An Act relating to the rural health transformation program; relating to physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the interstate medical licensure compact; relating to the PA licensure compact; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to the psychology interjurisdictional compact; relating to health care providers; relating to the recognition of EMS personnel licensure interstate compact; relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in contracts between certain health care providers and health care insurers; and establishing the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council.
This bill establishes the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council and expands the scope of practice for physician assistants in Alaska to include tasks like limited sonography and comprehensive patient management. It also implements several interstate medical licensure compacts to facilitate easier practice across state lines for physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, and emergency medical services personnel. The legislation updates the State Medical Board's composition to include a physician assistant member and requires the board to develop guidelines for telehealth practice and substance abuse programs. Additionally, the bill modifies contract requirements between health care providers and insurers regarding physician assistant services.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 25, 2026
Last action May 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
SB 281
→
CSSB 281(HSS)
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reclassified from a Senate Bill to a House Committee Substitute (HSS), indicating it has been amended by the House of Representatives. The scope of the legislation was significantly expanded to include the regulation of genetic counselors and respiratory care practitioners, in addition to existing provisions for physician assistants and telehealth. The bill also updated the list of licensed health care providers required to use specific professional titles in advertising to include these new categories.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from focusing primarily on physician assistants and general medical licensure to explicitly include genetic counseling and respiratory care practice.
SCOPE
Added provisions to regulate genetic counselors and establish a Genetic Counseling Advisory Council.
Added provisions to regulate respiratory care practitioners and include them in the list of licensed health care providers.
DEFINITION
Updated the list of health care providers required to display professional titles to include genetic counselors and respiratory care practitioners.
TECHNICAL
Changed the bill type from Senate Bill (SB) to House Committee Substitute (CSSB), reflecting amendments made by the House.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
1
Committee
2
May 1, 2026
Committee
(S) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
(S) Moved CSSB 281(HSS) Out of Committee
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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