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Health4all

Every year more Alaskan families lose health insurance and can't afford health care. Every year more families with health insurance cannot afford to use it because of expensive out-of-pocket charges. Every year more Alaskan elders with Medicare are refused treatment by local physicians. And every year health care in Alaska continues to cost 30 percent more than down south. These problems are a reflection of the crisis across the nation. Not surprisingly, the United States ranks last in preventable deaths compared to 14 Western European nations. We have a lot to talk about.

Lawrence D. Weiss retired from UAA in 2004 as a research professor in public health. He designed and built the Master of Public Health program at UAA, and has published three books and numerous articles on public health and health policy issues. He completed a post-doctoral degree at Harvard School of Public Health in 1982, and has been in Alaska ever since. His favorite expression is "facts matter." Occasionally he can be found in a local pub drinking beer and eating pizza while engaged in passionate conversation with friends.

Historic Funding for Community Health Centers in Alaska

Posted by health4all

Posted: June 2, 2008 - 11:52 am

Community Health Center (CHCs) advocates celebrated historic state funding this Memorial Day weekend. Governor Palin demonstrated strong support for Alaska's CHCs by keeping both the capital and operating funding items designated for CHCs intact in the budget. The $3.85 million represents first-time direct state support for Alaska's 26 CHCs and the 124 clinic sites they operate.

In the capital budget, Governor Palin approved $2.5 million allotted for health IT infrastructure for CHCs. These capital dollars were added to the budget by Senator Stedman and the Senate Finance Committee. The governor also approved the $1 million in the operating budget added by Senators Hoffman and Olson and the Senate Finance Committee. The Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA) has proposed that the Department use this $1 million to assist with the number one need for CHCs: workforce recruitment and retention of primary care providers. The governor had included in her original budget $350,000 for CHCs for senior citizen access.

Neither of the two larger budget items were in the governor's proposed budget prior to the legislative session. The Alaska Primary Care Association and CHC supporters had their work cut out as they educated policy makers and the administration on the CHC model and the need and common sense for state support. Advocates were diligent in their efforts, first to convince the legislature to add the funds and secondly, to win the support of the governor. Alaska Primary Care Association extends gratitude to the supporters across the state that helped, became involved in the legislative and budget process, and advocated all the way to the finish line. In particular, the APCA would like to thank Senator Bettye Davis for her staunch support of CHCs and for her work with the Senate leadership. The APCA would also like to thank the Senate Finance Committee for their assistance in getting the items into the budget.

[Excerpt from Alaska Primary Care Association May 28 issue of Legislative Update]

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