Alaska Health Policy Review

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authoritative, comprehensive, nonpartisan

October 3, 2011 • 4:31 pm 0

Denali KidCare Hearing Scheduled

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

August 17, 2011 • 12:27 pm 0

Legislative Update and Call to Action

For those unable to attend the CAN webinar on August 9th, there are slides and recording now available.

The August Congressional Recess lasts through Labor Day, so there is plenty of time to contact your Members of Congress.

In addition, NACCHO has provided a slide show updating the current state of the Budget Control Act and a timeline of Congressional actions.

For the CAN resources, please click here.

For more on the Budget Control Act, click here.

 

Filed under: Legislature related

August 15, 2011 • 12:22 pm 0

NIH Research, Employment, and Alaska

United for Medical Research released a new report detailing the economic impact of NIH spending in health research sectors.

In 2010, NIH investment resulted in 487,900 new jobs as well as $68.035 billion in new economic activity. Extramural research, economic expansion, and medical innovations that result from such investments are arguably valuable to the struggling U.S. economy.

In terms of NIH investment impact on Alaska, Alaska has received extramural research money ranging from a low of 3.6 million in 2000, a high of 15.4 million in 2005, and most recently 11.3 million in 2010. For FY2010, an estimated 1,334 Alaskan jobs were supported by NIH funding.

To access the full report, click here and find the link to the article on the right hand side of the website.

 

 

Filed under: General, Legislature related

May 27, 2011 • 1:42 am 0

Student Concussion Bill Signed Into Law

Doogan bill will protect athletes from serious brain injuries -

On May 27, 2011, the governor signed a bill sponsored by Representative Mike Doogan (D-Anchorage) to protect student athletes from serious brain injuries resulting from multiple concussions.

The bill (HB 15) requires that a student with a suspected concussion be removed from play or practice and not return until cleared by a qualified medical professional. It will prevent potential serious brain injuries that can be caused by multiple concussions.

[Read more about HB 15 on the Alaska State Legislature House Democratic Caucus website.]

Filed under: Legislature related

February 12, 2010 • 12:33 pm 0

Upcoming Health Care Workforce Legislative Workshop

THE LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

Solutions to get and keep health care professionals in Alaska

Alaska is not competitive with other states and will face a public health crisis without legislative intervention. Come learn what will give Alaska the edge and ensure that Alaskans have the health providers they need in communities throughout our state.

Monday, February 15, 2010
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Conference Room
~Brunch Will Be Served~
Legislators, Staff & Advocates Invited

AGENDA:

10:00 a.m. Meet & Greet/Brunch Buffet
10:30 a.m. Legislative Workshop Program
12:00 p.m. Break
12:15 p.m. Advocacy Workshop Program
01:30 p.m. Adjourn
PRESENTERS:
Shelley Hughes, Alaska Primary Care Association; Robert Sewell and Alice Rarig, Health Planning & Systems Development; Sheila Soule, University of Alaska;
Evangeline Dotomain, Alaska Native Health Board; Pat Luby, AARP-Alaska;
Jeff Logan, for Alaska Primary Care Association Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Legislature related

January 26, 2010 • 2:12 pm 0

Federal Unions Release Two Reports on the Detrimental Impact of the Senate Excise Tax on FEHBP Health Plans

Reports find that excise tax will have reduce benefits and raise costs for employees

WASHINGTON – Two reports released December 8, 2009 by federal unions found that the so-called “Cadillac” tax on higher-cost health plans contained in the U.S. Senate health care bill would actually affect average plans like those under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The reports suggest that the excise tax would result in significant health benefit cuts and shifting of costs to employees, as plans try to avoid the tax.

The reports were released by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Postal Workers Union (APWU), National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA). They were joined by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).

“These studies show us that the excise tax will further drive up the skyrocketing health care costs and will make it impossible for federal workers to achieve the health security they need.  Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Insurance related, Legislature related, Of interest

October 24, 2009 • 4:43 am 0

Important Legislative Committee Meetings Re Health Policy

HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEES

FINANCE

Oct 27 Tuesday Anchorage 9:00 AM

Subcommittee Meeting

Location: UAA Campus, Library Building, Room #307

Overview and working session of HB 50 –

LIMIT OVERTIME FOR REGISTERED NURSES

– Teleconference –

– Testimony <Invitation Only> –

– Public Testimony If Time Permits –

Nov 04 Wednesday Anch Lio Rm 220 9:00 AM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

Nov 03 Tuesday Anch Lio Conf Rm 1:00 PM

– Rescheduled from 09/17/09 –

– Teleconference 1 to 5 pm –

+ CMS Moratorium Review

Department of Health and Social Services

Public Testimony Will Also Be Taken

Filed under: Legislature related

October 19, 2009 • 7:52 pm 0

Alert on “physician fix” bill in Senate

Here is an important message from my colleagues at AARP… ~ldw

Please contact Senator Lisa Murkowski and ask her to support Senate Bill 1776.

As you may recall, for the past seven years physicians who see Medicare beneficiaries have faced proposed reductions in their payments each January. Seven times in the last seven years, Congress has passed legislation to override the proposed cuts. This has been a frustrating annual experience for Alaska’s physicians as well as Medicare beneficiaries, those over age 65 as well as younger people with disabilities who are on the Medicare program.

In January, 2010 physicians face an unprecedented 21.5% cut in their Medicare payments with additional cuts in future years. A bill was introduced on Wednesday evening, S.1776, which would repeal this proposed cut as well as the other proposed cuts for the next 10 years. It is expected that the US Senate could vote on this next week, possibly as early as Tuesday. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: General, Legislature related, Of interest

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