One of the hallmarks of the 2015-16 Alaska Legislature has been the refusal to debate or vote on whether up to 42,000 more low-income Alaskans should be allowed to sign up for health care coverage under Medicaid, with nearly all of the costs paid for by the federal government.
Nearly 17,000 Alaskans have enrolled since late last summer, when Gov. Bill Walker took action on his own to expand coverage, arguing it was allowed under state law.
Legislators could have voted anytime in 2015 to prevent Walker from taking that step, or they could have acted this year to overturn his decision and deny health insurance coverage to single adults who make up to about $20,000 a year or couples earning about $27,600.
Rather than go on the record about Medicaid expansion, legislators have tried to force the judicial branch to legislate from the bench.
For a flat fee of $250,000, they hired Washington, D.C. lawyers to try to overturn Walker’s decision. The principals of Bancroft PLLC, who usually collect fees of $500 to $1,350 an hour, represented the NFL in the football tampering case with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Most of the air went out of the legislative Medicaid
Article source: https://health.einnews.com/article/325965620/BctnnKoFhVB6AAaC?ref=rss&ecode=uiQ1mLaH2KVPSS4e