WASILLA – Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, Chairman of the Senate Health and Social Services Committee, welcomed the approval Tuesday of the state’s behavioral health portion of its Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Project. A 1115 waiver allows the Department of Health and Social Services to address behavioral health needs for Medicaid recipients with, or at-risk […]
Tsukuba, Japan – Hearing loss is the world’s fourth-leading cause of years lived with disability. The condition may worsen an array of mental, physical, and social complications. As over 90% of hearing loss is age-related, its burden is notably growing amid aging populations. Hearing ability is integrally tied with communication, and hearing loss leads […]
Proclamation includes crime package, budgets, full PFD, education funding (Juneau) – With only minutes remaining in the 121-day regular session and no indication of progress being made, Alaska Governor Michael J. Dunleavy issued a proclamation calling the Alaska Legislature into special session to complete its work on the constitutionally mandated budget bills, a comprehensive […]
Anchorage – Last week, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services approved certificate of need requests from both the Alaska Regional Hospital and the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for new treatment facilities for those struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. Representative Ivy Spohnholz (D-Anchorage), Chair of the House Health and Social Services […]
There is little debate over the link between air pollution and the human respiratory system: Research shows that dirty air can impair breathing and aggravate various lung diseases. Other potential effects are being investigated, too, as scientists examine connections between toxic air and obesity, diabetes and dementia. Now add to that list psychological distress, which University of Washington researchers have found […]
Troopers located a driver after a REDDI report was generated on him on Monday, to discover the man had a history of mental health problems, AST reported. Troopers received a report from a caller that a vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and was driving erratically at mile 106 of the Parks […]
JUNEAU – Governor Bill Walker signed HB 137 and HB 234 into law Monday, creating new revenue for the Department of Fish and Game and expanding access to healthcare across Alaska. Governor Walker signed the two bills in Juneau. Sponsored by Representative Dave Talerico of Healy, HB 137 increases hunting, trapping, and sport fishing fees, […]