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

A Helping Hand for Alaskans Seriously Injured on the Job

HESS Committee Eases Restrictions on Workers Receiving Medicaid

For Immediate Release: March 11, 1998 Contact: Rep. Con Bunde at (907) 465-4843.

Juneau -- The House Health, Education, and Social Services Committee (HESS) Tuesday moved its House Bill 459, which will allow more Alaskans to continue to work even as they receive Medicaid benefits for their injuries.

"Disabled persons seeking to re-enter the work force sometimes face a hurdle to re-employment," said House HESS Committee Chair, Representative Con Bunde (R-Anchorage). "Many times the disability they've suffered makes it impossible for them to do the same work they did before their injury. They're forced to take entry-level, lower-paying jobs which feature inadequate health insurance benefits or no health insurance benefits at all."

HB 459 expands the requirements for workers who can continue to receive Medicaid payments when they return to the work force. The bill requires such workers to demonstrate that their earnings are insufficient to provide a reasonable equivalent of Medicaid and that the termination of Medicaid payments would seriously inhibit their ability to continue working.

HB 459 now goes to the House Finance Committee.

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Broadcasters note: Actuality from Rep. Bunde is available at 1-800-478-6540.
= Con Bunde, 32 K