Alaska is one of 23 states to share $296.5 million in federal payments for encouraging low-income families to enroll their children in public health programs. The bonuses were announced Wednesday. They are the government's way of rewarding states that streamline eligibility for Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor. The Denali KidCare office carries out the streamlining and simplification of enrollment policies in Alaska. The State has made several improvements to streamline children's healthcare enrollment recently, including not requiring parents to appear for face-to-face interviews, which can be difficult for working parents.
The state will get $5.66 million for its efforts to increase enrollment of children in public health programs. The money will go back into state public health programs. This is the third year that Alaska has received the performance bonus.