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Alaska State Legislature House and Senate Democrats |
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http://www.akdemocrats.org Mike Doogan, Press Secretary (907) 465-3842 or 723-2572 (907) 465-5125 press@akdemocrats.org |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · January 18, 2005 |
Birthing Center Bill To Be Heard
Senator Davis Wants Medicaid Funding Allowed
JUNEAU - The Senate Health, Education and Social Service Committee will hear testimony on Wednesday on Sen. Bettye Davis' bill to add birthing centers to the list of allowable medical costs under Medicaid.
The committee meeting begins at 1:30 p.m.
Last session, the legislature passed Senate Bill 349 by Senator Davis, D-Anchorage, to put all birthing centers under the same licensing requirements. Davis' new bill, SB 22, extends to the birthing centers the same funding opportunities as are given to hospitals.
Price comparisons of service in Anchorage Fairbanks and Juneau show the centers are half the price of hospitals, or even less.
"Birthing centers offer a safe, sensitive, emotionally positive, family centered alternative to hospital births," said Senator Davis, "It saves the state money and provides parents-to-be more birthing options.
Twelve states have already added the centers to their Medicaid payment lists.
Also at the meeting, the committee will hear a bill, SB 10, co-sponsored by Sen. Gretchen Guess, D-Anchorage, and Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, that holds parents and minors responsible for the full cost of juvenile vandalism, and makes the vandals alone responsible for whatever's left to pay when they reach age 18.
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 http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/011805_davis_birthing_center_bill.pdf · Additional information: SB22 SB10 Senator Bettye Davis |
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