Annie Feidt, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Annie Feidt is the broadcast managing editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at afeidt@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Annie here.
Curbing unnecessary ER use
Alaska has some of the highest health care costs in the world. In the state's Medicaid program- one solution is reducing unnecessary trips to the Emergency Room. We'll discuss a collaborative plan to help patients get the care they need in a less expensive setting than an emergency room.
APRN: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 10 a.m.
Judge rules in favor of Medicaid expansion
A superior court judge ruled in favor of Governor Walker today in the Legislative Council's case against Medicaid expansion. The Republican led legislative council sued last summer to stop Walker from unilaterally expanding Medicaid. Download Audio
Agreement allows Moda to keep selling health insurance in Alaska
The Division of Insurance announced an agreement with insurer Moda Health Monday, that will allow the company to stay on the individual and group markets in Alaska. Download Audio
Fate of Medicaid expansion hangs on interpretation of one word
The Legislative Council's case against Medicaid expansion hangs on the interpretation of the word 'required' in Alaska statute. That's a point all parties agreed on during oral arguments Thursday morning in an Anchorage courtroom. Download Audio
Court will hear oral arguments on Medicaid expansion
The issue of Medicaid expansion will be back before a Superior Court in Anchorage Thursday morning. The Republican led legislative council sued last summer to stop Governor Bill Walker from unilaterally expanding Medicaid. Download Audio
Insurer proposes fix to Alaska’s troubled health insurance market
Premera Alaska is the only individual health insurer left in the state. Moda Health withdrew from the market last week, after Oregon regulators revealed the company was facing "enormous financial losses." Before Moda's announcement, Premera and Moda were working on a plan to stabilize Alaska's individual market. Download Audio
State says Moda members should keep paying premiums
The state division of insurance is working to reassure Moda health members today. The health insurer announced yesterday it's pulling out of the individual market in Alaska and Oregon. That's after both states put the company under supervision, citing the company's financial condition. Download Audio
Moda exits Alaska’s individual health insurance market
Moda Health says it's pulling out of the individual market in the state. The company is one only two insurers who sell individual health insurance plans in Alaska.
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New subcommittee focusing on Medicaid reform
The Senate Fiance Committee is creating a new subcommittee to look at Medicaid reform. Senator Anna MacKinnon, a Republican from Eagle River, will chair the subcommittee. She says the other members will be announced Wednesday morning.
New Senate group convened to scrutinize Medicaid reform
The Senate Fiance Committee is creating a new subcommittee to look at Medicaid reform. Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, will lead the subcommittee. She says the other members will be announced Wednesday morning.
Magnitude scale a poor measure of localized shaking
After an earthquake like the one that struck Cook Inlet on Sunday morning, everyone wants to know how big it was. Scientists use a magnitude scale to describe the size of an earthquake. But getting to that number is a complicated process. And it has some major limitations.
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An obscure rule may be driving up Alaska health care costs
Buried deep in the October 2004 supplement of the Alaska Administrative Code are a few sentences a lot of Alaska health care experts are talking about right now. It's called the 80th percentile rule. It was adopted as a consumer protection measure, but insurers say it's encouraging excessive prices for specialty care.
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No time to Google when mom is ready to deliver
Anchorage municipal attorney Bill Falsey got a quick lesson in labor and delivery this week. He and his wife, Alaska Dispatch News reporter Jeannette Lee Falsey, expected to have their baby in the hospital. Falsey says Jeannette woke at about three in the morning on December 29th, with contractions that were far apart. By 6 am, the couple had called Bill's mom to come to the house and were getting ready to go to the hospital. Then Jeannette's water broke and the contractions quickly became more urgent. Download Audio
Alaska health plans save big sending patients south for surgery
More and more Alaskans are heading Outside for major elective surgeries. Flying to the Lower 48 for things like knee and hip replacements can save patients and their health plans tens of thousands of dollars. Health care experts hope the practice will help put pressure on Alaska prices for those surgeries. And there is some evidence the strategy is working.
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Feds extend health care enrollment period
The federal government has extended an important deadline for people who need individual health insurance in 2016. High demand on healthcare.gov prompted officials to extend the deadline for coverage that takes effect Jan. 1.
HealthCare.gov enrollment deadline extended
The federal government has extend an important deadline for people who need individual health insurance in 2016. High demand on healthcare.gov prompted officials to extend the deadline for coverage that takes effect January 1.
Affordable Care Act repeal bill passes Senate; Alaska senators vote in favor
Alaska's Senators voted for a bill Thursday that would repeal major provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The legislation also removes federal funding for Planned Parenthood. And it marks the first time an ACA repeal bill has made it through the Senate.
Prisoner re-entry in Alaska
In Alaska, one thousand people leave prison and re-enter the community each month. Nearly two thirds of them will end up back in prison -- unless they're supported through the re-entry process.
APRN: Tuesday, 12/1 at 10:00am
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After a health crisis, help navigating the complicated medical system
The road from illness to recovery is often difficult. In the middle of a major health crisis, patients are expected to navigate the complicated health care system. A pilot program called Alaska Innovative Medicine in Anchorage is rounding out its first year trying to improve that journey for patients while also spending fewer healthcare dollars.
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Alaskans opt out of insurance, turn to health care sharing ministries
As health insurance rates rise out of reach for many Alaskans, some residents are turning to an alternative -- Christian health care sharing ministries.
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