Post by Logan on Feb 29, 2016 3:28:10 GMT -6
A subcommittee of the Alaska House of Representatives is recommending a bigger budget for health services next year, but that increase comes courtesy of the federal government and conceals a $90 million cut in state spending.
On Friday, the Alaska House Finance subcommittee for Health and Social Services recommended a $2.697 billion budget for the department in the fiscal year that starts July 1. That’s an increase of about $80 million.
The federal government is expected to provide the state nearly $160 million more next fiscal year, but the state’s contribution to its health and social services budget is being cut by $90 million at the same time. Fee-funded programs make up most of the rest of the increase.
Because of that budgetary tradeoff, some programs funded primarily by the state are expected to take a budgetary hit. Among the cuts: $3 million for behavioral health, $5.1 million for senior benefits, $1.7 million at the Nome Youth Center (which will close), and nearly $20 million in Medicaid dental services.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-02-28/states-medical-bill-rises-federal-government-picking-tab
On Friday, the Alaska House Finance subcommittee for Health and Social Services recommended a $2.697 billion budget for the department in the fiscal year that starts July 1. That’s an increase of about $80 million.
The federal government is expected to provide the state nearly $160 million more next fiscal year, but the state’s contribution to its health and social services budget is being cut by $90 million at the same time. Fee-funded programs make up most of the rest of the increase.
Because of that budgetary tradeoff, some programs funded primarily by the state are expected to take a budgetary hit. Among the cuts: $3 million for behavioral health, $5.1 million for senior benefits, $1.7 million at the Nome Youth Center (which will close), and nearly $20 million in Medicaid dental services.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-02-28/states-medical-bill-rises-federal-government-picking-tab