HB238 • 2026

CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS

An Act relating to the statewide immunization program; and relating to medical assistance for immunizations for children and adolescents 18 years of age or younger.

Children Healthcare

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES GRAY, Dibert
Last action: 2026-01-20
Official status: (H) HSS
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The source confirms the bill passed both chambers but does not show if it was signed by the governor or its final effective date.

HB238: Childhood Immunizations

This bill updates Alaska law to define which vaccines are included in the statewide program and adds pediatric immunizations as an optional service for medical assistance.

What This Bill Does

Changes the definition of 'included vaccine' to include shots recommended by federal health groups or, for children up to age 18, by the American Academy of Pediatrics if listed by the commissioner.
Adds a list of optional services that the Department may offer under the state's medical assistance plan.

Who It Names or Affects

Children and adolescents in Alaska who are 18 years old or younger.
The state agency that manages medical assistance programs.

Terms To Know

included vaccine: A shot recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC, or for children up to age 18 by the American Academy of Pediatrics, that is included on a list maintained by the commissioner.
medical assistance: State-funded health coverage programs where optional services may be offered.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill says the department 'may' offer these services, so it does not guarantee that every child will receive them.
The effective date of this law is not listed in the provided source material.

Bill History

2026-01-20 1447
(H) REFERRED TO HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
2026-01-20 1447
(H) HSS, JUD
2026-01-20 1447
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-01-20 1447
(H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/26

Official Summary Text

CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS
An Act relating to the statewide immunization program; and relating to medical assistance for immunizations for children and adolescents 18 years of age or younger.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0238a -1- HB 238
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1028\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 238

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES GRAY, Dibert

Introduced: 1/20/26
Referred: Health and Social Services, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the statewide immunization program; and relating to medical 1
assistance for immunizations for children and adolescents 18 years of age or younger." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 18.09.990(7) is amended to read: 4
(7) "included vaccine" means a vaccine recommended by the Advisory 5
Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and 6
Prevention, United States Department of Health and Human Services, or for children 7
and adolescents 18 years of age or younger, a vaccine recommended by the 8
American Academy of Pediatrics, and included on a list maintained by the 9
commissioner for inclusion in the program; 10
* Sec. 2. AS 47.07.030(b) is amended to read: 11
(b) In addition to the mandatory services specified in (a) of this section and the 12
services provided under (d) of this section, the department may offer only the 13
following optional services: case management services for traumatic or acquired brain 14
34-LS1028\A
HB 238 -2- HB0238a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

injury; case management and nutrition services for pregnant women; personal care 1
services in a recipient's home; emergency hospital services; long-term care 2
noninstitutional services; medical supplies and equipment; advanced practice 3
registered nurse services; clinic services; rehabilitative services for children eligible 4
for services under AS 47.07.063, substance abusers, and emotionally disturbed or 5
chronically mentally ill adults; targeted case management services; inpatient 6
psychiatric facility services for individuals 65 years of age or older and individuals 7
under 21 years of age; psychologists' services; clinical social workers' services; marital 8
and family therapy services; professional counseling services; midwife services; 9
prescribed drugs; physical therapy; occupational therapy; chiropractic services; low-10
dose mammography screening, as defined in AS 21.42.375(e); hospice care; treatment 11
of speech, hearing, and language disorders; adult dental and dental hygiene services; 12
prosthetic devices and eyeglasses; optometrists' services; intermediate care facility 13
services, including intermediate care facility services for persons with intellectual and 14
developmental disabilities; skilled nursing facility services for individuals under 21 15
years of age; immunizations recommended by the American Academy of 16
Pediatrics for children and adolescents 18 years of age or younger; and reasonable 17
transportation to and from the point of medical care. 18