Your Chance to Influence Health Insurance Policy in Alaska
4 July 2007The issue of affordable health insurance has assumed national importance. Several states are developing innovative strategies to provide health insurance to their uninsured residents. Now it’s Alaska’s turn.
The Health Planning and Systems Development Unit within the Department of Health and Social Services, through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, is holding a series of regional forums, one in each of Alaska’s economic regions, to discuss and share information on access to health insurance for the uninsured in our state. The Departments of Labor and Commerce, Community & Economic Development are also participating in the forums. The forums are part of an ongoing effort that includes surveys, focus groups, interviews with key individuals and organizations, and other forums on the challenges of providing affordable health insurance for all Alaskans. Forums are scheduled for the following locations, dates and times:
Southeast Region - Ketchikan
Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Ave. Ketchikan, AK 99901 Thursday
July 12, 2007, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Anchorage Mat/Su - Palmer
Palmer Civic Center (”The Depot”), 610 South Valley Way, Palmer, AK
99645 Tuesday July 17, 2007, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Northern Region - Nome
Mini Convention Center, 409 River Street, Nome, AK 99762 Thursday July
19, 2007, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Interior Region - Fairbanks
Carlson Center, 2010 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Tuesday July 24,
2007, 1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Southwest Region - Bethel
YP Cultural Center, 420 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy, Bethel, AK 99559
Wednesday July 25, 2007, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Gulf Coast Region - Valdez
Valdez Convention & Civic Center, 115 Clifton Drive, Valdez, AK 99686
Thursday July 26, 2007, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
In the course of this project the forum has proven to be an effective way to bring Alaskans
into the policy making process that may ultimately shape legislation to ddress this important issue. The forums provide a means for articipants to share their experiences and, by voicing their concerns, define the common issues they face. Their experiences and ideas are then passed along to state policy makers.
Holding forums in each of Alaska’s economic regions will allow State Planning Grant (SPG) staff and leadership to identify regional concerns in access to health insurance. These forums are intended to share information and data results, explore what strategies other states have adopted, determine what the access, cost and quality issues are, and to
identify the strategies that will work in each region to make health insurance accessible to all residents.
Each forum will include civic, tribal, health care, business, education and insurance representatives from each respective region. We look forward to working with state and municipal agencies, as well as business, Native, and health care representatives in the planning and success of each forum. We are interested in learning who would be interested in participating in a panel of speakers representing the region, who would be interested in attending.
Anyone wanting more information, or to request an application, or to obtain our forums postcards for distribution can contact:
Eric Peter, Health Program Associate
DHSS/ Office of the Commissioner
P.O. Box 110601
Juneau, AK 99811
Phone: (907) 465-3091
E-mail: eric_peter@health.state.ak.us