00 CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 32(HSS) 01 Expressing commitment to the rural health transformation program; acknowledging the 02 critical health care challenges facing rural areas of the state; and urging action by the 03 Governor and the Alaska delegation in Congress to continue to advocate for the state's 04 interests and advance the rural health transformation program. 05 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 06 WHEREAS, on December 29, 2025, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 07 Services awarded the state $272,174,856 for the first year of the rural health transformation 08 program to support targeted, systemwide investments that improve access to health care and 09 strengthen the long-term stability of the state's health care system; and 10 WHEREAS Alaska received the second-highest total funding allocation and the 11 highest per capita funding of any state in the United States, reflecting the critical health care 12 needs of the state and the state's rural frontier and the dedication of those individuals who 13 advocated for those resources; and 14 WHEREAS the challenges of living in Alaska require innovative solutions specific to 15 this state that may differ significantly from approaches used in the contiguous United States; 01 and 02 WHEREAS the rural health transformation program provides considerable assistance 03 to the state's health care system by enabling investments in the following six critical priority 04 areas: 05 (1) healthy beginnings, including strengthening maternal and child health 06 services to reduce preventable deaths and improve birth outcomes; 07 (2) health care access, including expanding essential health services in rural, 08 remote, and frontier communities where access is currently limited or nonexistent; 09 (3) healthy communities, including promoting healthy lifestyles, preventive 10 care, and community-based wellness initiatives; 11 (4) fiscal sustainability and value-based care, including pursuing innovative 12 payment models and sustainable financing mechanisms; 13 (5) workforce strengthening, including recruiting, training, retaining, and 14 supporting skilled health care professionals across the state; and 15 (6) technology and innovation, including modernizing health care 16 infrastructure, expanding telehealth capacity, and implementing innovative care delivery 17 models; 18 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes that prudent 19 stewardship of those federal funds requires careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and 20 clear federal guidance; and be it 21 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature wishes to signal its strong 22 commitment to the rural health transformation program and to establish clear priorities to 23 guide program implementation; and be it 24 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports flexibility in the 25 rural health transformation program's criteria and timeline to maximize investment in health 26 care facility infrastructure and workforce development; and be it 27 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Governor to 28 (1) work expeditiously with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 29 Services to obtain clarification on all uncertain aspects of allowable fund uses, particularly 30 regarding infrastructure investments, broadband purchases, and workforce incentive 31 structures; 01 (2) provide interim reports to the Alaska State Legislature on implementation, 02 fund distribution, and federal guidance received on the rural health transformation program; 03 and 04 (3) identify any barriers to the success of the rural health transformation 05 program that require legislative action or advocacy with federal authorities; and be it 06 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Alaska 07 delegation in Congress to 08 (1) continue advocating for the state's interests with the federal Centers for 09 Medicare and Medicaid Services; 10 (2) support maximum flexibility for the state given the state's unique 11 geographic and health care challenges; and 12 (3) defend the state's full funding allocation against any efforts to reduce or 13 redistribute those critical resources; and be it 14 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes that the health 15 and well-being of all residents of the state depends on the successful implementation of the 16 rural health transformation program and that the Alaska State Legislature will work 17 cooperatively with the state and federal administrations to authorize and guide the use of 18 those transformative federal resources; and be it 19 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature affirms that improving 20 health care access in the state is a priority transcending political differences and commits to 21 working cooperatively across party lines to maximize the rural health transformation 22 program's benefit to all residents of the state; and be it 23 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares that this 24 resolution expresses the will of the Alaska State Legislature and provides guidance to state 25 agencies, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the public regarding 26 legislative priorities and intentions for the rural health transformation program. 27 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Mike Dunleavy, Governor 28 of Alaska; the Honorable Heidi Hedberg, Commissioner, Department of Health; Alina 29 Czekai, Director, Office of Rural Health Transformation, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 30 Services, United States Department of Health and Human Services; and the Honorable Lisa 31 Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Nicholas 01 Begich, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.