A consultant has been hired by Alaska’s health department to produce a report of possible models the state’s Medicaid program can take.
The consultant’s contract includes a report due next January which will address a timeline for reform and expansion along with the costs of carrying out the recommendations.
Last week Governor Bill Walker announced his plans to accept federal monies for Medicaid expansion, sending a letter detailing his intentions to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.
Gov. Walker: “We don’t step away from tough stuff, we lean into it, we don’t lean away from it. And that’s what we’re doing today, we’re leaning into this and we’re going to help those that need our help. It’s good for them, it’s good for Alaska, it’s good for our economy and that’s just what we do. It’s what we’ve always done in the history of this state and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
The department says it plans to build on reform efforts already underway. As it stands, Alaska’s Medicaid program is widely seen as unsustainable.