Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 281: An Act relating to the rural health transformation program; relating to physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the interstate medical licensure compact; relating to the PA licensure compact; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to the psychology interjurisdictional compact; relating to health care providers; relating to the recognition of EMS personnel licensure interstate compact; relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in contracts between certain health care providers and health care insurers; and establishing the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council.

This bill establishes the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council and expands the scope of practice for physician assistants in Alaska to include tasks like limited sonography and comprehensive patient management. It also implements several interstate medical licensure compacts to facilitate easier practice across state lines for physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, and emergency medical services personnel. The legislation updates the State Medical Board's composition to include a physician assistant member and requires the board to develop guidelines for telehealth practice and substance abuse programs. Additionally, the bill modifies contract requirements between health care providers and insurers regarding physician assistant services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands PA scope of practice and establishes advisory council to improve rural healthcare access and facilitate interstate medical practice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

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in committee · Alaska · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 344: An Act establishing the opioid litigation settlement fund.

HB 344 establishes a separate fund in the Alaska state treasury to hold settlement money received from opioid manufacturers or distributors. The Department of Revenue can use these funds for opioid remediation efforts (like treatment and prevention programs) and to cover fund management costs, with money in the fund not expiring. The bill clarifies this is not a "dedicated fund" but a mechanism for managing settlement proceeds, directly affecting how the state handles opioid-related litigation funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates opioid settlement funds to public health programs, directly funding essential services within state budget framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates opioid settlement funds specifically for treatment/prevention healthcare programs under remediation efforts, directly funding public health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 228: An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public education; and relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention.

SB 228 requires Alaska public schools to implement an opioid awareness curriculum for students in grades 6-12. The bill mandates at least 60 minutes of annual instruction covering fentanyl dangers, candy-like opioid pills targeting children, safe prescription use, and early warning signs of addiction. Schools must teach this curriculum during the last week of October each year. The Department of Education must develop the curriculum with input from health officials and families impacted by opioid overdoses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates opioid awareness curriculum for grades 6-12, requiring annual instruction on drug dangers and prevention within public education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates opioid awareness curriculum in schools to prevent addiction, directly supporting public health initiatives through health official collaboration on fentanyl dangers and safe prescription use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Substance Abuse

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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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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 30, 2025

HB 55: 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 55 is an appropriations bill that allocates funding for Alaska's integrated comprehensive mental health program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides specific funding amounts for services including the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, community residential centers, substance abuse treatment, and children's mental health programs under the Department of Health, Department of Family and Community Services, and Department of Corrections. The bill directly affects state mental health service providers by covering their operating and capital expenses through designated budget line items. The funding becomes effective July 1, 2025, supporting existing mental health care delivery across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for mental health services, directly increasing budgetary support for public health programs under APPROPRIATIONS and BUDGET subjects.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds mental health services under Department of Corrections, supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates specific funding for mental health services including psychiatric care, substance abuse treatment, and children's programs under state health departments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse

in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 141: An Act relating to automated external defibrillators in buildings open to the public; relating to opioid overdose response kits in buildings open to the public; relating to civil liability for providing opioid overdose drugs; and providing for an effective date.

SB 141 requires all state-owned buildings and public buildings open to the public to provide and maintain an automated external defibrillator (AED) and an opioid overdose response kit on every floor, placed in a central location with clear signage. The bill also grants legal protection to anyone who administers opioid overdose drugs during an emergency or maintains such kits in public spaces, shielding them from civil liability. It mandates the state health department to seek federal funding for costs and adopt regulations to enforce these requirements, with the law taking effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects public building owners, state facilities, and emergency responders by standardizing lifesaving equipment access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates AEDs and opioid kits in public buildings with liability protection, directly advancing public health emergency response access and safety measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Alaska · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 166: An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public education; and relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention.

HB 166 requires Alaska's Department of Education to develop an opioid abuse awareness curriculum for students in grades 6-12. The curriculum must cover opioid dangers (including fentanyl-laced candy), science of opioid use, safe prescription practices, and early warning signs, with at least 60 minutes of annual instruction. School districts must teach this curriculum during the last week in October. The bill also mandates that the Department consult with health officials, overdose response experts, and affected families when creating the program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates opioid curriculum for grades 6-12, enhancing health education within school programs and aligning with student safety priorities.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates opioid prevention curriculum in schools, addressing public health through education, aligns with healthcare protection efforts against substance abuse.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Substance Abuse

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in committee · Alaska · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 45: An Act relating to medical assistance services; relating to parity in mental health and substance use disorder coverage in the state medical assistance program; and providing for an effective date.

SB 45 requires Alaska's state medical assistance program (Medicaid) to comply with federal mental health and substance use disorder parity laws. It mandates the health department to review all complaints about coverage disparities, examine how treatment limitations (like prior authorization or step therapy) are applied, and compare these practices between mental health/substance use benefits and medical/surgical benefits. The bill also requires an annual report to the legislature by March 1st, detailing processes for determining medical necessity, identifying any stricter limitations for mental health care, and confirming compliance with federal parity standards. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees and providers by ensuring mental health and substance use disorder coverage is treated equally to physical health coverage under the state program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid parity for mental health/substance use coverage, requiring equal treatment and annual reporting to strengthen access and address disparities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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