HB151 • 2026

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: CHILDREN UNDER AGE 6

An Act relating to continuous eligibility for medical assistance for children under six years of age; and providing for an effective date.

Children Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES GALVIN, Fields, Frier
Last action: 2026-02-04
Official status: (H) FIN
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on who specifically needs to be notified about federal approval decisions, only that notification must occur within 30 days after such decisions are made.

Continuous Medical Assistance for Young Children

This act allows children under six years old who are eligible for medical assistance to remain eligible until they turn six, and it requires the state department to seek federal approval if needed.

What This Bill Does

Changes rules so that kids under six can keep their medical help even if something about them changes before they turn six.

Who It Names or Affects

Children under six years old who are eligible for medical assistance.
The Department of Health in Alaska.

Terms To Know

Continuous eligibility: Being able to keep a benefit, like health care, even if something about you changes.
Waivers: Special permissions from the government that allow states to do things differently than usual rules say.

Limits and Unknowns

The act only starts working after federal approval is given or if it's decided that no special approvals are needed.
It’s not clear when exactly this will start because it depends on the U.S. government's decision.

Bill History

2026-02-04 1560
(H) COSPONSOR(S): FRIER
2025-04-25 878
(H) REFERRED TO FINANCE
2025-04-25 878
(H) FN3: (DOH)
2025-04-25 878
(H) FN2: (DOH)
2025-04-25 878
(H) FN1: (DOH)
2025-04-25 878
(H) NR: PRAX, SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE
2025-04-25 878
(H) DP: FIELDS, GRAY, MEARS, MINA
2025-04-25 878
(H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 4DP 3NR
2025-04-24 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-24 Text
(H) Moved CSHB 151(HSS) Out of Committee
2025-04-24 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-10 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-10 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --
2025-04-10 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-03 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-03 Text
(H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
2025-04-03 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-03-24 526
(H) HSS, FIN
2025-03-24 526
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: CHILDREN UNDER AGE 6
An Act relating to continuous eligibility for medical assistance for children under six years of age; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0151b -1- CSHB 151(HSS)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0571\N

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 151(HSS)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Offered: 4/25/25
Referred: Finance

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES GALVIN, Fields, Frier
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to continuous eligibility for medical assistance for children under six 1
years of age; and providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 47.07.020(i) is amended to read: 4
(i) The department shall allow a person under six years of age who is 5
determined to be eligible for benefits under this chapter to remain eligible for 6
those benefits until the person is six years old. The department may allow a person 7
who is at least six years of age but not over [UNDER] 19 years of age and who is 8
determined to be eligible for benefits under this chapter to remain eligible for those 9
benefits for up to 11 calendar months following the month that the person is 10
determined eligible for benefits or until the person is 19 years old, whichever occurs 11
earlier. 12
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 13
read: 14
34-LS0571\N
CSHB 151(HSS) -2- HB0151b
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

MEDICAID STATE PLAN; WAIVERS. The Department of Health shall, as 1
necessary for federal approval by the United States Department of Health and Human 2
Services, submit amendments to the state plan for medical assistance coverage or apply for 3
any waivers necessary to implement AS 47.07.020(i), as amended by sec. 1 of this Act. 4
* Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 5
read: 6
CONDITIONAL EFFECT; NOTIFICATION. (a) Section 1 of this Act takes effect 7
only if, on or before July 1, 2027, the United States Department of Health and Human 8
Services 9
(1) approves the waivers or amendments to the state plan for medical 10
assistance coverage submitted in accordance with sec. 2 of this Act; or 11
(2) determines that approval of the waivers and amendments to the state plan 12
for medical assistance coverage submitted in accordance with sec. 2 of this Act is not 13
necessary. 14
(b) The commissioner of health shall notify the revisor of statutes in writing within 30 15
days after the United States Department of Health and Human Services approves the waivers 16
or amendments to the state plan or determines that approval of the waivers and amendments is 17
not necessary under this section. 18
* Sec. 4. If sec. 1 of this Act takes effect, it takes effect on the day after the date the United 19
States Department of Health and Human Services approves the waivers or amendments to the 20
state plan or determines that approval of the waivers and amendments is not necessary. 21