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Subscribe Now: Alaska Health Policy Review
Download a complimentary copy of the Alaska Health Policy Review.
Health policy in Alaska is no small issue. Annual health-related expenditures in Alaska are approaching $6 billion--nearly one-sixth of the entire Alaska economy. I would like to introduce you to Alaska Health Policy Review, a publication I believe you will find indispensable. Alaska Health Policy Review is the comprehensive, authoritative, nonpartisan source for health policy matters in the State of Alaska.
Recent published in-depth interviews:
- Senator Bettye Davis, Chair of the Senate HESS Committee. Senator Davis frankly discusses who has been an obstacle to health policy that she felt was important to Alaskans, and how the Senate Bipartisan Working Group has worked well--so far.
- Dr. Jerome List, Alaska Medical Director of Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation, who raises important questions about quality and accessibility for Alaskans with Medicare insurance.
- Senator Hollis French, author of SB 160 Mandatory Universal Health Care, lays out his strategy for health care reform in Alaska.
- Representative Peggy Wilson, House HESS Committee Chair, discusses how to get health policy legislation through her committee--and how to make sure it does not get through.
- Representative Sharon Cissna, Co-Chair of the Legislative Health Caucus and a member of the House Health, Education, and Social Services Committee. Representative Cissna discusses the work of the Legislative Health Caucus, proposed legislation she will be submitting in 2008, and her view of the role of state government in health care reform.
- Paul Sherry, the CEO of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and a leading health policy analyst--perhaps "visionary" is a better word.
Recent articles:
- A detailed analysis of recent state and federal policies affecting Alaska's Denali KidCare, which insures thousands of children from low-income families in Alaska.
- A detailed, fully hyperlinked list of all health legislation passed in the last legislative session.
- An in-depth summary of the joint Committee hearing of SB 160 Mandatory Universal Health Care.
- A history of controversial Certificate of Need legislation in Alaska, including some curious findings in the fiscal notes.
- A list of health policy lobbyists in Alaska, their employers, and their incomes.
- A summary of work-to-date of the Governor's Health Care Strategies Planning Council.
- A calendar of key upcoming meetings and events that may influence health policy in Alaska.
The Review is issued electronically weekly during the regular legislative session, and monthly the rest of the year. A 12-month subscription to Alaska Health Policy Review is available for $850. Substantial discounts are available for organizations with multiple subscriptions, and for smaller nonprofits. Don't miss an issue! Send orders and inquiries to Lawrence D. Weiss at health.policy.review@gmail.com, or call (907) 276-2277.
The Alaska Health Policy Review is a publication of the Alaska Center for Public Policy.
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Dear Colleague:I am pleased to report that the Alaska Center for Public Policy is now a full member of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN). The Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) is a network of state and regional multi-issue research, policy, and advocacy organizations. The network currently includes 55 organizations in 40 states. EARN is coordinated by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and works with a broad range of other national organizations. EARN's mission is to improve the lives of Americans through state and local policy, and change the nature of the national policy debate-state by state. EARN seeks to advance progressive policy at the state and regional level, to deliver important national messages, and to use the collective capacity of its organizations to develop new ideas and strategies.
Our association with EARN vastly expands our resources and our ability to serve the people of Alaska. Your comments and suggestions always appreciated. Please remember that we are a nonprofit organization, so your donations are critical and always appreciated. Lawrence D. Weiss Ph.D., M.S. Executive Director |
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Toxic Toys: What States are Doing
California is a leader in the area of toxic toy regulation. Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. Groups like California's Center for Environmental Health have used the law to win legal agreements to eliminate lead threats from diaper creams, children's medicines, home water filters, vinyl lunch boxes, and baby bibs. To emphasize the importance of this state action, even if federal law were being enforced (which it isn't), the federal CPSC legally allows 350 times more lead in products than are allowed under California law.
Another key state initiative has been the Toxics in Packaging Act, drafted by the Coalition of Northeastern Governors in 1989 and adopted by 19 states, which requires that concentrations of four toxic metals (including lead) be reduced to less than 100 parts per million--a far lower level than the 600 parts per million allowed by the federal government.
In 2006, the City of San Francisco became the first city to ban the sale, distribution and manufacture of baby products containing any level of bisphenol A and certain levels of phthalates, key toxics often used in childrens' toys. With the state of California following suit in 2007 with the passage of AB 1108 banning most phthalates, many manufacturers removed these toxins from plastic bottles, teething rings and other toys.
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Cook Inlet: EPA Clean Water Act Challenged
In late June, Cook Inletkeeper joined Alaska Native tribes and fishing groups to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency's re-issued Clean Water Act permit that will allow the oil and gas industry to almost triple the amount of toxic waste dumped into Cook Inlet's rich and productive fisheries each year. Cook Inlet is the only coastal waterbody in the nation where the oil and gas industry may legally dump its toxic waste, even though oil and gas prices remain at record highs and the technology exists to reinject the wastes back into formation. Despite the relatively lax permit terms enjoyed by industry, it has violated its permit thousands of times over the past decade. Cook Inletkeeper is now working with counsel at Trustees for Alaska to challenge the re-issued permit in federal court.
(Source: Cook Inletkeeper Update, July 17, 2007)
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Climate Change and Infrastructure Costs in Alaska
ISER Research Matters No. 24: How Much Might Climate Change Add to Future Costs for Public Infrastructure?
Scientists expect Alaska's climate to get warmer over time--and the changing climate could make it roughly 10% to 20% more expensive to build and maintain public infrastructure in Alaska between now and 2030 and 10% more expensive between now and 2080. These are preliminary estimates of how much climate warming could increase the future costs for roads, harbors, schools, the power grid, sewer systems, and all the other public infrastructure that keeps Alaska functioning.
A warming climate will damage Alaska's infrastructure--and make it more expensive to maintain and replace--ecause that infrastructure was designed for a cold climate. These preliminary estimates of how much infrastructure costs might increase are from a model ISER researchers developed with help from faculty at UAA's School of Engineering and the University of Colorado.
Even without climate change, the costs of maintaining and replacing federal, state, and local infrastructure in Alaska are considerable--an estimated $32 billion between now and 2030 and $56 billion between now and 2080.
Damage from climate change could add $3.6 billion to $6.1 billion to infrastructure costs between now and 2030, and $5.6 billion to $7.6 billion between now and 2080, depending on the level of climate change and assuming that government agencies adapt infrastructure to changing conditions.
Not all areas of Alaska or types of infrastructure will be equally affected by climate change. The damage will be concentrated in areas where permafrost thaws, flooding increases, and coastal erosion gets worse. Extra infrastructure costs in the next 25 years will mostly be for maintaining or replacing roads, airport runways, and water and sewer systems.
Click here to see either a summary or the full report, Estimating Future Costs for Alaska Public Infrastructure at Risk from Climate Change.
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Progressive States Network
Progressive States Network aims to transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level. Founded in 2005, the group provides coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to state legislators and their staffs, empowering these decision-makers with everything they need to engineer forward-thinking change. Progressive States also works with non-profits and a variety of constituent groups to build a swath of support for coordinated progressive policy. The overarching goals: to get good policy passed into law and change the way issues are debated in the states.
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