Alaska Supreme Court Rejects Lawmakers’ Request To Block Medicaid Expansion
On Monday, the Alaska Supreme Court rejected state lawmakers' request to block Gov. Bill Walker (I) from expanding Medicaid, meaning the Walker administration can begin implementing the program as planned on Sept. 1. The move comes after Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner on Friday rejected a request from Alaska lawmakers to temporarily block Walker from expanding the program. The suit argued that the group Walker intended to expand Medicaid to is considered optional under the ACA, not mandatory, and thus subject to approval via the Legislature. Pfiffner found that Walker's expansion plan covers a mandatory population.
- "Alaska Supreme Court Allows Medicaid Expansion To Move Forward" (Howell, Washington Times, 8/31).