State Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, confers with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and other members during Monday’s floor session about a bill allowing residents to receive Medicaid funds for providing care for elderly and disabled family members. The bill introduced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy passed unanimously. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

State Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, confers with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and other members during Monday’s floor session about a bill allowing residents to receive Medicaid funds for providing care for elderly and disabled family members. The bill introduced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy passed unanimously. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Senate OKs Medicaid funds for home care of elderly, disabled

Bill also allows state to seek extension of COVID-era funds for other residents needing daily care

Allowing people to receive Medicaid funds for providing home care for an elderly or disabled adult, as well as certain other residents of all ages needing daily care, was unanimously approved Monday by the state Senate.

Senate Bill 57, introduced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, classifies those providing elderly and disabled care as adult day care centers for the purposes of Medicaid eligibility. An amendment successfully added Monday by Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, an Anchorage Republican, allows the State Department of Health to quickly seek an extension of a federal waiver implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic that allows such reimbursement for other home health care patients, but is scheduled to expire May 11.

“We know that home health care provides more stability and it is far less expensive for the state of Alaska,” she said during Monday’s floor session.

Giessel said the bill is especially important for remote areas since they’re lacking facilities providing around-the-clock care, which is a rapidly growing program due the aging of the state’s population.

“Alaska’s population of seniors has increased more than 55% in the last 10 years,” she said. “We have the highest increase of people over 65 and with Alzheimer’s in nation. It’s been called the senior tsunami.”

There was no opposition expressed to the bill during the committee process, Giessel said.

Its companion bill in the House (HB 58) is scheduled to be heard by the House Finance Committee on Wednesday.

The bill allows home care for up to two residents (or three under special circumstances) with fewer administrative requirements than existing assisted living facilities. Five types of patient classification waivers — such as various disabilities and children with complex medical conditions — would receive an equal amount of federal and state reimbursement that would apply to about 5,000 residents.

Among the people and agencies supporting the bill is Stephanie Wheeler, the state’s long-term care ombudsman, who in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee stated establishing a new residential care category will help resolve a frequent concern heard by her agency.

“Often while visiting seniors in Assisted Living Homes we frequently hear from elders that, while they love their current living environment, they wished that they could find an Assisted Living Home close to the community where they have family or a home close to where they were born and raised,” she wrote. “Despite Alaska being the biggest state in the United States, it also has the fewest options when it comes to assisted living. Meeting the needs of older Alaskans in their community is critical to supporting healthy aging and community sustainability.”

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

President Donald Trump speaks to a capacity crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on July 9, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Here’s what Trump, after 20 days of his second term, has done so far specifically affecting Alaska

Nixing rules that limit oil drilling, renaming Mt. McKinley, shaking up U.S. Coast Guard among actions.

President Donald Trump walks away from the podium after speaking about a plane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during a news conference at the White House in Washington, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. President Trumpճ remarks, suggesting that diversity in hiring and other Biden administration policies somehow caused the disaster, reflected his instinct to immediately frame major events through his political or ideological lens. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
All of the Trump administration’s major moves in the first 20 days

The New York Times is tracking the actions of President Donald Trump… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team pose outside Kodiak High School during their sweep over the Bears this weekend. (Photo courtesy JDHS)
JDHS boys topple Kodiak on the road

Crimson Bears sweep island Bears in two-game series.

Aaron Surma, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Council, gives a solo testimony to the Juneau Board of Education on Feb. 6, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
On top of a flat-funded BSA, Juneau Board of Education considers loss of local funding and grants

Principals and mental health advocate give feedback as the Juneau School District plans FY26 budget.

Cars arrive at Juneau International Airport on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s airport asking long-ago manager Dave Palmer to return temporarily amidst leadership changes

Palmer would return in April as longtime manager retires; Assembly removes two airport board members.

Pittman’s Pub, which has a bar tent located next to the Hooter chairlift and Fish Creek Lodge, will not open this season, its co-owners told Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors Thursday. Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Pittman’s Pub owners say they won’t open at Eaglecrest this year due to cost, space difficulties

Couple says they would like to take over ski area’s restaurant, continue as a year-round operation.

The Alaska Senate unanimously approves a bill Friday rejecting a recommendation to adjust lawmakers’ salaries for inflation. (Official Alaska State Legislature livestream)
Alaska Senate unanimously rejects automatic salary hikes for top state officials

Commission recommendation for adjustments matching inflation takes effect unless lawmakers say no.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read