Healthcare

signed · Alaska · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 89: An Act relating to physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to health care providers; and relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in contracts between certain health care providers and health care insurers.

This bill changes Alaska's regulations for physician assistants (PAs). It requires PAs with less than 4,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience to maintain a written collaborative agreement with a physician, detailing oversight methods, competency assessments, and specialty training. The agreement must specify specialties the PA is learning and allows telehealth oversight for PAs in remote areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that PA applicants graduate from American Medical Association-accredited programs and updates the State Medical Board to include one licensed PA member.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables telehealth oversight for PAs in remote areas, improving healthcare access. Requires collaborative agreements to ensure competency, enhancing patient safety and provider scope without restricting coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 10, 2025

SB 44: An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

This bill (SB 44) protects minors receiving inpatient mental health care in psychiatric hospitals. It requires hospitals to provide minors with weekly confidential communication (via phone or video) with parents or approved adults, and mandates hospitals to notify parents within one business day of any seclusion or restraint use. The Department of Health must publish annual reports tracking restraint use, inspect hospitals twice yearly (interviewing at least 50% of minor patients), and collect data on minors’ care from other agencies. These provisions take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates protections for minors in mental health care, requiring parent communication, restraint notifications, and health department oversight to strengthen patient rights and service quality.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Alaska · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 151: An Act relating to continuous eligibility for medical assistance for children under six years of age; and providing for an effective date.

HB 151 ensures children under six years old in Alaska who qualify for medical assistance (Medicaid) remain continuously eligible for coverage until their sixth birthday, eliminating the need for annual reapplications. This directly affects low-income children under six whose families currently face coverage gaps when transitioning between eligibility periods. The bill amends eligibility rules to extend coverage until age six (instead of requiring monthly renewal) and adds a similar 11-month extension for children aged six to 19. Federal approval of state plan amendments is required before implementation, but the policy change itself is a concrete modification to Medicaid eligibility duration.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicaid eligibility continuity for low-income children under six, preventing coverage gaps and improving access to healthcare services through simplified enrollment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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vetoed · Alaska · House Jun 20, 2026

HB 52: An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

HB 52 ensures minors receiving inpatient mental health treatment at psychiatric hospitals in Alaska have the right to weekly confidential communication (via phone or video) with parents, legal guardians, or an approved adult, unless prohibited by law or deemed unadvisable by a physician. The bill requires psychiatric hospitals to report all uses of seclusion or restraint to the Department of Health and parents within one business day, and mandates biannual unannounced inspections of hospitals treating minors, including interviews with at least 50% of minor patients. It also requires the Department of Health to publish an annual report detailing seclusion/restraint usage, inspection findings, and data on minors in care, with the report due by November 1 each year. These provisions take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects minors' rights in mental health treatment, mandates reporting of seclusion/restraint, and requires hospital inspections - strengthening patient safety and oversight in mental healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SCR 2: Supporting an all-payer crisis continuum of care and Medicaid reform; and urging the Governor to direct the Department of Health and the division of insurance to develop recommendations for an all-payer model for crisis care.

This non-binding resolution (SCR 2) urges Alaska's Governor to direct the Department of Health and the Division of Insurance to develop recommendations for an "all-payer" model to fund crisis mental health services. It addresses gaps where Medicaid doesn't cover all crisis care costs (like transportation or mobile team operations) and where commercial insurers aren't required to cover these services consistently. The resolution supports creating a system where multiple insurers share costs for crisis care, including a potential monthly assessment on commercial plans, to ensure stable funding for providers. It directly affects crisis care providers, insurers, and Alaskans needing behavioral health services by aiming to replace unstable grant funding with a sustainable model. The resolution does not create new law but calls for recommendations to improve crisis care financing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUrges development of all-payer model to expand mental health crisis care coverage, addressing Medicaid and insurer gaps in funding for transportation/mobile teams.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 168: An Act relating to medical assistance eligibility for family planning services; and providing for an effective date.

SB 168 modifies Alaska's medical assistance program to expand eligibility for family planning services and supplies. It allows the Department of Health to provide these services to individuals of child-bearing age who are not pregnant and have household income at or below 225% of the federal poverty line. The bill requires the state to amend its medical assistance plan for federal approval, and the changes would take effect only if approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects low-income Alaskans seeking non-pregnancy-related reproductive healthcare services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands medical assistance eligibility for family planning services, increasing access to healthcare for low-income individuals under 225% FPL.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Alaska · House May 13, 2025

HJR 17: Urging the United States Congress to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act; and urging lawmakers to advocate for policies that guarantee equitable access to vital healthcare.

HJR 17 is a symbolic resolution passed by the Alaska State Legislature urging the U.S. Congress to support the federal Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. It does not create new laws but calls for the Alaska congressional delegation to advocate for this federal bill, which aims to require private health insurance to cover all medically necessary treatments for congenital anomalies (like cleft lip/palate or hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia) without lifetime or annual limits. The resolution specifically highlights how families face financial hardship due to coverage gaps for ongoing care, citing a local student’s experience with high dental costs. It directly affects Alaskan residents with congenital conditions by seeking to ensure equitable access to comprehensive, uninterrupted healthcare coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill urges federal action to require insurance coverage of medically necessary congenital anomaly treatments without limits, directly advancing equitable healthcare access and expanding coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Alaska · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 232: An Act relating to the examination and treatment of minors; relating to consent for behavioral and mental health treatment for minors 16 years of age or older; and providing for an effective date.

This bill allows minors aged 16 or older to consent to up to five outpatient mental health or behavioral health appointments (each up to 90 minutes) without parental permission. After five appointments, providers must consult with the minor about involving parents or guardians unless doing so would harm the minor's well-being - such as in cases involving abuse allegations. Medication prescriptions still require parental consent. The bill directly affects minors seeking mental health services, mental health providers, and parents/guardians.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands minor access to mental health care without parental consent for initial appointments, improving patient access to mental health services95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SJR 16: Urging the United States Congress to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act; and urging lawmakers to advocate for policies that guarantee equitable access to vital healthcare.

This Alaska Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 16) urges the U.S. Congress to pass the federal Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, which would require private health insurance plans to cover all medically necessary treatments for congenital anomalies (such as cleft lip/palate or hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia) without annual or lifetime limits. It specifically references families facing high costs - like over $100,000 for dental care for conditions such as Emily Brubaker’s - due to current insurance gaps. The resolution asks Alaska’s congressional delegation to support this federal bill to ensure equitable, lifelong healthcare access for affected individuals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUrges federal law requiring insurance coverage for congenital anomaly treatments without limits, expanding patient access to necessary care per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed both · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HJR 9: Urging the United States Congress to extend enhanced tax credits for health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act.

HJR 9 is a joint resolution from Alaska's legislature urging the U.S. Congress to extend enhanced federal tax credits that make health insurance premiums affordable under the Affordable Care Act. These credits currently help over 23,000 Alaska residents avoid higher costs, but they expire at the end of 2025. Without extension, premiums would more than double for tens of thousands of Alaskans, forcing difficult choices between health care, housing, and food. The resolution requests Congress act through budget processes to maintain these credits, emphasizing their role in preventing market instability and preserving access to care. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a law, so it directly affects Alaska residents by advocating for federal action.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends federal tax credits reducing health insurance costs for 23k Alaskans, providing tax relief to middle/lower income residents per ACA provisions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUrges extension of ACA tax credits to maintain affordable premiums for 23k Alaskans, preventing premium doubling and protecting health coverage access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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