Heidi Hedberg
Commissioner · Alaska Department of Health
35 articles · 7 transcripts · 24 clips
Affiliations
Late food aid applications drive Alaska's costly SNAP error rate, official says
Alaska's SNAP error rate could cost up to $49 million a year, and the state's director blames late applications for most of it. Below 6% costs nothing.
About 775 noncitizens lose full Alaska Medicaid, and just over half are children
About 775 refugees, asylees and other noncitizens lost full Alaska Medicaid coverage as of Oct. 1 under a new federal law. Just over 400 are children.
Alaska proposes new tool to decide who qualifies for Medicaid home care services
Alaska Health Department proposed a new tool to decide who qualifies for Medicaid home and personal care services. Public comment runs through Dec. 18.
Waiver holding off SNAP's work time limit outside Anchorage now runs to October 2027
The waiver keeping SNAP's work time limit off outside Anchorage now runs through Oct. 31, 2027, a year past the date the state listed in September.
State says 12,850 Alaskans on Medicaid would need to prove they meet work rules
About 12,850 Alaskans on Medicaid would have to send proof they meet new federal work rules to keep their coverage, the state health department estimates.
Federal money would put portable X-ray units in Northwest Arctic village clinics
“Now, we have an opportunity to build on that foundation, strengthen access to care and shape a system that better serves every Alaskan, no matter where they live.”
Alaska expands child care aid to more working families and raises provider rates Dec. 1
“This action is not expected to require an increased appropriation.”
Alaska, last in medical residency slots, plans $6.4 million for doctor training
Alaska ranks last among states in slots for training new doctors. The state is steering about $6.4 million in federal rural health money to residencies.
Alaska faces $45 million SNAP bill unless error rate drops below 6%, commissioner says
“we have a lot of work to reduce our payment error rate to get it below 6% by the end of this calendar year, and we're sitting at 20%. Otherwise, the new administration administration, it's a $45 million price tag to pay for those benefits.”
Alaska sets final rules for $75 million in rural health grants, due Oct. 28
“what we heard from applicants was that the application process was too long between the letters of interest to the application. That was 24 weeks. We have shrunk that down and we've removed the LOI process.”
Alaska's fall round of rural health transformation money will be smaller and exclude renovations, Hedberg says
“I would also say that the fall cycle is going to be a much smaller pot of the total award.”
Alaska Regional Hospital appeals state denial of its proposed South Anchorage emergency room
“Because the Program's calculated need for 64 treatment rooms is less than the existing 65 treatment rooms currently available in the service area, the methodology does not demonstrate an unmet population-based need.”
Alaska proposes Medicaid coverage of traditional healing through Tribal health programs
Alaska seeks federal approval to cover traditional healing through Tribal health programs under Medicaid starting in 2028, with public comment due Nov. 4.
Bernadette Wilson amends disclosure to list Denali Disposal after APOC staff finds violation
Governor candidate Bernadette Wilson added her Denali Disposal ownership to her state disclosure, a week after APOC staff said leaving it off broke the law.
Alaska proposes to drop its $190.50 newborn screening fee and set the charge by a formula
“The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.”
Alaska has $272 million to change rural health care. The requests reached $2.5 billion.
“There are focus areas that we want to elevate in year 2, and this is specific to the fall cycle around pay for readiness, care coordination, and EMS.”
Alaska proposes a new payment formula for its 24-hour behavioral health clinics
Alaska wants to change how it pays two clinics providing 24-hour behavioral health care, setting rates in advance. Public comment is open through Oct. 30.
Alaska proposes letting one marijuana caregiver serve multiple patients
“The intended effect of this repeal is to allow an individual to be a primary caregiver for multiple medical marijuana card holders.”
Alaska streamlines the fall round of its $272 million rural health fund
“we cast a really broad net and there was a large response”
A complaint tied to the Tshibaka-led Accountability Project challenges the Democratic ticket's disclosures
Nothing says airtight like a campaign-finance complaint built on magazine clippings and a hunch. Regulators will hear it Thursday anyway. Nothing's proven 🤷
Alaska kids can draw their way into the health department's bookmark contest
“It was wonderful to see the creativity of young Alaskans from communities across the state in last year’s challenge”
Alaska put a price on crisis beds the Legislature created in 2022
Alaska proposed Medicaid rates for crisis mental health facilities: $1,833 a day for adults and $2,197 for adolescents, the highest on the state's chart.
The Presidential Fitness Test is coming back to Alaska schools, with $1.15 million behind it
“The Presidential Fitness Test gives schools another tool to encourage students to move more and have fun with physical activities.”
Alaska plans nearly $126 million for rural health projects, its biggest round yet
Alaska plans nearly $126 million for 105 rural health projects — its biggest round yet, though requests topped $2.5 billion for the money available.
All-ability play center opens in Midtown Anchorage, partly with marijuana tax money
An outdoor play center built for children with disabilities has opened in Midtown Anchorage. The ribbon-cutting is Wednesday evening, with open play after.
Most of Alaska's $272M rural health award remains unawarded
“So you can see this compressed timeline that we are under.”
Alaska makes its first awards under a $272 million rural health program
“These awards represent more than individual projects, they represent a long-term investment in healthier communities across Alaska,”
Alaska moves to open child care assistance to more working families
Alaska wants to raise the income ceiling for child care assistance from 85 to 105 percent of the state median, though it's contested whether the expansion needs new money.
Complaints against Wilson and Taylor governor campaigns question donation source, not size
Former Anchorage Assembly chair filed complaints against two GOP governor candidates. Wilson campaign received $25,000 donation listed as both company and individual, unclear which is true. Taylor campaign failed to describe $147,000 in consultant and lawyer payments beyond listing them as retainers.
A New Law Aims to Bring Alaska's Most Complex Patients Home
“a pathway for Alaskans with complex needs to receive individualized care in safe, supportive, home-like environments that promote stability, dignity, and quality of life”
Alaska rural health asks for $2.5B; federal program has $272M to give in this cycle
“It's going to close 9:00 AM on June 22nd. Between June 22nd to mid-July, we are going to go through the review process and decisions will be— notifications on funding decisions. Our goal is late July. Our goal is that funding and program work starts August 1st. So you can see this compressed timeline that we are under.”
Alaska seniors lost $8M to scams as programs expand to meet growing population needs
Alaska seniors lost 8.17 million dollars to scams in 2024, led by tech support fraud. • Senior population grew 78 percent since 2010 and now makes up 22 percent of the state. • State launched a mobile app to help seniors apply for eight public assistance programs. • Community programs are expanding volunteer services and elder abuse awareness.
Alaska Launches Mobile Benefits App in State With Spotty Rural Internet
Alaska launched a mobile app May 20 for residents to apply for eight public assistance programs including Medicaid and SNAP, though paper and phone options remain available for those without reliable internet access.
House panel considers expanding early intervention for Alaska children
A House committee heard testimony on a bill to expand early intervention services for Alaska children by lowering eligibility thresholds, potentially saving the state up to $229,000 per child.
Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Nurse Licensure Compact Bill
State officials want to join a nursing compact to fill 1,100 vacancies and save $272 million in federal funding. The nurses union opposes the bill over concerns about workplace conditions.