Healthcare

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SJR 15: Calling on the state's congressional delegation to oppose cuts to federal spending on Medicaid.

SJR 15 is a resolution calling on Alaska's congressional delegation (Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, and Representative Begich) to oppose federal Medicaid funding cuts. It urges them to protect Medicaid coverage for over 250,000 Alaskans who rely on it for health care, especially children, seniors, rural residents, and Alaska Native communities. The resolution emphasizes that Medicaid supports essential services like hospital care, nursing home support, and healthcare jobs across the state. It does not change laws but formally requests congressional action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareOpposes Medicaid funding cuts to protect coverage for 250k Alaskans, including vulnerable groups, aligning with healthcare protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Medicaid

Track

signed · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SB 132: An Act relating to insurance; and providing for an effective date.

SB 132 requires health insurers to offer non-network coverage options at initial enrollment for members, allowing them to choose out-of-network providers (with potentially higher costs). It also mandates clear instructions on prior authorization forms for benefit-level exceptions when out-of-network care is needed, specifying how claims will be processed. The bill affects covered individuals and healthcare providers by increasing transparency in coverage decisions and access to non-network care. It does not change premium costs but ensures insurers provide necessary details about network status and exceptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to offer non-network coverage options and clarify prior authorization, improving patient access to out-of-network care and transparency in coverage decisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

passed · Alaska · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 20: An Act relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation education in public schools; and relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development.

SB 20 requires Alaska public schools to include hands-only CPR education in health classes for students in grades determined by the Department of Education. The bill mandates that the Department adopt age-appropriate curricula based on national emergency care guidelines, including hands-on practice and instruction on using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which may use video demonstrations if in-person training isn't feasible. Schools must offer this instruction, and it can be taught by certified CPR instructors, EMTs, or teachers with a current teaching certificate. The law takes effect on August 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates CPR curriculum in K-12 health classes, enhancing student health education programs per bill's requirements.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates CPR/AED training in schools to improve public health outcomes, directly advancing preventive healthcare initiatives under medical care subjects.85% confidence

Track

passed · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 83: An Act relating to health care insurance; relating to insurance reimbursement for health care services provided through telehealth; relating to telehealth; providing for an effective date by repealing the effective date of secs. 9 and 10, ch. 38, SLA 2022; and providing for an effective date.

SB 83 requires health insurers in Alaska to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate and on the same basis as in-person care. This applies directly to health care insurers and providers offering telehealth services, including municipal health plans for government employees. The bill amends existing insurance codes to mandate this reimbursement parity and defines "telehealth" using current law. It does not create new programs but standardizes payment rates for existing telehealth services. The law would take effect immediately upon passage, repealing a prior effective date provision.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal reimbursement for telehealth vs in-person care, improving access to healthcare services without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 103: An Act relating to certified nurse aide training; and providing for an effective date.

SB 103 requires Alaska's certified nurse aide training programs to cover 12 specific competencies, including safe care techniques, communication skills for diverse clients (such as those with dementia or cognitive disabilities), and methods to support client independence and dignity. The bill directly affects nurse aide training providers across Alaska by mandating these standardized curriculum requirements. Key provisions include training aides to recognize health changes, respect client choices, and provide dementia-specific care (defining "activities of daily living" as eating, dressing, grooming, bathing, and toileting). The requirements take effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates standardized nurse aide training covering communication, safety, and dignity to improve care quality and patient outcomes in healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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vetoed · Alaska · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 41: An Act relating to mental health education.

SB 41 requires Alaska public schools (K-12) to include mental health education in health curricula, mandating that school districts notify parents at least two weeks before any mental health instruction begins. It directs the state Board of Education to develop guidelines for age-appropriate mental health education in collaboration with health departments, tribal organizations, and mental health groups. The bill also expands existing health education requirements to explicitly include mental health topics and creates a state school health specialist position to coordinate curriculum development and teacher training. This directly affects all public school students, parents (who gain notification rights), and school districts tasked with implementing the new requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health education in K-12 curricula, expanding student support programs through required guidelines and parental notification per bill language.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health education in K-12 curricula, directing state guidelines with health departments to integrate mental health services into school health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health Teachers

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in committee · Alaska · House May 15, 2025

HB 185: An Act relating to medical assistance eligibility for family planning services; and providing for an effective date.

HB 185 expands Alaska's Medicaid program to include family planning services and supplies for eligible residents. It specifically adds these services to the list of optional medical assistance benefits, making them available to individuals of child-bearing age who are not pregnant and have household incomes at or below 225% of the federal poverty line. The bill requires the Department of Health to amend the state Medicaid plan for federal approval and sets an effective date of January 1, 2026, contingent on approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This change directly affects low-income Alaskans seeking family planning care without pregnancy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage to include family planning services for eligible residents, increasing access to healthcare under optional medical assistance benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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signed · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SB 133: An Act relating to prior authorization requests for medical care covered by a health care insurer; relating to a prior authorization application programming interface; relating to step therapy; and providing for an effective date.

SB 133 sets strict timeframes for health insurance companies to process prior authorization requests for medical care and prescription drugs. It requires insurers to respond within 72 hours for standard requests (or 24 hours for urgent cases), provide clear reasons for denials, and automatically approve requests if they miss deadlines. The bill also mandates insurers make their prior authorization standards publicly available online and simplifies the process for healthcare providers. These rules directly affect insurers, healthcare providers, and patients seeking covered medical treatments in Alaska, effective January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSets strict insurer response times for prior authorizations, requiring clear denials and automatic approval on delay, improving patient access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 147: An Act relating to the prescription and administration of drugs and devices by pharmacists; relating to reciprocity for pharmacists; and providing for an effective date.

SB 147 expands pharmacists' authority in Alaska to independently prescribe and administer certain medications, including vaccines and opioid overdose drugs, without a doctor's direct order. It requires pharmacists to complete specific training programs (e.g., for epinephrine use or opioid overdose response) and register controlled substance prescriptions in a state database. The bill also updates licensing standards, including language fluency and program approval requirements for pharmacy schools, and clarifies the Board of Pharmacy's regulatory powers. These changes directly affect pharmacists (by broadening their clinical roles), patients (by increasing access to care), and the pharmacy board (by strengthening oversight).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacists' prescribing authority for vaccines/opioid drugs, improving patient access to critical care without physician oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Alaska · House May 16, 2025

HB 148: An Act relating to insurance; and providing for an effective date.

HB 148 requires health insurers in Alaska to offer non-network coverage options at initial enrollment, allowing consumers to choose out-of-network providers with potential higher costs (like deductibles or premiums). It also mandates clearer disclosure on prior authorization forms about how to request exceptions for out-of-network care and how claims will be processed. The bill extends the time limit for prosecuting life insurance-related offenses by up to 20 years beyond standard deadlines. These changes directly affect health insurance consumers, providers, and insurers by increasing transparency and options in coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to offer non-network coverage options and mandates clearer disclosure on prior authorizations, improving patient access and transparency per healthcare indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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