JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — State officials are looking at ways to lower the growth of Alaska's health care costs, including an alternate retiree plan and developing an employee wellness program.
The path the state is on isn't sustainable, Administration Commissioner Becky Hultberg and Health Commissioner Bill Streur told the House Finance Committee on Monday. Streur said he believes something can and must be done to address the issue.
The state's health care costs have risen from $886 million in fiscal year 2001 to $2 billion in 2011, Streur said. That includes money spent on Medicaid, for the state Department of Corrections and as part of active employee and retirement programs. Streur said health care costs grew an average of 9 percent a year during fiscal years 2001 and 2010. More recently, he said the average cost per Medicaid recipient has stabilized, but he said he considers that more a respite than any real trend.
Streur said the budget for his department, Health and Social Services, is projected to grow from $2.6 billion this fiscal year to $6.6 billion in 2022, with a number of unknowns, including the impact of the federal health care law and tighter state and federal budgets.
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