Senate Bill 5 is a bill that seeks to expand Medicaid coverage for children from the current income eligibility of 175% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 200% of FPL. Expansion of Denali KidCare is also the number one legislative priority of APCA members. In 2010 125,800 non-elderly Alaskans were uninsured and 24,100 of those (19%) were children. Help to insure these children and lend your voice in support of SB 5! The bill’s sponsor is Senator Bettye Davis, and her office is currently looking for more supporters. There is a chance to show your support for this important bill and help kids get the coverage they need at an upcoming hearing and rally for SB 5 on October 13th. The public hearing for SB 5 – Denali KidCare - begins at 9AM (invited testimony) at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO). There will be a public rally at noon just outside the Anchorage LIO at 716 W. 4th Avenue. The rally will be followed by public testimony at 1PM in the LIO. If you cannot attend the hearing in person, you can call the teleconference at 1-855-463-5009. According to Senator Davis’ office, “Denali KidCare is part of the Alaska State Medicaid program providing enhanced federal funding for health insurance for children, teens through age 18, and pregnant women who meet income guidelines. SB 5 increases income eligibility in Denali KidCare from 175% to 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines… Alaska is only one of four states below 200% FPL. Serving over 7,900 children annually, SB 5 will insure that an additional 1300 children and 200 pregnant women…can have the comprehensive health insurance they need for both prevention and treatment.” If you would like additional information from the bill sponsor, you can call 269-4049.
For more information about APCA’s efforts to support SB 5, contact Mary Sullivan, APCA State Affairs Coordinator at mary@alaskapca.org or 907-727-8773.
Source: Excerpted From an email newsletter received from Alaska Primary Care Association 10/3/11
Filed under: Alaska, Insurance related, Legislature related
