House Bill 371: Medical Review Organizations.
Review organizations (also known as review committees) conduct a thorough review of deaths, injuries, and illnesses by examining clinical and other records to identify areas of concern and recommend interventions and improvements to services to improve health outcomes of Alaskans. Review organizations that are recognized in Alaska law (AS 18.23) include hospitals, clinics, associations of health care providers, professional standards organizations, the State Medical Board, health care accreditation organizations, and those established by the Commissioner of Health to review public health issues regarding morbidity and mortality.
This law provides clarification on the sharing and publication of reports and recommendations based on medical review organization findings, so long as federal and state confidentiality laws are met. All data, proceedings, and records of a review organization are not subject to subpoena or discovery.
This law also changes the designation of who can approve Department of Health morbidity or mortality review committees from the Alaska State Medical Board to the Department of Health Chief Medical Officer.