55°

Overcast, light rain

Weather sponsored by:

Medicaid expansion would bring benefits, but at a cost

Expansion of the Medicaid low-income health care program in Alaska could bring coverage to tens of thousands of Alaskans, but at an eventual cost of millions of dollars to the state government.

Several Republican governors, including Texas’ Rick Perry, have already said they’ll refused to expand their states’ Medicaid programs, despite the federal government picking up most of the cost.

Comments: (41) | Read More | Login to post a comment

Local legislators concerned about health care cost containment

Members of the Juneau legislative delegation are raising questions about some of the impacts of a new state proposal to cut the state government’s soaring medical bills, while saying they understand the need to contain costs.

The Parnell administration said it is “actively exploring” such cost cutting measures as sending state employees and retirees to the Lower 48 for cheaper treatment than they can get in Alaska.

The state Department of Administration says even with the state picking up more travel costs there could be savings to be had.

Comments: (38) | Read More | Login to post a comment

Facing crippling health costs, Alaska looks for solutions

Alaska is looking at some aggressive steps to hold down rising health care costs for state government, with Parnell administration officials saying they fear even the nation’s wealthiest state won’t be able to afford them in the future.

“We have to raise awareness that the state can’t afford to continue to see the kind of cost escalation we’ve been seeing,” said Becky Hultberg, commissioner of the Department of Administration.

Comments: (35) | Read More | Login to post a comment

State agencies battle data loss risks

Alaskans worried about identity theft had a bad couple of days in 2009, but they didn’t know about it at the time.

First, on Friday, Oct. 9, an employee of a national accounting firm working for the Division of Retirement and Benefits lost a laptop from a vehicle. It was thought to contain personal identity information for almost every current or retired state or local government employee in Alaska.

Then, the following Monday, a member of the Department of Health and Human Services’ helpdesk team left their vehicle at a gas station on Anchorage’s Tudor Road to pay for gas.

Comments: (9) | Read More | Login to post a comment

Juneau man battles flesh-eating bacteria

A Juneau man is in a Seattle hospital, struggling to fight off a flesh-eating bacteria that is threatening to cost him his arm.

Ruben Pereyra arrived at the Bartlett Regional Hospital emergency room on June 21, where doctors immediately ordered a medevac to Seattle’s Harborview Memorial Hospital.

He remains there, in satisfactory condition, a hospital spokesperson said Tuesday.

Pereyra’s wife, Ana Pereyra, said Tuesday evening that he was undergoing surgery, but wouldn’t know the outcome until later.

Comments: (6) | Read More | Login to post a comment

If you think Juneau is expensive - you're right

It’s spendy living in Alaska to start with, but a new study says Juneau is the most expensive place in the state to live.

While other places have higher energy or grocery costs, the combination of all those factors with Juneau’s high housing costs make the capital city the most expensive place in the state to live according to a new study by economists with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Research and Analysis Section.

Comments: (50) | Read More | Login to post a comment

House Transportation bill aims funding toward Alaska ferries

State ferry officials and Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska are praising a new transportation bill, passed by the House of Representatives last week, for how it treats ferries.

The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 provides reliable funding for state ferry systems, and changes how those fund are allocated, according to Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., an ally of Young and Alaska on ferry issues.

“This bill is a huge win for states like Washington and Alaska that have so many residents who depend on safe and reliable ferry service to stay connected,” Larsen said.

Comments: (3) | Read More | Login to post a comment

Alaska's 1st health care decision: To exchange or not to exchange?

Alaska is already facing its first decision following Thursday’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act that was challenged by Alaska and other states.

Health officials are now reviewing a consultant’s report to decide how — and whether — Alaska should develop a Health Insurance Exchange, as required by the federal act.

Comments: (30) | Read More | Login to post a comment

Reactions swift to Supreme Court health care ruling

Alaska will reluctantly implement health care reform, while trying to shift costs to the federal government, Gov. Sean Parnell said Thursday following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision upholding most of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Parnell said the state may resist implementing parts of the legislation where that’s legal and an option for the state.

“We may have lost the battle, but we are not going to stop fighting,” he said.

Comments: (57) | Read More | Login to post a comment

Villages facing higher power costs

Many Rural Alaskans will have to pay more for their power in the next year due to rising rates in Juneau and other urban centers.

Power rates overall will go up by nearly a kilowatt, following the Regulatory Commission of Alaska’s annual establishment of a new Power Cost Equalization Base rate.

“It will decrease the amount of PCE my folks get,” said Jodi Mitchell, general manager of the Inside Passage Electric Cooperative, the utility for Hoonah, Angoon, Kake and Klukwan.

“It does definitely negatively affect our communities,” she said.

Comments: (10) | Read More | Login to post a comment