04/30/1994 02:30 PM Senate HES

 CHAIRMAN RIEGER brought  HJR 52  (DETERMINING FEDERAL SHARE OF                
 MEDICAID) before the committee as the next order of business.                 
                                                                               
 ROXANNE ROHWHEDER, staff to Representative Jim Nordlund, said                 
 currently, the federal government sets its medical assistance                 
 percentages based on each state's per capita income.  Those                   
 percentages range from 50 percent to 79 percent, with Alaska's                
 matching rate set at only 50 percent.  HJR 52 urges Congress to               
 amend the Social Security Act to take into account Alaska's high              
 cost of living, as well as its higher health costs.                           
                                                                               
 Number 503                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved that HJR 52 be passed out of committee with              
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                  
 ordered.