Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee - Senate

First it's non controversial and The House member representative eves has that and so we'd like to see that he gets back to his community so if you would. Go ahead and take your seat and then introduce yourself will be ready to hear House Bill fifteen nineteen. Thank you senator and representative lessee. I know you guys got a big agenda so make this as quick as possible this is a bill brought to me from the Arkansas oil marketers Association we have something called the Arkansas petroleum storage tank trust fund this was established in nineteen eighty nine to assist the petroleum storage tank owners and operators in meeting EPA requirements the trust fund is used to protect public health and the environment with the clean up of petroleum tank leaks so what this bill does would change the cap of the trust fund for fifteen million to thirty million this cat hasn't been changed since nineteen eighty nine so the fear is that with inflation this fund is no longer actuarially sound this is Connie funded by three tenths of a cent per gallon fecal the petroleum environmental service fee currently to three tenths of a cent fees collected until this fund reaches fifteen million dollars at that time the pollution control and ecology Commission can lower the fee if needed this bill simply would change that trigger from fifteen million to thirty million that's all does. All right ladies and gentleman you've heard an explanation of the bill do you have any questions. All right seeing no questions is anyone in the audience want to speak for the bill against the bill all right seeing none what is the pleasure of the Committee. I have a motion to pass I have a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed congratulations thank you. All right. Starting at the top we have Senator Kim Hammer and these two bills artist to concur in house amendments you take your seat at the table senator we're ready to hear the amendments and then. Michael let let's let me have a motion for respect the. Okay Senate bill two twelve motion to adopt I have a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed congratulations you have passed your doctor thank. Can be dismissed. Thank you Mr when it got down to the house in there were a couple members that wanted to see the amended language added into the bill and basically what the amendment does is just assure that the staff will support from the Legislative bureau but also that the council that is being established will receive assistance from the center of excellence located at children's hospital also there's a report that is to be given annually to Legislative Council and these raw fair operations and requested so managers that is what the amendment does I can go deeper with the chair would like I'll leave it at that for the chair's discretion all right any questions on the amendment saying none. You want to now present your bill as amended yes ma'am so what the what Senate bill two twelve dollars is for several sessions now we've been working on getting a center of excellence established at children's hospital work in conjunction with you a message and also the university of Arizona and the Page foundation and what this Senator does is it will receive patients from around the state and also I want to note that it will be from around the region because we are one of only five centers of excellence in the nation and what they will do is screen the children term if they have the diagnosis painter pandas and then what they will do is establish the treatment plan and in conjunction with the companion bill is working its way through they would also be able to receive a treatment but it will require prior authorization I'm just giving you the the balance of the two bills but this is a center of excellence but what this piece does specifically is that allows that counsel to continue to work because of COVID kinda interrupted our work and we still have some work to do so it allows the continuance of that of that to the council all right any questions from the committee. All right C. nine does anyone in the audience want to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Seeing none. Have you close for you but yes I am opposed and. I make a motion to pass all right we have a motion to pass to have a second all those in favor say aye. Concurrence house amendment is it the most. Is amended right all right all those in favor say aye. As opposed congratulations you have passed thank you senator all right and going on to the next one. Senate bill two. Eighty nine. We have an amendment on that do I have a motion to adopt the amendment public motion manager okay second all those in favor say aye all those opposed all right you ma'am amendment is adopted the one explain the amendment in the bill yes ma'am actually help summary sheet okay I asked to be distributed to the members just so they can kind of summarize what the amendment is when we got down to the house and and through the discussion there were some observations that were made by three members of the House Committee and so I worked with them in a civil parties to get these amendments worked in first of all language has been added to assure that explicitly clear that bill only allow specific conscientious violation violating services to the client not service to a patient the definition consciences but now by taking out of philosophical conscience objectives point three in the memory of some patient medical institution protection provisions have been added medical institutions by now the bill protocols for conscience issues in addition there's added requirements for proper transfer of patients record if a patient needs transfer to another doctor individual new protection for the medical institution is the ability to require into a potential constancy shoes before hire an applicant and then finally brought conscientious protections have been kept for providers who are decision makers and can write or fill prescriptions but the protections of the note for other providers to situations which they are asked to actively or materially participate specific conscientious violation violating services and so with these amendments was able to get it out I think without or with minimal objection I should say I think on the house side and so I am sure I present this bill with these amendments all right of questions from the committee. All right Singh Nanda have anyone in the audience wants to speak for the bill. Against the bill seeing none heavy clothes for your bill yes ma'am I make a motion to pass at the appropriate time all right do pass as amended as amended by all right we have a motion and a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed congratulations you have passed your your bill thank you Committee all right thank you all right the Senator Flippo if you would come and take my place. Mister chair with your permission I'd like. A claim and Mr. John Corey. With me today presenting Senate bill five oh five and is going to introduce themselves thank you you know could claim he's the drugs are from the governor's office. And so. Would you like to introduce yourself and tell us where you're from thank you Mr chairman and Jonathan worry I am a board certified anesthesiologists from UAMS. Welcome Senator Bledsoe you're recognized perceive your bill all right ladies and gentlemen I'm going to let Mr Lang the. Present the bill and if the questions these two men are going to help us with questions. Thank you senator. Mr chairman members of the committee. This bill quite simply Senate bill five oh five allows for the coal prescribing of naloxone or an opioid antagonist of. And it's a code prescription at certain opioid levels or certain guidelines that is outlined in the bill in those dangerous situations. It requires also requires that a health care professional have a conversation with the patient in regards to the dangers of opioids how the locks on works and could be a lie say mechanism and those high prescribing levels or in combinations with other drugs that interact with opioids dangerously like benzodiazepine it also provides limited protection for prescribers in these high opioid type situations. it is it's important to understand that Arkansas has struggled with the opioid epidemic as you all know we've come a long way in our high opioid prescribing at right now at in the last sixteen years were at the lowest level we have been in our opioid prescribing yet we're at eighty three point two opioid prescriptions for every one hundred people the national average is forty six point seven. And last year with COVID we saw a great increase in our over you overdose status increasing twelve percent from two thousand nineteen two four hundred and one overdose that's in our state R. naught locks owned infrastructure that we had done our first responders rose twenty percent in that same year with three thousand two hundred and fifty one the locks on reverses being applied by EMS fire and police officials across the state. This is a good way to get opioid and to the homes it is recognized by the National Surgeon General as and recommended by the National Surgeon General and also by our current Arkansas Surgeon General who stated we need to find a way to stop the carnage. Thirteen states have already enacted legislation in those thirteen states have seen and nine to eleven percent decrease in overdose deaths attributed to this issue the entity and contingencies may contributed to this legislation. The gore. Thank you Mr chairman I currently practice that you or the Director of the chronic pain division and the chair of the opioid stewardship committee so I am in charge of internal policies at UAMS having to do with opioids there really three situations in which people or patients are at high risk for opioid overdose one is when they are prescribed opioids are greater than the equivalent of fifty milligrams of morphine. The second is when they're prescribed opioids when they're combined with another sedating medication like Xanax or another benzodiazepine. When opioids are please hold a minute in the situation where other family members or friends have access to those opioids I believe this bill addresses all three of those situations the first two directly and the last one indirectly. This bill is basically how I practice in my current practice in our division practices all of our patients who are prescribed fifty in these or all of our patients who are prescribed code prescriptions with other sedating medications we prescribe naloxone for them and we often have we have a conversation with them about the risks and benefits of opioids and how to use naloxone safely. By by adopting this bill then we will create or increase the number of conversations that physicians and pharmacists will have with patients about the risks of opioids in the ability to use naloxone in order to save a life. Correct. Are there any questions by the committee Senator Solomon you're recognized for a question. Yes are you speaking officially for UAMS or as an individual. Speaking of okay great thank you. Thank you senator. Are there any questions by members. Right see none is there anyone in the audience would like to speak for against the bill. All right to say none Senator Bledsoe you're recognized grocery bill Senator I am closed in a move do pass all right members of a second. Second by Senator Solomon all in favor. Hi post graduate Centrelink bill passes. All right next on the agenda Senator Blake Johnson is. Senate bill four sixty three if you get to the end of the tape yes Sir. Manager of like to make a motion if I may due to the link the miss of this agenda could we possibly limit debate just to save time for the bill's going forward. Maybe two minutes for for either side. We are going forward. What. It is but this bill specifically invited with that too. Just. There's only been one person to sign up for this bill and we will ask that individual to keep it sasine can very short going forward let me look at the list please that's what withdrawn the motion at this time all right thank you alright ladies and gentleman you are you ready to present your bill okay here we go. Thank you senator Senate bill four sixty three and printers state law regarding abortion reporting inspections of of abortion facilities in the state of Arkansas. Currently state law requires the department of health to inspect abortion facilities annually and to do unannounced and without prior notice inspection this bill makes it a Class C. misdemeanor notify abortion facility without a vote in the. Coming inspection the it also makes a Class say Mr mayor to conceal removed from selling any information that is relevant to the abortion facility inspection. Third if the requires inspections of abortion facility is connected by two persons and lastly it requires the state to record the report the suspension of a physician's lessons that occurred during abortions the C. CDC. Secondly state law requires it to the exit exemption exceptions in our state laws for rape and incest DO not required the woman have documentation showing that a crime had been reported. The this bill amends the state abortion law state abortion laws doing included in those exceptions for rape and incest to be reported and documented the report those cases to law enforcement also senate bill four of sixty three requires your reporting of data on abortions to save the life of the mother this will give us a better documentations in the future on these exceptions and we're we we typically hear less than one percent in this case this will give us documentation in the future I appreciate a good vote. All right ladies and gentlemen do you have any questions all right senator Hammer. Hello. All right with someone from the health department please come to the table we have a question for. You can introduce yourself. Want to get settled please. The public as sponsor questions then department health. I'm sorry if so I can ask the sponsor question and then the Department of thank you. At this did you wonder introducer so for the record would you please introduce yourself for the record March to general counsel of the department help all right go ahead Senator thank you. Senator Johnson this is intended to hold a person accountable that would notify. The abortion clinic that a surprise inspection is coming is that is that the whole thing about the bill yes well that's not the whole thing about the bill but that's one part of the bill yes okay. Some issue an issue question we passed some bills last time there tied up in litigation such as this the the proper treatment of the remains and my understanding is the child not been able to. Enforce that four two Confirm what has happened to the remains because that cases under litigation will any of the cases that are under litigation now have any affect on this law if it is passed or would this law be able to go forward it's by the litigation is currently under way. Senator hammer and obviously the attorney can you hold. That it closely please thank you can you all hear me. Thank you senator Hammer at to address your question the attorney general's office represents the state and all of the litigation dealing with the abortion facilities there for that were passed in twenty seventeen that are currently enjoined there are three six and twenty nineteen that I believe are still in litigation and if this bill passes and that that a misdemeanor offense would apply it wants the effective date becomes what it becomes effective but sometimes there are lawsuits that are filed in advance of the effective date that would enjoin us from enforcing so it just it it's unknown at this point but eight attorney general's office may be better able to answer that question as far as it applies to the current litigation it is my understanding that you are prohibited from going in and doing an inspection to determine how the remains have been treated or if they've been handled according to the laws that were passed that are now with the Attorney General. That some of the rules that that were drafted there are some that are currently enjoying yes and and that remains some believers are still in joint at this point thank you. All right. Any other questions. All right seeing none does anyone in the audience want to speak against this bill and to have someone I believe signed up for a Karen Usyk you want to come forward and introduce yourself for the record please ma'am. And up to the Senators point Please be concise and the. Remember the time we've got to along with ten to I may have to end it if you do not so you wouldn't speak to self said state your name for the record please. Try again my name is Karen music and I represent the Arkansas abortion support network and I'm also representing many Arkansas women. This law one of the many things it says is to determine the number of abortions performed because of rape or incest. One of the reasons this particular language is problematic is because you will never know how many abortions were performed due to rate. Because women have been made to feel guilty for rape for far too long. A story from a client of ours saying I'm a single twenty four year old mom my normal routine working and taking care of My Baby girl she's three. I decided to let a friend of mine live with me taking and she talked me into going to a party I met a guy who seem nice I sat and drank with him. After a while in only two drinks I wasn't able to set up I'm good with my drinks this never happens. I woke up naked and alone in the house I'd never seen he told me I wanted to stay for the night and so he let me. He said I asked for sex. But I know better. I began to get sick and then I knew I was pregnant. This is someone that wants to move on with their life this is a reality this is what is happening right now in women's lives. And most women have very conflicted feelings about rape. I've been fed stories since I was a child about the issue of a woman who will die rather than be raped. I'm not sure death is a better alternative. If I report to my therapist I've been raped the reporting requirements are there the therapist still has a responsibility to help me. They might help me figure out maybe I should be going out in a particular our without a good friend. They might might also help me figure out that's not a good friend they might also help me figure out media need to wear something different even though everything that I see advertised in front of me this music would speak on the bill speak on the bill we love. We I think I've heard the story before I think you were here before the storage unit not heard this state this is the first time I've read this story okay we'll help you hundreds of them at. Would you try to think about what's in the bill and what you disagree with why you speak against it please yes. My hardest and I apologize and it is a little bit tough because I notice looking around the room most people don't even want to look at me because I'm talking about abortion this is real guys this happens it's something it's health care for women. I would hope that this that would help me work through my feelings of rape would. Help me figure this out but being forced to carry a pregnancy to term is not the legislatures responsibility. This proposed law and restrictions and punishments are solely to make providing abortions more difficult. There's no other reason for it to be there. Forcing someone to become pregnant against their wishes might be a crime. That you would consider punishing. But the medical clinic that is now this woman's last chance for any hope. Abortion providers or some of the most compassionate caring people you will ever meet and I wish so many of you could meet the yes Senator Hester they are to be happy to introduce you to some if you would be take the time to do that the killing and they care for their patients just like the doctors do in other medical facilities. Caring about others striking about people that you can't see yourself in their position. And realize this is a punitive bill that does not need passed all right thank you any questions from the committee Senator Hammer wait ma'am up missed mid to enter would you take some questions. Yes I would all right senator Hammer you're recognized for so that the testimony but I'm I guess I'm a little bit confused because this bill is intended to. Help enlighten in cases of rape and incest in order to bring people accountable and I'm just wondering how it is that you're arguing against the bill given the fact that this would help hold accountable those that have committed acts of rape or incest against females like to answer that. I think the. The difficulty in any of the situations that a woman is in the story I told you it's not a story that anyone is going to be prosecuting and you know that. I don't know that okay I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that okay that that is a story that would not be prosecuted based on reading anything in the news and seeing anything in the media. Where someone has maybe a few months of probation for raping an unconscious girl this is what we see in the media. She would be frightened. AS perhaps you should be. Our thank you Mr thank you. All right thank you so much music. All right does anyone want to speak for the bill. All right against the bill. Seeing none have you close for your bill. Members of is not to shame the victims this helps the. Thank you countable for those who who are victimizing. And. I have a twenty one year old daughter that her and three her friends had to go in and save one of her one of her friends that was reviewed. And That this occurrence did not happen in that case because three strong women went protected their friend and this this helps us in our reporting and data collection and and there's no way to try to do to discourage these acts but to give us information I appreciate a good vote. All right ladies and gentleman the senator is close for his bill what is the pleasure of the Committee. Motion to pass to have the second all those in favor say aye those opposed congratulations you have passed your bill by moving on down the agenda. House Bill fifteen sixteen is someone running that for representative for a. Or is he here. All right yes. The. All right Sir if if someone wanted to. Would you run out and see if it is yes we'll see if he's out there. No one. Wants to do so. Fifty. Sixteen. He's not out there all right. In two. All right. For. House Bill fifteen sixteen and Senator Flippo you are recognized to present the bill thank you madam chair and thank you members House bill fifty sixteen The Great bill and simple but it does also one person Sir to transport a person in crisis to a sobering center. I would be happy to entertain any simple questions we've heard about this before and so it's not new information for this the way I understand it is the sobering centers do not charge these people is that correct that is correct in the just the until they are sent that is correct all right any other questions. All right does anyone in the audience want to speak for or against the bill. Thanks seeing none have you close for your bill close for them I'm sure all right moved to pass all right you have a motion on the floor at the I have a second all right all those in favor say aye hi all those opposed congratulations you have passed have passed the bill moving down House Bill fifteen twelve and that is for a representative to bundle would is anyone here to run that bill for him. All right in the end of the table. Are you ready yes I will I'm going to present this bill by handing it off to Jamie Barker is the operation all right to which to introduce yourself for the record and tell us who you're with where you're from that kind. Yes representing the opportunity solutions project. You're recognized. Thank you. This bill is relatively simple and it deals with the what are called no good cause exemptions for the food stamps program they are exactly what they sound like they're exemptions to the work requirement that's already in place this bill does not establish work requirement but this bill does deal with the exemptions that are not justified and so what that means is essentially what it sounds like the same thing that we do it because exemptions however these require no additional justifications so good cause exemption would be someone has exhausted their attempt to satisfy the requirement via looking for work seeking a job training or attending to volunteer they were unable to because they lacked sufficient transportation that's good because exemption this bill still allows for those exemptions it does get rid of the no because exemptions which are allowed up to twelve percent of the population so in population of a hundred people on food stamps the department could exempt twelve of them for no justified reason at all from the work requirement so two people in the exact same set of circumstances one could be exempted one could not so this bill just seeks to eliminate those now because exemptions we worked with the department on this language and created two examples that they can use these no good cause exemptions for and kids that are eighteen or older now and sales so I this imposter central twenty one as well as women in women shelters that are seeking refuge from domestic violence so they can still be exempted using these no because exemptions and and the bill just seeks to close that the lady is those moving forward all right any questions from the committee. Okay does anyone want to speak for or against the bill. Seeing none I do want to say that to Senator Sturch asked me to pass this over and. Some held. I didn't get on the agenda here but anyway so thank you so much for coming today and you can tell Senator Sturch that you did his work and everything turned out okay he. All right so are you close for your bill closed I'll close with a motion motion to pass all right we have a motion on the floor to have a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed congratulations you've passed your bill. All right of next on the agenda is house bill fifteen twelve. Okay I'm sorry I'm sorry I lost my place here Senate bill one fifty three. All right you're recognized of state your name for the record please your thank you madam chair members of the committee Senator Gilmore district twenty six I've had the pleasure of visiting with each of you about this and I will point out that you're all co sponsors of this very good legislation and I appreciate the you know one of the things that I think that we all strive to do as elected officials is find ways to reduce barriers and burdens on our constituents and this bill is one of those bills that does that so basically just to give a quick rundown I will take too much time but it waives the initial licensing fee for occupational license in the state of Arkansas does not waive renewals it is just the initial feed the initial barrier the initial burden if you will so with that I will I'm happy to take questions I will point out thank you members of different agencies who were some of which are in this room who we've worked with very closely to get language that everyone's comfortable with so I appreciate their efforts I will also point out that the bill is tied to those receiving public assistance as a way to verify whether their eligible for this fee waiver so with that I'll take questions and any questions from the committee. All right seeing none. does anyone in the audience want to speak against. All right I believe we have someone that would like to speak for and that is Alex. Node is did I mispronounce. Please state your name for the record please. I was concurred in on the policy ends at the Arkansas Senate research economics at the university of central Arkansas Mr Smith like this if you see it there on my own also you when the first people to get my last name right thank you. I just wanna take a brief moment to commend you all for supporting this great bill that helps more people especially the the poor. In his research please associate professor Dr Thomas narrated by the relationship between licensure in the state poverty rate. and Arkansas has a fair share of lower income occupations licensed these two projects to show that Arkansas that there is probably an undersea license state in the country as a twenty seventeen we need future people who are below two percent poverty rate also connected to different programs just one more hurdle between then and reentry or apartment building labor force This step to help your kids find working providers and thank you take any questions all right any questions for. Mr connoted. Seeing none thank you so much for your testimony all right are you ready to close for your bill madam chair and I appreciate a good vote I appreciate Mr code for his remarks this is exactly what this bill is trying to do help those in need so with that I'll make a motion to pass that particular we have a motion to pass to have a second second all those in favor say aye all those opposed congratulations you passed your bill going down to the next one H. B. eleven eighty eight this is the representative makes this bill all right Senate today this is going to run that far in when you get settled introduce yourself then we're ready to hear the bill. Thank you madam chair members of the committee and this bill just allows technicians who are currently installing modems cable telephone and also install self monitored security cameras the customer has exclusive access to. We any of us could bylaws and hooking up ourselves without a license. And in products light and monitored alarm systems sprinkler system and things like that. Did by this bill and I'm happy to take any questions and perhaps people here happy to talk about it if you guys do have questions thank you all right to any questions. All right of I do have a question if you wanna bring somebody up. All right please state your name for the record for you. Yes madam chairman Angela the will and with **** communications all right so if this bill passes then those who buy equipment would be able to repair the equipment themselves is that correct no ma'am it's repairing it's just installing sorry installing okay all right any other questions from the committee I'm glad we made that clear. K. Singh no other questions does anybody in the audience want to speak for the bill against the bill. All right seeing none what is the pleasure of the committee have you close for your bill yes motion do pass all right all right we have a motion to pass I think I saw a hand raised do have a second all right all those in favor say aye those opposed all right you have passed your bill thank you very much. All right we are going down to Senate bill five fourteen and Senator Davis you're recognized thank you madam chair. This bill creates a classy home health license that allows agencies to provide skilled care to an underserved market individuals who want to live in their homes that need skilled services in addition to personal care services. These individuals must pay privately for the scalps Services because Medicare and Medicaid won't pay for the services on an ongoing basis the only pay source allowed under the classy license it's private pay or third party payer sources it is it does not include Medicare or Medicaid. And I'm happy to take any questions and they're all sales people here that can speak more in depth to the spell. All right thank you any questions from the committee. Seeing none does anyone want to speak for this bill. Against this bill seeing none what is the pleasure of the we have been closed yes mission to pass by we have a motion to pass to have a second all right all those in favor say aye all those opposed congratulations you passed your bill we're going on to Senate bill five twenty one in the Senator Davis you're recognized thank you this is my last bill today. And. So this bill. I'm sorry I have an amendment bill. If you give us just a few minutes to pass the amendment out into. Look at it please sure. I think everyone's had a chance to look at it. All right would you please explain your Amendment and then we'll adopted thank you it is really just a way to separate and the original bill included and diagnoses an act like a gin storage diseases and saying that you have to also have diabetes and and have that and people who have that disease do not have diabetes and so I just needed that added in and under different line to make sure that those two things were separated okay all right do I have a motion to adopt the amendment I have a motion second all those in favor of adopting the amendment say aye. All those opposed the amendment has been adopted and if you would explain your bill as a doctor is amended thank you and okay so this is a relatively simple bill and it. It just says that if you have a presence of that type one diabetes or any diabetes and you use and for more than two times a day or have evidence and level two or level the three hypoglycemia and then separately if you've been diagnosed with the collecting agent storage diseases which is about five people in the state of Arkansas and that you are eligible to receive a continuous glucose monitor and and you'll have to come back for amendment every six months and to be checked again. Currently and Medicaid does have a policy to cover CGM's and. Under some circumstances with and it's kind of the link the list of criteria that you have to meet and and we're just seeing a lot of people be denied CGM's when they actually need them and it should qualify so and currently the passes and there are no problems people who apply for an and under pass are approved and so I'm just doing this to ensure that those people receive and that are under Medicaid receive CGM's. So and. That and forty states already doing this so it's it's widely done and this is not a new thing something that we're testing or in fact one of the last states and that are doing this I'd like to see is catch up with the rest of the country and not only is it good for quality of care and outcomes for patients with diabetes but it's also a cost savings to the state Senate the fiscally conservative Bill I'm happy to take any questions and another people here to speak to this bill as well all right any questions from the committee. All right seeing the questions would someone like to speak for the bill and I do have some signed up. The. I have up in if if you if both of the People would like to come to the table and that might save a little time I have The New York Times and then Morgan about their. If you would introduce yourselves for the record all three of the. I am doctor Joseph NCM the Director of the diabetes program for you and you have mass and I'm speaking as a individual. Hello my name is stuttering it's awesome I am a pediatric endocrinology specialist working at the Arkansas children's hospital I am also here as a private citizen. And what about where a measures required registered nurse certified diabetes care education specialist and a type one diabetic here as a private citizen today all right thank you so much for being here would you like to start I sure when I came to Arkansas my wife is a native of Little Rock but when I moved here a couple of years ago to be the director today be program at UAMS I quickly identified that you know and I identities is a epidemic here and I realize that the most critical thing that we are lacking is access to continuous glucose monitors these devices are critical to assisting with management of diabetes I can say from personal experience myself being an endocrinologist but also living with type one diabetes myself for the last thirty years that these devices are the most significant development in management of diabetes since the discovery of insulin which happens to be about a hundred years ago. That today or this this year justice I know that not everybody is a medical professional here in this state and or in a diabetic in just to help you understand what it's like living with diabetes and and being on a medication that can give you severe hypoglycemia is like walking around downtown with their eyes closed I mean you're walking around you never know what's going to happen in if somebody told you you could open your eyes four times a day that would be very exciting for those four times a day that you can look around and that's like what it's like when you can check your blood sugar and see what's going on but the rest of the time you close your eyes and things might have changed whether a continuous glucose monitor is like having your eyes open all the time and it's that sensation that's that's so helpful to see what your blood sugars are and where they're going and where they're trending that's absolutely critical in really in my mind and in the American diabetes association I would argue that this is the standard of care for for patients uncontrolled diabetes as we know physically has has negative ramifications for this state and for the country it meets the long and short term complications increase hospital using ER utilization several large published trial showed a seventy percent to eighty percent reduction in and hospitalizations for diabetes related problems for hypoglycemia and significant cost savings associated with using these devices you can see your current glucose your future glucose you can get alerts think about patients who our parents of children with diabetes who and you can speak to this date their their kids they have no idea what their blood sugar is but the parents can get an alert on their phone and find out what their blood sugar is it helps the providers do a better job because we can review of glucose data. Retrospectively and it also helps with telemedicine which I think is critical in a state like Arkansas because there's some to such a rule population they're not specialists everywhere so it helps us to reach the far reaching parts of of Arkansas in and in summary it's a win win for everyone I think involved it's fiscal year when for the the the legislators it's a win for the patients because they're getting the best care possible and it's a win for the providers because that allows us to to give them the best care possible yeah I've seen people go from years and years and years of uncontrolled diabetes to to wonderful care simply by getting one of these devices it's it's really the single most important thing that we can do it's more important pharmacology it's more important than all the expensive medicines that we put people on and I I'm I'm a I'm a very strong advocate sorry for my. Thank you so much Dr Thomas. Well thank you so much for the excellent salary actually sending you to the telling and anything else but speaking on the help of the children that I care for diabetes for the last eight years as mentioned this kids especially the younger ones they don't know whether the blood sugar is high or low and what they know is that the date they find themselves in the hospital just because of a low blood sugar induced seizure activity or high blood sugar induced diabetes Coleman for example detailed recognize the signs or symptoms of low or lower high blood sugars and attendance field click guilty not being able to help their children that they don't know what the blood sugars are doing just basically just looking at each other so the CGM Vaught definitely and public attendance of such children to provide better care for the petition for the loved ones and keep them outside the hospital and give them a healthy long life so a lot of the families that of you the following are clinic I mean that those that that that that the parents of the children the CG and the support that they they actually enjoy life but if they have to go to sleep the have less concerned about the safety of the children. Torn apart the blood under the children's blood sugar levels that called the vision so and students CGM technology is actually a lot of more than one percent to be able to monitor the production of the child at the same time which also allows flexibility to the to the care givers when someone is at work the other one can take care of it in the management and it's basically she responsibilities also so I think I think having it accepts the CGM is definitely going to improve the lives of this disturbing the fact that the babies of any type thank you thank you all right of. Despite her. So you heard from the medical and as I said before I'm a nurse and living with type one diabetes so I have a more personal story to share with you today. Excuse me. In a different speech prepared two days ago the reason it's my personal personal life have changed compared to section that story. For an additional working with children with diabetes I was diagnosed at the age of two twenty seven years in the benefits of changing technology in diabetes care all of them contribute to the improved daily management in my opinion CGM use is the single most important tool a person can have. To an ordinating click for me until about two PM I received my first of many alerts on my phone that my blood sugar was dropping this happened so I wasn't immediately alarms typically because treatment and continued on with my day. Fifteen minutes later I received a critical alignment my blood sugar had dropped below fifty five and I Another round of similar events at this point I have a question for the day or the number of times I will check or had dropped below seventy with two. A senior account for the last twelve hours would be seven. Twelve hours I was doing everything that I could keep my blood sugar and normal range and keep it there why don't my CGM market was my lifeline each time I approached that seventy marker so I could treat again. What's occur more frequently frequently it occurs a delivery job the less sensational body can have to the change making it harder and harder to acknowledge and creating a space for severe reactions like seizures unconsciousness to occur. Twelve hours I spend time more time seventy the not and each time it was hard for my body to recognize what was happening I'm happy to say that I was able to stabilize with little more than frustration and lack of sleep throughout the process. My family and friends to follow my CGM alarms for an added layer of safety even from a hundred and twenty miles away my parents knew what my blood sugar was at that time and something that I could not have probably dreamed about when I was two years old so without TDM technology I'm certainly certainly outcomes would have been very different two days ago I don't tell you the story for sympathy or pity to just highlight how vital this tool is for the everyday and the extraordinary you don't see coming this is a benefit that is is being limited to our limited opportunity to our patients with Medicaid and have the potential to lead to outcomes that are costly and what's the patient's life so I strongly encourage you to vote in favor of this bill thank you thank you very much we appreciate all of you being here. It was an excellent testimony and thank you very much. So you're you're dismissed and the. Senator Davis is going back to the end of the table. All right senator we have those who have spoken farm we don't have been when signed up against are you closing or you want to close for your bill yes thank you madam chair I just and I know there's no opposition and that from what I understand in the committee today and and I hope that's the case only that and I just thought it was important to hear the stories personal and also and those who work with these patients every single day and currently our state has about three hundred million dollars annually and type one type two diabetes claims and and this bill like estimated if the hundred percent people estimated. Use this based on this bill and get a CGM it'll cost the state about fifteen million. Has a big savings so I just wanted to say those numbers so you guys get here and and and of course under that is a hundred percent certain but based on estimates that we think seven thank you and I and motion to pass all right. As amended. As amended. All right thank you so much I you have the main motion and I have seen two seconds and so all those in favor say aye all those opposed congratulations you passed your bill. All right. Senator Hester since you have three Bills would you allow Senator Irvin to go next and all right and. Did she sees senator and if you want to come and of. Present your bill. And that is the Senate bill three thirty two. I believe you have an amendment is that correct. No we don't have an amendment I'm not going to have the amendment on I tried to no I I I tried but it was not something that was going to. Accomodate the request can unfortunately right right anyway I'm going to present the bill would introduce yourself and then against communities himself thank you yes Senator Missy Irvin and district eighteen members before you have and Senate bill three thirty to the public health readiness to let the people with me introduced themselves for the record as well because they're here to speak for the bill but also to help me present the bill right. Her manager my name is Karl Marx some director clinical engineering for coming regional health system and I'm here as an individual also a board member of the Arkansas association healthcare insurers okay seven. My name is bill Harrison in the commercial air conditioning business also a member of the active member of the Arkansas association of health care engineer. All right you are recognized to continue thank you members of the committee before you have a piece of legislation that's really talking about medical facilities and their capacity that they have lost due to various pieces of digital like tronic equipment that needs repair very seventy five shares of digital electronic equipment sold to hospitals and clinics do not share their documentation and diagnostic software that's necessary to repair this equipment in a timely manner and this affects patient safety in hospitals and and so it is necessary for them to repair the equipment with independent businesses and otherwise fully qualified to make the necessary repairs and so these medical facilities regularly they paid too much and they wait too long to get the authorized repair person on site to fix their equipment and when other rate repair resources are readily available the downtime on equipment used in medical facilities directly impacts each facility's capacity to treat their patients and during the current pandemic crisis it became a real problem and this is and then it became an unnecessary impediments to maximizing capacity and care for our Kansans so with the pandemic it really complicated this whole problem that currently exists that we're trying to address because you have repair people from out of state that could not travel to our state because of the coverage restrictions and so you have hospitals and equipment that was necessary to keep their patients healthy and alive that could not be repaired and so that's what I want the individuals at the table to really talk to you about and further so what this bill does is it requires manufacture any manufacturer making products available to Arkansas medical facilities to make available to independent. Repair providers necessary repair diagnostic diagnosis and maintenance tools on fair and reasonable terms including documentation parts service tools and software updates and what the bill does not do it does not apply to manufacturers of products using internal combustion engines like cars trucks emergency generators those kinds of things it does not apply to manufacturers of cellphones order to manufacturers of personal computers. I am alter it does not alter any agreements designating authorized repair providers to exclusively perform warranty work it does not require the exposure of trade secrets or intellectual properties and it does not increase data privacy. I think the most important part of this is that this is a public health issue and this increases by Vitaly the needed to medical facilities capacity particularly during a public health crisis like what we've experienced this will obviously reduce costs to Arkansas medical facilities and this also helps our small businesses within the state of Arkansas here engineering firms that can go in and address these issues in these problems so that these hospitals can continue to provide good care for their patients so with that I'm going to turn it over to Mr marks and Mr Harrison all right you're recognized. Thank you Mr so. We've experienced a lot specially recently with manufacturers who obviously try to maximize their workforce and. It kind of starts putting out their technicians maybe a little too and will we have the same issue with the during the pandemic we're we needed service on some of our equipment especially bandleaders and we rely on either the manufacture or sometimes a third party to come in and service these and we were not able to get the service in a timely manner. sometimes because of the covered travel restrictions sometimes because we were just way down on the list to to get service and then other times because they wouldn't give us the software tools to to do it ourselves I've descriptive for twenty two years questioned by medical equipment technician that's what I've been doing my whole career and I've worked with a bunch of talented individuals staff who who have the ability and the knowledge and skill set to take care of this equipment. But we often run into issues where even though we know it's a quick fix we're not able to get the software keys or any sort of service passwords in order to just look at diagnostic to see if it's something that we can fix very quickly and get the machine back up and running so I'm hoping with this bill that we can that that will change and will be able to have access to be able to put equipment that we paid sometimes millions of dollars for backing the use and keep it running as efficiently as possible thank you right thank you the next a person. My area principal addresses and building systems as opposed to buying a car quick minutes we work in about twenty three hospitals across the state a lot of those hospitals over unix systems and we have the tools that we can use to communicate with all of these different devices but we if you don't have the the proper service to it takes additional time and it takes additional costs the hospital digital money taking additional time with an office building to the factory. It be inconvenient taking additional time to repair the systems at a hospital can be critical to patient safety I fully support this bill I think it's good for the hospitals in Arkansas I think it's good for the patients in Arkansas and I know that is good for some of the small businesses of Arkansas all right thank you. All right of ladies and gentleman you have heard a discussion of the bill you heard some gentleman four I do have one other one listed for speaking for the bill of cal marks issue but let me just collect these names bill Harrison and then the other was Michael McLeod. Would you like to come to the table don't you think. All right okay thank you all right now let's see I have one person that would like to speak against so ten minutes we could excuse you from the table and will let the person there is a the Mr by heart. It's the. B. H. A. T. T.. All right he is no one by that name. All right. Senator we would you like to close for your bill yes members I paid I believe that we've tried to really narrow this this focus and narrow this bill as much as we possibly can to focus on the issues and the problems at hand and so I would appreciate a good vote all right ladies and gentleman you've heard the bill you put those to speak for it what is the pleasure of the Committee. Do pass. Second all right all those in favor say aye. All those opposed contract. All right congratulations you've passed your bill thank you very much thank you members of the all right the senator. Has to you are up next and foot not only this bill for senate bill four six six but also for the next two on the agenda seventy one on taken in order. We'll Senate bill four six six we're gonna pass over working on an amendment all right in. So I am ready for Senate bill two sixty two of Mr pays a battle all right Senate bill. Two six two. This is just a great bill to you know and it. It makes life a little bit easier on businesses and those operating in a letter to Mr pay talk about the details. Right you're recognized like overpaid department of environment. It's more like a cleanup bill what we're doing is. in the past if you are plan is working for a month. landfill. And you didn't have to test you lose your job. And so this bill just correct that allows you to Pat if you pass the test. You can continue to take the princess every year after moving up the German level. Right that and also every two years you can apply for the license instead of every year so that reduces the amount of a time required to take off from work and do the testing etcetera. And the cost is the same with an increase that. I'll be glad to answer any questions you have a nineteen Committee do you have any questions. All right seeing none does anyone want to speak for the bill or against the bill. All right we don't have anyone signed up to speak for or against any clothes for your bill. I just like to say I love a good bill it gets a government bureaucracy either way so people can earn a living I make a motion to pass all right we have a motion to pass the second all those in favor say aye all those opposed past your bill. Thank you moving on down to Senate bill five two zero. Mister chairman I'm going to pass over that bill today all right. Still with that bill all right will you are finished for the day let me that we have to We see us on the head yes we've already done the two on the back. And so ladies and gentlemen is there any new business to come before the committee. Seeing none we are adjourned.