Medicaid expansion is a must

At the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting April 7, I made a motion that the borough manager should write a letter to the governor’s office and delegates that represent the Mat-Su in support of Medicaid expansion. The motion passed 4 to 2. I believe it would have passed 5 to 2 if Assembly Member Barbara Doty had been present, but you’ll have to ask her to know for certain. Many have thanked me for doing so and some have shared their frustration that I did so.

I know that Medicaid is controversial.

Specific information regarding Medicaid expansion was sent to the clerk’s office and forwarded to the members of the assembly at around 1 p.m. on the day of the meeting. We had a special meeting that day at 4 p.m., so there wasn’t much time to communicate with anyone else regarding the matter. I thought the action was important, given that the state legislative session is coming to a close very soon.

Here are some findings that I’ve seen that convinced me to take the action I did:

Some have said that the bigger opportunity for Medicaid is actually restructure and reform for Alaska Medicaid, which will build in more accountability for health outcomes within the system. There are many opportunities for developing a system that answers the triple aim of lower cost, higher quality, and higher satisfaction with the health outcomes for Alaskans.

The expansion improves access to preventive and primary care and will encourage new businesses to come to the area, such as much needed acute care facilities and more nursing homes, which cost significantly less than the enormous costs incurred by the large number of people who are forced to go to the hospital for such care now.

Studies project that Medicaid expansion will bring thousands of new jobs to our area, higher wages, increased economic activity, and Alaskans’ tax dollars back to Alaska, rather than to the federal programs in other states. During our discussion Tuesday evening regarding this matter, Mayor Larry DeVilbiss said that, at the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce luncheon, a spokesperson from Alaska Regional Hospital spoke to the fact that Medicaid expansion will not bog down doctors who currently provide care for Medicaid patients. Rather, it will open up opportunities for many more doctors to move into the area and care for more people in a more timely manner.

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is in District 2 and I had their best interests in mind, too. They are burdened with Medicaid patients who go there because they have nowhere else to go. I’ve spoken with many who don’t have any other option (which is partly a result of the broken system), and I’m hoping this expansion might help solve that problem. Many from the Mat-Su have loved ones go to Anchorage for acute care because it is simply not available in the Valley, and I think this will help solve that. In addition, it will save money for people who don’t use Medicaid in the long run by freeing up beds in the hospital for those that truly need to be there.

I’ve heard from many constituents thanking me for doing this. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is any action I can take that will please everyone, so I do my best to make informed decisions that I think represent constituents. Obviously, there are some upset by this specific action, but I hope that’s not the case most of the time for most individuals.

Matthew Beck is a member of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.