Healthcare (Telehealth)

signed · Alaska · House Jul 3, 2026

HB 110: An Act relating to the rural health transformation program; relating to the interstate medical licensure compact; relating to the PA licensure compact; relating to the psychology interjurisdictional compact; relating to the practice of respiratory care; relating to the duties of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; relating to telehealth provided by respiratory care practitioners; relating to a social work licensure compact; relating to the practice of social work; relating to medical malpractice liability of respiratory care practitioners; relating to immunity from civil liability for a respiratory care practitioner providing free health care services; relating to national criminal history record checks; relating to respiratory care practitioners providing documentation and treatment plans for public school students with asthma or anaphylaxis; relating to the recognition of EMS personnel licensure interstate compact; prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against respiratory care practitioners; establishing the Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council; and providing for an effective date.

HB 110 enables Alaska to join a multi-state social work licensure compact, allowing licensed social workers from participating states to practice in Alaska without obtaining a separate license. The bill updates Alaska's licensing regulations to align with the compact, requiring continuing education, professional ethics standards, and practice guidelines for all licensees. It also clarifies penalties for practicing social work without a valid license or using restricted titles (like "LCSW") while holding a suspended or expired license. This directly affects social workers seeking to practice across state lines and the Alaska Board of Social Work, which must implement the compact's requirements. The changes take effect upon the bill's approval, streamlining licensure for mobile social work professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access by enabling multi-state licensure compacts for social workers and respiratory care practitioners, improving workforce availability and patient access to care.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medical Licensing Telehealth

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 293: An Act relating to the practice of genetic counseling; relating to the licensure of genetic counselors; establishing the Genetic Counseling Advisory Council; relating to the duties of the State Medical Board; relating to telehealth by licensed genetic counselors; relating to medical malpractice liability of licensed genetic counselors; relating to immunity from civil liability for a licensed genetic counselor providing free health care services; and prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against genetic counselors.

HB 293 establishes a licensing system for genetic counselors in Alaska, requiring them to be licensed under new Chapter 53 of the state code. The bill creates a Genetic Counseling Advisory Council to advise the State Medical Board, sets telehealth practice standards for licensed counselors, and clarifies their medical malpractice liability protections. It also prohibits group health insurance plans from discriminating against genetic counselors. This legislation directly affects genetic counselors by defining their professional standards, practice scope, and legal protections within Alaska's healthcare system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing for genetic counselors, prohibits insurance discrimination, and sets telehealth standards to improve access and protect healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medical Licensing Telehealth

Track

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 362: An Act relating to the practice of respiratory care; relating to the duties of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; relating to telehealth provided by respiratory care practitioners; relating to medical malpractice liability of respiratory care practitioners; relating to immunity from civil liability for a respiratory care practitioner providing free health care services; relating to respiratory care practitioners providing documentation and treatment plans for public school students with asthma or anaphylaxis; prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against respiratory care practitioners; and providing for an effective date.

HB 362 establishes licensing requirements for respiratory care practitioners in Alaska, prohibiting unlicensed practice or use of titles like "R.C.P." It expands their scope to include telehealth services and requires them to provide asthma/anaphylaxis treatment plans for public school students. The bill also clarifies their medical malpractice liability, grants immunity for free care provided in emergencies, and prohibits group health insurers from unfairly discriminating against these practitioners. These changes apply directly to respiratory care professionals, schools, insurers, and healthcare providers in Alaska.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands respiratory care scope to telehealth, requires school asthma plans, prohibits insurer discrimination, improving access and coverage for patients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth

Track

in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SJR 27: Expressing commitment to the rural health transformation program and articulating priorities for the program; acknowledging the critical health care challenges facing rural areas of the state; urging action by the Governor and the Alaska delegation in Congress to continue to advocate for the state's interests and advance the rural health transformation program; and expressing legislative intent to enact comprehensive legislation relating to the rural health transformation program and the state's medical care and critical health care needs.

SJR 27 is a legislative resolution expressing Alaska's commitment to the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which awarded the state $272 million for health system improvements. It outlines six priority areas for using these funds: expanding rural health access, strengthening maternal care, building telehealth infrastructure, supporting health workforce development, modernizing technology, and promoting community wellness. The resolution urges the Governor and Alaska's congressional delegation to advocate for continued federal support and establishes a December 2027 deadline for the state to pass enabling legislation to maintain full funding. It directly affects rural Alaskans and Alaska Native communities facing health access challenges, particularly in remote areas. The resolution itself does not change policy but sets priorities for future legislation to implement the program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill commits to utilizing $272M federal funds for rural health priorities including expanded access, maternal care, telehealth, and workforce development, explicitly advancing healthcare infrastructure and services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExplicitly lists 'modernizing technology' as a priority for $272M health funds, indicating support for tech infrastructure upgrades in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

Track

passed both · Alaska · House Jun 10, 2026

HJR 32: Expressing commitment to the rural health transformation program; acknowledging the critical health care challenges facing rural areas of the state; and urging action by the Governor and the Alaska delegation in Congress to continue to advocate for the state's interests and advance the rural health transformation program.

HJR 32 is a non-binding resolution expressing Alaska's commitment to the federal rural health transformation program, which awarded the state $272 million in 2025 to improve rural healthcare access. It outlines six key priorities for program implementation: expanding telehealth infrastructure, strengthening maternal and child health services, increasing healthcare access in remote communities, developing the healthcare workforce, modernizing technology, and ensuring fiscal sustainability. The resolution urges the Governor and Alaska's congressional delegation to advocate for continued federal support and signals the legislature's intent to pass enabling legislation by December 2027 to maintain full funding. It does not create new laws but establishes a framework for future policy decisions to address Alaska's unique rural healthcare challenges.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expresses commitment to rural health program funding ($272M), outlines priorities to expand telehealth, maternal care, and access, directly advancing healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly lists 'modernizing technology' as a key priority to improve rural healthcare access, directly advancing tech infrastructure for health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Healthcare Workforce Telehealth

Track

in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 248: An Act relating to the practice of genetic counseling; relating to the licensure of genetic counselors; establishing the Genetic Counseling Advisory Council; relating to the duties of the State Medical Board; relating to telehealth by licensed genetic counselors; relating to medical malpractice liability of licensed genetic counselors; relating to immunity from civil liability for a licensed genetic counselor providing free health care services; and prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against genetic counselors.

SB 248 establishes a licensing requirement for genetic counselors in Alaska, meaning they must obtain a license to practice. The bill creates a Genetic Counseling Advisory Council to guide licensing standards, sets rules for telehealth services provided by licensed counselors, and clarifies medical malpractice liability. It also provides immunity from civil claims when counselors offer free health care services and prohibits group health insurance plans from discriminating against genetic counselors. This legislation directly affects genetic counselors, the State Medical Board (which will oversee licensing), and health insurers in Alaska.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing for genetic counselors, ensures qualified care, expands telehealth access, prohibits insurance discrimination, and clarifies malpractice protections to improve healthcare access and patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medical Licensing Telehealth

Track

signed · Alaska · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 89: An Act relating to physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to health care providers; and relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in contracts between certain health care providers and health care insurers.

This bill changes Alaska's regulations for physician assistants (PAs). It requires PAs with less than 4,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience to maintain a written collaborative agreement with a physician, detailing oversight methods, competency assessments, and specialty training. The agreement must specify specialties the PA is learning and allows telehealth oversight for PAs in remote areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that PA applicants graduate from American Medical Association-accredited programs and updates the State Medical Board to include one licensed PA member.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables telehealth oversight for PAs in remote areas, improving healthcare access. Requires collaborative agreements to ensure competency, enhancing patient safety and provider scope without restricting coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth

passed · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 83: An Act relating to health care insurance; relating to insurance reimbursement for health care services provided through telehealth; relating to telehealth; providing for an effective date by repealing the effective date of secs. 9 and 10, ch. 38, SLA 2022; and providing for an effective date.

SB 83 requires health insurers in Alaska to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate and on the same basis as in-person care. This applies directly to health care insurers and providers offering telehealth services, including municipal health plans for government employees. The bill amends existing insurance codes to mandate this reimbursement parity and defines "telehealth" using current law. It does not create new programs but standardizes payment rates for existing telehealth services. The law would take effect immediately upon passage, repealing a prior effective date provision.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal reimbursement for telehealth vs in-person care, improving access to healthcare services without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

Track

signed · Alaska · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 14: An Act relating to health care insurance; relating to insurance reimbursement for health care services provided through telehealth; relating to telehealth; relating to workers' compensation coverage for disability from diseases for certain firefighters; repealing programs for catastrophic illness assistance and medical assistance for chronic and acute medical conditions; relating to occupational disability benefits and medical benefits available under the public employees' retirement system; providing for an effective date by amending the effective date of secs. 9 and 10, ch. 38, SLA 2022; and providing for an effective date.

HB 14 would repeal two medical assistance programs in Alaska: one providing coverage for catastrophic illnesses and another for chronic or acute medical conditions. The bill removes all references to these programs from state law by amending statutes related to medical assistance administration. This action would directly end eligibility for Alaskans currently enrolled in these specific healthcare assistance programs. The bill focuses solely on repealing the programs’ legal framework, not on creating new benefits or altering existing healthcare rules.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals medical assistance programs, eliminating state funding for essential healthcare coverage, directly reducing public finance expenditures.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals catastrophic illness and chronic/acute medical assistance programs, ending coverage for enrolled Alaskans and removing legal framework for these services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Telehealth