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Nearly two years into her administration, Thursday afternoon will be the first time Alaskans will hear Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, announcing some major health care ideas.
While the administration's being tight lipped about what the initiatives will be, CBS 11 News has learned many of Palin's ideas will come from a state health care task force report, according to Health and Social Service Department Spokesperson Greg Wilkinson.
Wilkinson was very clear the governor would only
It comes on the same day another legislative heath report will say lawmakers are not doing their job.
“This is proofing,” Rep. Sharon Cissina, D-Anchorage, said as she overlooked the final report she oversaw. It will tell lawmakers Alaska's current health care prognosis.
“What we learned this year from people throughout Alaska, Alaska's in tough shape when it comes to those things that could actually be prevented,” Cissna says.
Cissna and her fellow Legislative Health Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, plan on releasing their report, based on nine statewide meetings, the same day Palin will roll out her health initiatives.
Cissna, a legislative health expert, could not even predict Palin's recommendations. Neither could AARP officials, whose vested interests include older Alaskans' doctor access because of Medicare.
Alaska AARP Communications Director Ann Secrest says Palin's announcement is, “…defiantly long overdue. People are hurting. Many people don't have a primary physician to go to."
They say Palin never asked them for ideas to formulate her health initiatives. Providence's Spokesperson Becky Hultberg
In a statement Palin's spokesperson Bill McAllister says, "The health proposals that will be discussed...are the result of collaboration among the governor's office and various state departments. Naturally, those involved have taken prior public input into account."
Wilkinson went a step further; saying many of the ideas will come from the Alaska Health Care Strategies Planning Council's January 2008 report. It concluded, “With a concentration on a wellness model of health care, as well as state support for the Community Health Center system and a robust public nursing program, the current access problems could be significantly reduced.”
Cissna says, “The problem with that one is the problem we so many times have. And that is we're not talking to the average Alaskan. We're not really bringing in an understanding of what's occurring across this state.”
But Cissna, Secrest, and Hultberg all say they are hopeful Palin's ideas could lead to legislation.
Cissna says expect to hear many health proposals this legislative session.
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