Alaska state legislature approves flat-rate health care bill

Has been updated: 16 few minutes ago release date: twenty one few minutes ago

The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill legalizing subscription-based health care in the state.

The bill would allow primary care providers to provide care to patients based on a monthly fee similar to a gym membership. Known as direct care contracts, patients can access limited medical services without the involvement of an insurance company.

The Senate on Thursday passed the House's changes to the bill by a vote of 12-7. This bill is the fifth bill passed by the full Congress this year. Head next to Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The governor's spokesperson did not say Thursday whether he intended to sign the bill.

The proposal has long been supported by conservative groups, including the Alaska Policy Forum, which say it would reduce health care costs in Alaska.

Some lawmakers balked at the concept of subscription-based health care, saying it could improve options for Alaskans willing to pay a subscription fee on top of their insurance policy, but He said it did nothing to improve access for Alaskans who couldn't afford it or who couldn't afford insurance. Insurance policies provide limited coverage for routine care.

The bill would require clinics with such contracts to continue accepting Medicare patients and require at least 20% of their patients to be insured through Medicare or completely uninsured. Contains clauses. The provision is aimed at addressing a long-standing shortage of health care providers willing to accept patients who rely on public insurance.

The Senate had approved an earlier bill in May with the support of 18 senators, but House lawmakers had amended the bill earlier this month to remove some of the restrictions the Senate supported.

Among the restrictions the House removed: In an effort to prevent clinics from being acquired by private equity firms that could reduce the quality of care, clinics that offer direct health care contracts are required to have Alaska-based health care providers. included the requirement that the person own the property. Another change made by the House was the removal of a requirement that clinics offering such arrangements clearly communicate to patients that the arrangement is not a form of insurance. This means that more expensive or complex forms of care are not covered or provided.

“Alaskans don't understand that what they're buying is not insurance,” said Sen. Jesse Keel (D-Anchorage), who voted against the bill Thursday. “Believing you have something you don’t have puts you and your family at risk.”