Op-Ed: Alaskans Together for Medicaid Respond to Governor Dunleavy’s Proposed FY 2020 Budget

Since Alaska adopted Medicaid expansion in 2015 it has brought nearly $1 billion in federal investment to the state while providing health coverage to over 47,000 Alaskans, in addition to the 160,000 traditional Medicaid recipients for a total of 210,000 Medicaid recipients. In that time, health care has been the only industry in Alaska that has consistently added jobs, moderating the impact of the ongoing recession brought on by low oil prices.

Earlier today, Governor Dunleavy released his amended FY 2020 budget with large, unallocated cuts to Medicaid services amounting to $761,381,600 – that is $271,039,500 in state funds and $490,342,100 in federal funds.

“Primary care, with the high cost in Alaska, is struggling to stay viable. Providers received a 10% cut in payments for services in 2018. This causes private providers to cap patients who are Medicaid recipients and to shift costs to patients who have private insurance,” said Lindy Jones, a former primary care provider and current practicing MD in the ER at Bartlett Regional Hospital. “The state can attempt to cut $700 million from Medicaid, but Alaska is not ridding itself of our elders, disabled, pregnant mothers, and low-income Alaskans who rely on Medicaid for average, everyday health coverage.”

The Medicaid cuts included in Governor Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2020 budget would drive Alaska deeper into its recession, cause tens of thousands of Alaskans to lose their health coverage, and place health care providers, doctors, community health clinics, and hospitals in financial peril.

We urge Governor Dunleavy and Alaska legislators to come together to produce a budget that protects the health care of hard-working Alaskans and does not sacrifice hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funds.

Alaskans Together for Medicaid is a nonpartisan, statewide coalition made up of doctors, health care providers, Medicaid beneficiaries, hospitals and community health centers, faith leaders, community leaders, and advocacy groups.

Alaskans Together for Medicaid works to raise awareness about the vital role played by the Medicaid program, which provides essential health care services to more than 200,000 Alaskans. By working in a nonpartisan manner with all levels of government and affected constituency groups, we seek to provide viable solutions to improving the quality and delivery of services, while ensuring the program’s fundamental goal of providing health coverage to thousands of Alaskans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

Above all, Alaskans Together for Medicaid is a unified voice to ensure that Medicaid continues its crucial role in delivering necessary health coverage to everyday Alaskans.