Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

House Extends Helping Hand to Alaska's Neediest Children

Thousands of Uninsured Kids to Get Medicaid Benefits

For Immediate Release May 7, 1998 Contact: Rep. Con Bunde at (907) 465-4843.

Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives gave its final approval to a measure which extends Medicaid coverage to the neediest of Alaska's neediest kids. The reconsideration vote was 26 to 8.

House Bill 369 provides Medicaid coverage for thousands of kids whose families' incomes are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

"At $504 a child per year, covering these children under Medicaid is not only the right thing to do, it's a bargain," said Representative Con Bunde (R-Anchorage), who carried the bill in the House. "This program would be paid for mostly with federal funds. The match is 72% for most children and 100% for services provided at Indian Health Service facilities," Bunde said.

"Some $5.6 million in Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds have already accrued to Alaska," Bunde said. "If we don't have a plan in place this year, we'll lose those funds."

House Bill 369 also permits the state to take better advantage of managed care. Under a law enacted by the Legislature in 1996, the State was required to develop a managed care system for Medicaid clients. That law also authorized an application for a managed care waiver. Federal legislation which permits managed care as an option does away with the requirement for a waiver, greatly simplifying the application process.

House Bill 369 also permits the state to establish cost-sharing requirements for children whose families have incomes above 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Cost-sharing could then be implemented if current federal rules are changed to permit it.

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