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SB168 • 2026

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE; FAMILY PLANNING

An Act relating to medical assistance eligibility for family planning services; 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
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON
Last action
2025-04-11
Official status
(S) HSS
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact number of individuals who will be eligible for family planning services under this act is not specified in the official source material.

Medical Assistance for Family Planning

This act amends Alaska's medical assistance program to include family planning services and supplies as an optional service for individuals who are not pregnant and earn up to 225% of the federal poverty line, contingent upon approval by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends Alaska's medical assistance eligibility criteria to allow for family planning services and supplies as an optional service for individuals who are not pregnant and earn up to 225% of the federal poverty line.
  • Requires the Department of Health in Alaska to update its state plan for medical assistance coverage to include these changes, contingent upon approval by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Individuals who are not pregnant and earn up to 225% of the federal poverty line.
  • The Department of Health in Alaska.

Terms To Know

Medical Assistance
A program that helps people pay for health care costs, such as doctor visits and hospital stays.
Family Planning Services
Services that help individuals plan when to have children or avoid pregnancy.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act only takes effect if the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approves changes to Alaska's state plan for medical assistance coverage.
  • It is not clear how many people will be eligible for these services under the new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-11 782

    (S) REFERRED TO HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

  2. 2025-04-11 782

    (S) HSS, FIN

  3. 2025-04-11 782

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE; FAMILY PLANNING
An Act relating to medical assistance eligibility for family planning services; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB0168A -1- SB 168
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0894\A

SENATE BILL NO. 168

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON

Introduced: 4/11/25
Referred: Health & Social Services, Finance

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to medical assistance eligibility for family p lanning services; and 1
providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 47.07.030(b) is amended to read: 4
(b) In addition to the mandatory services specified in (a) of this section and the 5
services provided under (d) of t his section, the department may offer only the 6
following optional services: case management services for traum atic or acquired brain 7
injury; case management and nutrition services for pregnant wom en; personal care 8
services in a recipient's home; emergency hospital services; lo ng-term care 9
noninstitutional services; medical supplies and equipment; adva nced practice 10
registered nurse services; clinic services; rehabilitative serv ices for children eligible 11
for services under AS 47.07.063, substance abusers, and emotion ally disturbed or 12
chronically mentally ill adults; targeted case management servi ces; inpatient 13
psychiatric facility services for individuals 65 years of age o r older and individuals 14
34-LS0894\A
SB 168 -2- SB0168A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

under 21 years of age; psychologists' services; clinical social workers' services; marital 1
and family therapy services; professional counseling services; midwife services; 2
prescribed drugs; physical therapy; occupational therapy; chiro practic services; low-3
dose mammography screening, as defined in AS 21.42.375(e); hosp ice care; treatment 4
of speech, hearing, and language disorders; adult dental and de ntal hygiene services; 5
prosthetic devices and eyeglasses; optometrists' services; inte rmediate care facility 6
services, including intermediate care facility services for per sons with intellectual and 7
developmental disabilities; skilled nursing facility services f or individuals under 21 8
years of age; [AND] reasonable transportation to and from the p oint of medical care ; 9
and family planning services and supplies to individuals of chi ld-bearing age who 10
are not pregnant and whose household income does not exceed 225 percent of the 11
federal poverty line as defined by the United States Department o f H e a l t h a n d 12
Human Services and revised under 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). 13
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 14
read: 15
M E D I C A I D S T A T E P L A N F E D E R A L A P P R O V A L . T o t h e e x t e n t n e c e s s a r y to 16
implement this Act, the Department of Health shall amend and submit for federal approval the 17
state plan for medical assistance coverage consistent with AS 4 7.07.030(b), as amended by 18
sec. 1 of this Act. 19
* Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 20
read: 21
CONDITIONAL EFFECT; NOTIFICATION. (a) This Act takes effect onl y if, on or 22
before January 1, 2026, the United States Department of Health and Human Services 23
(1) approves the amendments to the state plan for medical assi stance coverage 24
under AS 47.07.030(b); or 25
(2) determines that its approval of the amendments to the stat e plan for 26
medical assistance coverage under AS 47.07.030(b) is not necessary. 27
(b) The commissioner of health shall notify the revisor of statutes in writing within 30 28
days after the United States Dep artment of Health and Human Ser vices approves the 29
amendments to the state plan or determines that approval is not necessary under this section. 30
* Sec. 4. If this Act takes effect, it takes effect January 1, 2026. 31