Healthcare

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 270: An Act relating to the prescription of opioid overdose drugs.

HB 270 requires healthcare providers (including pharmacists, doctors, and advanced practice nurses) to offer a prescription for an opioid overdose drug (like naloxone) when prescribing opioids under specific conditions. It applies directly to patients receiving opioid prescriptions that exceed a three-day supply, exceed 50 milligrams morphine equivalent daily, involve concurrent benzodiazepines, or involve a history of overdose or substance use disorder. The bill mandates this offer as a standard step in prescribing, aiming to increase access to life-saving overdose reversal medication. It does not require patients to accept the offer but ensures providers proactively discuss it during high-risk opioid prescriptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates naloxone prescriptions with opioid treatments to prevent overdoses, enhancing public health protection and patient safety in opioid prescribing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 215: An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date.

SB 215 is a funding bill that allocates $22.2 million from the general fund to support Alaska’s mental health programs for fiscal year 2026-2027. It directly affects state mental health services, including the Alaska Psychiatric Institute ($22.2M), community residential centers ($6.97M), and juvenile justice health care ($100,000). The bill provides specific funding for operating expenses, facility maintenance, and services like behavioral health care and foster care support. It does not create new policies but ensures financial resources for existing mental health programs across multiple state departments. The bill requires the Governor’s approval and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $22.2M from general fund for mental health services, directly increasing state budget allocation for public health programs per appropriations focus.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $22.2M for mental health programs including psychiatric care, community centers, and juvenile justice health services, directly funding and strengthening state mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health

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passed both · Alaska · Senate May 20, 2026

SB 211: An Act extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; extending the termination date of the Board of Professional Counselors; extending the termination date of the Board of Marital and Family Therapy; extending the termination date of the Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners; extending the termination date of the Real Estate Commission; extending the termination date of the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers; extending the termination date of the Board of Social Work Examiners; relating to reports on the Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners and the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers; and providing for an effective date.

SB 211 extends the expiration dates for five Alaska professional licensing boards (Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapy, Psychologists, Real Estate, and Social Work) from 2026 to dates ranging through 2034. The bill ensures these boards can continue operating without needing new legislative approval, maintaining regulatory oversight for licensed professionals. It takes effect retroactively to July 1, 2026, meaning the extensions apply as if they had been in place since that date. This is a routine procedural update to prevent regulatory gaps in licensing oversight.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends mental health licensing boards' oversight, ensuring continued regulatory structure for psychologists and therapists, directly supporting mental health service continuity.90% confidence

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in committee · Alaska · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 283: An Act making supplemental appropriations; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date.

HB 283 allocates $36.4 million from Alaska's constitutional budget reserve fund to support Medicaid services under the Department of Health for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It also allocates $70.15 million for transportation projects, including highway maintenance, aviation programs, and federal matching funds, through the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The bill uses existing state reserve funds to supplement current agency budgets without new tax revenue. This is a routine budget adjustment for ongoing state operations, not a new policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $36.4M for Medicaid and $70.15M for transportation from existing reserve funds, funding essential public services without new taxes or revenue changes.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $36.4M to Medicaid services and mental health programs under healthcare funding, directly advancing healthcare access and coverage.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $70.15M for highway maintenance, aviation programs, and federal matching funds under DOT, directly advancing transportation infrastructure projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget Medicaid Airports Roads & Highways

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in committee · Alaska · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 272: An Act relating to insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices; relating to medical assistance for prosthetic and orthotic devices; and providing for an effective date.

HB 272 requires Alaska health insurers to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices at a level matching federal standards (42 U.S.C. 1395k-1395m). It directly affects people needing these devices and insurers offering health plans in Alaska’s group or individual markets. Key provisions mandate coverage for all medically necessary devices (including materials, instruction, and repairs/replacements without lifetime restrictions), require two in-network providers, and prohibit special financial requirements for prosthetic/orthotic coverage. Insurers must cover repairs if costs exceed 60% of replacement and provide clear denial explanations. The bill aims to ensure equitable access to devices essential for daily living and physical activities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage for prosthetic/orthotic devices without lifetime limits, expanding access to necessary medical care per federal standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 220: An Act establishing a community health worker certification; relating to medical assistance coverage for certified community health worker services; and providing for an effective date.

SB 220 establishes a certification program for community health workers (CHWs) in Alaska, requiring the Department of Health to create regulations for qualifications, training, scope of practice, and renewal. It adds certified CHW services as a covered medical assistance benefit under the state's Medicaid program, making these services eligible for state-funded coverage. The bill defines CHWs as nonmedical professionals who connect individuals to health services and improve care coordination, while clarifying that certification is required for Medicaid coverage (though services can be provided without it). Reciprocity agreements with other states' certification programs are permitted under the law. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds certified CHW services as Medicaid-covered benefit, expanding access to care coordination under public health program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medicaid Medical Licensing

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in committee · Alaska · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 279: An Act relating to the power of the commissioner of health to require certain immunizations; relating to immunizations required to participate in youth athletics; relating to immunizations required by the University of Alaska; relating to the provision of vaccine information to the parents of minor patients; and providing for an effective date.

HB 279 requires that schools, youth sports associations, and the University of Alaska mandate only vaccines with full U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for participation. It also mandates that healthcare providers give parents or guardians a copy of the CDC's vaccine risks/benefits statement or FDA emergency use fact sheet before administering vaccines to minors. The bill directly affects school districts, athletic associations, the University of Alaska, healthcare providers, and parents of children under 18. Key provisions standardize vaccine requirements to FDA-approved options and ensure parents receive clear vaccine information. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires FDA-approved vaccines and mandates CDC/FDA vaccine info disclosure for minors, supporting informed consent and public health safety protocols.85% confidence

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signed · Alaska · House Jul 3, 2026

HB 265: An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date.

HB 265 allocates $22.2 million to Alaska Psychiatric Institute and $10.2 million to behavioral health services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It funds operating and capital expenses for state mental health programs across multiple departments, including community residential centers, juvenile justice mental health care, and family services. The bill directs specific funding amounts to existing services like substance abuse treatment, foster care mental health support, and psychiatric facility operations. This is a budget allocation bill, providing funding for current state mental health programs without creating new policies or regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates $22.2M and $10.2M to mental health services, increasing state funding for public health programs under budget/appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $22.2M to Alaska Psychiatric Institute and $10.2M for behavioral health services, directly funding mental health programs and expanding access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

signed · Alaska · House Jul 3, 2026

HB 244: An Act relating to certified nurse aide training; and providing for an effective date.

HB 244 sets new standards for certified nurse aide training programs in Alaska, requiring them to ensure safe, competent care and specific skills. The bill directly affects training programs, which must now teach aides to communicate effectively with clients, support client independence, address cognitive impairments (including dementia), and monitor client well-being. Key provisions mandate training in areas like dementia care, emotional sensitivity, problem-solving, and respecting client dignity, with "activities of daily living" defined as eating, dressing, grooming, bathing, and toileting. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates standardized nurse aide training in dementia care, communication, and client dignity to ensure safe, competent care, directly enhancing healthcare quality and safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 273: An Act relating to direct health care agreements; relating to dental health care insurance plans and dental loss ratios; and providing for an effective date.

HB 273 establishes rules for "direct health care agreements" between dental/primary care providers and patients, where patients pay a periodic fee for services instead of using traditional insurance. It requires agreements to detail services, fees, locations, and complaint procedures, while explicitly stating patients lose protections under standard health insurance laws (AS 21.07). The bill prohibits Medicaid-eligible patients (under AS 47.07/47.08) from using these agreements and allows providers to decline new patients if they can’t provide needed services or lack capacity. It also permits termination based solely on inability to provide required services. This affects dental/primary care providers and patients seeking fee-for-service arrangements outside insurance systems.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill replaces insurance coverage with direct payments, removes standard patient protections (AS 21.07), and excludes Medicaid patients - restricting access and weakening insurance safeguards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Primary Care

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