Advocacy
2025-26 Legislative Report
This 10-page report features highlights from the 2025-26 Alaska State Legislative Session, including Complex Care Residential Homes, Early Intervention, Digital Technology in Prisons, and Behavioral Health on the Parole Board. Also highlighted are passed bills and budget items impacting Alaskans with behavioral health conditions and other disabilities, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, reentry after incarceration, independent living, and more. See the full report here.
August 2025 - Juneau Panel Discussion:
Changes to Federal Health Care Coverage
Hosted by AK Advocates on August 26, 2025
Shannon Hendricks, Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL), on Medicaid/Medicare.
Kim Champney, Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid/Medicare.
Will Jemison, JAMHI Health & Wellness, on Medicaid/Medicare/ SNAP.
Anton Rieselbach, Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC), on Health Insurance Marketplace/Premium Tax Credit.
To watch the full panel presentation, go here
DETAILS:
WHEN: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
WHERE: Centennial Hall, Sheffield Ballroom — Juneau, Alaska
WHAT: A panel discussion exploring recent federal policy changes impacting access to federal healthcare coverage — Medicaid, Medicare, and the Health Insurance Marketplace, including the premium tax credit. The event will examine how these changes will affect health coverage for families, seniors, Alaskans living with intellectual-developmental disabilities, behavioral health disorders, and small-businesses, self-employed, part-time and seasonal workers.
WHO: Hosted and Moderated by AK Advocates, in collaboration with:
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Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities (AADD)
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JAMHI Health & Wellness (JAMHI)
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Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL, Inc.)
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Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC)
Panelists:
Kim Champney, Executive Director, AADD
Will Jemison, Executive Director, JAMHI Health & Wellness
Shannon Hendricks, Program Coordinator, SAIL Inc.
Anton Rieselback, Program Officer, JEDC
WHY: Recent changes to federal healthcare policy—affecting Medicaid, Medicare, and the Health Insurance Marketplace—will have wide-reaching impacts on healthcare access and affordability in Alaska. This panel discussion will provide a timely, community-specific overview of what’s changing and how individuals, families, businesses, and providers can respond.
