ANCHORAGE — Today, Tom Begich released his healthcare plan for Alaska, outlining a five-point strategy to expand access to care, lower costs, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and improve healthcare delivery across the state.

Alaska’s Healthcare Challenges

After traveling across Alaska over the last eight months, Tom Begich said he has heard the same concerns from many communities: rising medical costs, threats to Medicaid, limited access to care, and growing pressure on clinics and hospitals.

“If there is one thing I have learned traveling across Alaska, it’s that people are overwhelmed by the cost of medical care,” said Begich. “Rising premiums, Medicaid threats, and limited access are costing more, delivering less, and putting people’s health at risk.”

Five-Point Healthcare Plan

Tom Begich’s healthcare plan is built around five core priorities:

• Expand DenaliCare to cover working Alaskans caught between Medicaid and unaffordable private plans, while reducing uncompensated ER care that drives up costs for everyone.
• Negotiate lower prescription drug prices by bypassing pharmacy benefit managers and establishing a board to negotiate directly with manufacturers, cutting out middlemen who inflate what we pay at the pharmacy.
• Increase telehealth access for rural Alaska by expanding broadband partnerships and tele-specialty networks so Alaskans can see a provider without a $2,000 plane ticket. Geography should not be a death sentence.
• Grow our healthcare workforce from within by supporting union healthcare workers serving Alaskan communities, expanding nursing and behavioral health training at the University of Alaska, and strengthening loan repayment programs.
• Improve behavioral healthcare access by expanding mental health and substance misuse services so Alaskans can access care before crises occur.

Listening Across Alaska

Tom Begich has met with healthcare providers, pharmacists, clinic staff, and Alaska Native healthcare organizations in communities across the state, including Craig, Copper Valley, Sitka, Seward, and Seldovia.

“I’ve heard real solutions from people in both rural and urban Alaska,” Begich said. “Where you liveshould not determine whether you can get care.”

Experience in Public Service and Healthcare Policy

Tom Begich also highlighted his experience working on healthcare and public health issues.

As Minority Leader in the Alaska State Senate, he led a 2022 effort for public health workers, teachers, and state troopers that increased rural housing funding from $2 million to $18 million, and helped secure funding to expand the University of Alaska nursing program.

As Director of Reclaiming Futures for Alaska, a mental health, juvenile justice, and substance misuse prevention program, he worked with state and nonprofit partners to improve mental health support for young people entering the justice system.

Through his business, CW Communications, he has provided policy guidance to healthcare professionals working in mental health and substance misuse prevention.

Campaign Contact: alex@tombegichforalaska.com