Alaska 32nd Legislature (2021-2022) Status: In Committee

SB 78 — An Act relating to telehealth.

Last action — (S) WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 32nd Legislature (2021-2022). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

85 added · 148 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill SB 78 introduces new sections that specifically allow health care providers to offer telehealth services, meaning they can provide treatment and consultations remotely. This change is important because it expands patient access to medical care, especially in underserved areas where in-person visits might not be feasible. Additionally, the bill clarifies that licensed practitioners must inform patients if their needs go beyond the provider's expertise during a telehealth session, ensuring safety and proper care referrals.

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32-LS0532\B CS FOR SENATE BILL NO.
32-LS0532\A SENATE BILL NO.
78(HSS) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY THE SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE Referred:
78 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY THE SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE Introduced:
Labor & Commerce Sponsor(s):
2/10/21 Referred:
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to telehealth." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Health & Social Services, Labor & Commerce A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to telehealth." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
AS 08.15 is amended by adding a new section to read:
Sec.
08.15.045.
Telehealth.
(a) A person licensed under this chapter may practice behavior analysis through telehealth as defined in AS 47.05.270(e).
A person licensed to practice behavior analysis in another jurisdiction may practice behavior analysis through telehealth with a patient in this state if the person's license is in good standing in that jurisdiction.
(b) If a person licensed to practice behavior analysis determines in the course of a telehealth encounter with a patient that the encounter will extend beyond the licensee's authorized scope of practice, the licensee shall advise the patient that the licensee is not authorized to provide the services to the patient, recommend that the patient contact an appropriate provider, and terminate the encounter.
The licensee may not charge for services provided during an encounter described in this subsection.
(c) A fee for a service provided through telehealth under this section must be SB0078B -1- CSSB 78(HSS) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0532\B reasonable and may not exceed the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
* Sec.
2.
AS 08.29 is amended by adding a new section to article 3 to read:
Sec.
08.29.240.
Telehealth.
(a) A person licensed under this chapter may practice professional counseling through telehealth as defined in AS 47.05.270(e).
A person licensed to practice professional counseling in another jurisdiction may practice professional counseling through telehealth with a client in this state if the person's license is in good standing in that jurisdiction.
(b) If a person licensed to practice professional counseling determines in the course of a telehealth encounter with a client that the encounter will extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services permitted under (a) of this section, the licensee shall advise the client that the licensee is not authorized to provide the services to the client, recommend that the client contact an appropriate provider, and terminate the encounter.
The licensee may not charge for services provided during an encounter described in this subsection.
(c) A fee for a service provided through telehealth under this section must be reasonable and may not exceed the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
* Sec.
3.
AS 08.63 is amended by adding a new section to read:
Sec.
08.63.250.
Telehealth.
(a) A person licensed under this chapter may practice marital and family therapy through telehealth as defined in AS 47.05.270(e).
A person licensed to practice marital and family therapy in another jurisdiction may practice marital and family therapy through telehealth with a client in this state if the person's license is in good standing in that jurisdiction.
(b) If a person licensed to practice marital and family therapy determines in the course of a telehealth encounter with a client that the encounter will extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services permitted under (a) of this section, the licensee shall advise the client that the licensee is not authorized to provide the services to the client, recommend that the client contact an appropriate provider, and terminate the encounter.
The licensee may not charge for services provided during an encounter described in this subsection.
(c) A fee for a service provided through telehealth under this section must be reasonable and may not exceed the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
CSSB 78(HSS) -2- SB0078B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0532\B * Sec.
4.
and (5) a person may provide treatment, render a diagnosis, or prescribe, dispense, or administer a prescription, excluding a controlled substance listed under AS 11.71.140 - 11.71.190, as authorized under AS 08.64.175.
and (5) a person may provide treatment, render a diagnosis, or SB0078A -1- SB 78 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0532\A prescribe, dispense, or administer a prescription, excluding a controlled substance listed under AS 11.71.140 - 11.71.190, as authorized under AS 08.64.175.
5.
2.
(3) in the event that the health care provider determines that the encounter will extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services described in this section, the health care provider advises the patient that the health care provider is SB0078B -3- CSSB 78(HSS) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0532\B not authorized to provide the services to the patient, recommends that the patient contact a health care provider licensed in the state, and terminates the encounter.
(3) in the event that the health care provider determines that the encounter will extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services described in this section, the health care provider advises the patient that the health care provider is not authorized to provide the services to the patient, recommends that the patient contact a health care provider licensed in the state, and terminates the encounter.
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(b) The amount charged by a health care provider for services provided under this section must be reasonable and may not exceed the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
(b) The amount charged by a health care provider for services provided under this section must be reasonable and consistent with the ordinary fees typically charged for that service and may not be more than five percent above the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
6.
3.
A person practicing or offering to practice registered, advanced practice registered, or practical nursing in the state shall submit evidence of qualification to practice and shall be licensed under this chapter, except that a person practicing or offering to practice registered, advanced practice registered, or practical nursing may provide treatment, render a diagnosis, or prescribe, dispense, or administer a prescription, excluding a controlled substance listed under AS 11.71.140 - 11.71.190, as authorized under AS 08.68.163.
A person practicing or offering to practice SB 78 -2- SB0078A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0532\A registered, advanced practice registered, or practical nursing in the state shall submit evidence of qualification to practice and shall be licensed under this chapter, except that a person practicing or offering to practice registered, advanced practice registered, or practical nursing may provide treatment, render a diagnosis, or prescribe, dispense, or administer a prescription, excluding a controlled substance listed under AS 11.71.140 - 11.71.190, as authorized under AS 08.68.163.
7.
4.
(3) in the event that the nurse determines that the encounter will extend CSSB 78(HSS) -4- SB0078B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0532\B beyond the scope of practice or scope of services described in this section, the nurse advises the patient that the nurse is not authorized to provide the services to the patient, recommends that the patient contact a health care provider licensed in the state, and terminates the encounter.
(3) in the event that the nurse determines that the encounter will extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services described in this section, the nurse advises the patient that the nurse is not authorized to provide the services to the patient, recommends that the patient contact a health care provider licensed in the state, and terminates the encounter.
(b) The amount charged by a nurse for services provided under this section must be reasonable and may not exceed the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
(b) The amount charged by a nurse for services provided under this section must be reasonable and consistent with the ordinary fees typically charged for that service and may not be more than five percent above the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
* Sec.
SB0078A -3- SB 78 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
8.
AS 08.86 is amended by adding a new section to article 6 to read:
Sec.
08.86.225.
Telehealth.
(a) A psychologist or psychological associate licensed under this chapter may practice psychology or provide psychological services, as applicable, through telehealth as defined in AS 47.05.270(e).
A person licensed to practice psychology or provide psychological services in another jurisdiction may practice psychology or provide psychological services through telehealth with a client in this state if the person's license is in good standing in that jurisdiction.
(b) If a person licensed to practice psychology or provide psychological services determines in the course of a telehealth encounter with a client that the encounter will extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services permitted under (a) of this section, the licensee shall advise the client that the licensee is not authorized to provide the services to the client, recommend that the client contact an appropriate provider, and terminate the encounter.
The licensee may not charge for services provided during an encounter described in this subsection.
(c) A fee for a service provided through telehealth under this section must be reasonable and may not exceed the ordinary fees typically charged for that service.
SB0078B -5- CSSB 78(HSS) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
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Action History

  1. (S) WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR

  2. (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  3. (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>

  4. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  5. (S) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE

  6. (S) FN3: INDETERMINATE(DHS)

  7. (S) FN2: INDETERMINATE(DHS)

  8. (S) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)

  9. (S) AM: BEGICH, COSTELLO, REINBOLD, HUGHES

  10. (S) DP: WILSON

  11. (S) HSS RPT CS 1DP 4AM SAME TITLE

  12. (S) Minutes (SHSS)

  13. (S) Moved CSSB 78(HSS) Out of Committee

  14. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  15. (S) Minutes (SHSS)

  16. (S) Scheduled but Not Heard

  17. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  18. (S) <Pending Referral> -- MEETING CANCELED --

  19. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  20. (S) Minutes (SHSS)

  21. (S) Heard & Held

  22. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  23. (S) HSS, L&C

  24. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

  • SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 64 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (64)

64 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 64 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 78?
SB 78 is sponsored by SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE.
What is the current status of SB 78?
This bill died with 32nd Legislature (2021-2022). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 78?
Track SB 78 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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