Medicaid expansion in Alaska will roll-out as planned next Tuesday, September 1, based on a Superior Court Judge’s decision today.
Governor Bill Walker announced on July 16 he plans to accept federal monies to expand Medicaid coverage after the Legislature tabled his Medicaid bill during both of their special sessions.
Governor Walker issued a statement saying, “Judge Pfiffner’s ruling today ensures 20,000 working Alaskans will have access to health care on September 1st. Medicaid expansion will not only save the state over $100 million in its first six years, it will save Alaskan lives. I look forward to working with members of the legislature on implementing the Healthy Alaska Plan.”
The Legislative Council’s complaint centered on whether the expansion population is a mandatory group for coverage under Medicaid or an optional group that would require legislative approval.
On Monday the lawsuit was filed against the expansion, along with a request by the council to bar the governor’s expansion roll-out until the case is settled.
Nikiski’s Speaker of the House Mike Chenault says he’s disappointing with the ruling: “This motion was just one step in the process, and we continue to feel very strongly about our constitutional argument that was presented. We are by no means looking for a way to stop Medicaid expansion; we are trying to do it the right way so that we have a reliable, sustainable system.”
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Berta Gardner supported Judge Pfiffner’s decision today, directing her statement at the House and Senate Majority Members: “I sincerely hope they view this decision, along with the four legal opinions from our own attorneys, as confirmation that their arguments are not valid, and that they should save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars and drop their suit against the Walker Administration.”