Alaska Policy Forum joined over 80 others on a coalition letter opposing the 95 percent tax on prescription medicines contained in federal H.R. 5376, the “Build Back Better Act.” In a time of […]
Coalition Letter: Price Setting is a Bad Idea
The Best and the Worst of the 2022 Legislative Session
As is often the case, there was no shortage of bills introduced to the 32nd Legislature (which comprises 2021 and 2022). Not counting resolutions, legislators introduced 690. Those that did not pass both […]
Testimony: Health Care Services By Telelealth
Op-Ed: CON Laws Are Increasing Alaska’s Health Care Costs
This op-ed was originally published in the Anchorage Daily News on March 14, 2022. by Dr. Steven and Mrs. Leslie Becker Years of conversation about high prices and spending on health care in […]
Testimony: Health Insurance Incentive Program
Graphs: Analyzing Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Spending
Click here for the full report. For many years, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has required one of the largest portions of state spending, second only to the Department of […]
Special Report: Analyzing Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Spending
Click here to view the interactive graphs (detached from the full report) For many years, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has required one of the largest portions of state […]
The Next Step Forward: Permanent Expansion of Telehealth Licensing
In 2020, Alaska temporarily allowed some health care practitioners with out-of-state licenses to provide telehealth services to Alaskans in response to the COVID-19 crisis. As the pandemic has continued through 2021, stressing hospital […]
‘CON Laws’ Limit the Health Care Competition Biden Aims to Deliver
This article was first published in The Hill on July 24, 2021 by Greg George, Director of Legislative Affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Americans have had a shared frustration for decades […]
Telehealth Licensing Recognition Advances in 2021
Nearly every state has deliberated one or more bills dealing with virtual care since the pandemic, Alaska included. Unfortunately, few states have seriously considered allowing out-of-state providers to permanently provide telehealth services to […]
Direct Care Increases Access and Transparency, Lowers Health Care Costs
What if, instead of a sky-high deductible, paying outrageous premiums, and waiting months for a doctor’s appointment, it was possible to pay a membership fee for unlimited visits, routine testing and treatment, and […]
All-Payer Claims Database: Balancing Better Data with Fiscal Restraint
Click here to open a printable PDF of the report in a new tab. Alaska has incredibly high healthcare costs, and reports show one of the impediments to addressing high costs is a lack of price […]
Licensing Recognition for Telehealth Providers
Alaska has 17 medically underserved areas (MUAs) that would stand to benefit greatly from increased access to health care at lower costs than in-person visits. In fact, all Alaskans would benefit greatly since […]
Certificate of Need Repeal Would Benefit Alaskans
By Christina Herrin This article was originally published by The Heartland Institute on February 26, 2021. Alaska is one of 35 states that enforce certificate of need (CON) laws. These laws are the epitome of government […]
Expanding Government Control Won’t Help Health Care
APF CEO Bethany Marcum recently joined 68 leaders in signing a letter that points out the serious flaws in the health care provisions of the federal COVID-19 relief bill. Click here to see […]
Alaska Licensing Recognition for Telehealth Providers
Click here to open a printable PDF of the policy brief in a new tab. Health-care costs in Alaska are high, and accessibility to quality care is often difficult, made only more […]