Medicaid 101: What It Is, What It’s Not, and What Potential Significant Cuts Could Mean for Alaskans
Congress recently passed a budget resolution – a blueprint to guide action on budget-related legislation. It lays out a potential $880 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program nationwide; Alaska receives just over $2 billion in federal Medicaid funds per year.
Medicaid is federally supported health insurance administered by states. It provides medical coverage to address the healthcare needs of low-income Alaskans—including people with disabilities, children, pregnant women, adults, and seniors. It is a major component of our state’s current healthcare system and infrastructure in both urban and rural communities.
During this presentation, we heard from our expert panelists, in plain speak, what Alaska’s Medicaid program is—and is not—as well as what a significant reduction might look like for individual Alaskans and families, healthcare providers, facilities in our communities, and on our economy.
The panel was moderated by Elizabeth Ripley, President and CEO, Mat-Su Health Foundation.
Presenters include:
- Lisa Aquino, CEO, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center (View Lisa’s Slides)
- Monique Martin, Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (View Monique’s Slides)
- Joshua Arvidson, Chief Operating Officer, Alaska Behavioral Health (View Josh’s Slides)
Additional Resources:
Alaska Common Ground Medicaid 101 in Alaska Fact Sheet
State of Alaska Department of Health
KFF Fact Sheet on Alaska and Medicaid
KFF Build A Custom State Report tool
Georgetown University Fact Sheet on Alaska and Medicaid
