Bill Walker on Health Care

	Bill Walker on Health Care

2015: expanded Medicaid himself after Legislature opted out

The gubernatorial campaign is turning on funding for state programs, especially Medicaid. When Walker announced he was suspending his campaign, he specifically cited protecting the expansion of Medicaid as a reason he wanted to see votes against [Republican opponent Mike] Dunleavy combined under one banner in the election [by withdrawing and endorsing Mark Begich].

Walker opted to expand Medicaid himself in 2015 after the state Legislature opted not to pass a bill expanding the program. But Dunleavy has criticized the move during campaign events and said at a recent debate that "we need to make sure the programs we have in place are managed well." One of Dunleavy's six major policy planks is cutting state spending.

Walker said as he dropped out that Dunleavy would "cause the most vulnerable to suffer the brunt of the additional $1 billion in budget cuts he vows to make to education, rural Alaska and those receiving health care."

Source: Politico.com's Daniel Strauss on 2018 Alaska Governor race , Oct 25, 2018

Bipartisan compromise on healthcare

Walker announced his support for the Alexander-Murray bipartisan health care agreement. "Alaskans pay more for health care than most Americans do," Walker said. "Right now, more than 36,000 Alaskans have access to affordable health care thanks to Medicaid expansion, and some health insurance premiums have dropped more than 20 percent due to the innovation waiver granted by the Trump administration under the existing health care law. That coverage must be protected." Source: Daily News-Miner on 2018 Alaska Governor race , Oct 20, 2017

Expand Medicaid as long as federal funds continue

Proper health care solutions will recognize the challenges that small businesses face with availability and affordability of coverage and the opportunities for individuals who, because of their occupations (e.g. commercial fishermen), pre-existing conditions, or exhaustion of lifetime limits, are without coverage.

I support the Medicaid expansion with the caveat of continued Federal funding. This is due to the sheer economics of Alaskans paying for the expansion in Federal taxes and increased premiums now that we have rejected the expansion. Moreover, 4,000 new Alaska jobs would be created and lower-cost coverage for 40,000-plus Alaskans would be provided and Alaskans have already paid for this coverage. By rejecting the expansion, Gov. Parnell supported the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by forcing uninsured Alaskans into ACA exchanges. As governor, I would reverse this and accept the Medicaid expansion.

Source: 2014 Governor campaign website, WalkerMallottForAlaska.com , Nov 4, 2014

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