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House Republicans expressed skepticism over Governor Bill Walkers plan to expand Medicaid in a hearing Monday morning.

The subcommittee hearing of the House Health and Social Services Committee was the first chance for lawmakers to publicly question Health Commissioner Valerie Davidson on the subject.

Medicaid expansion is a complicated topic. Davidson and lawmakers dug into the details, like reimbursement rates in Alaska and efforts to combat Medicaid fraud.

An hour and a half into the hearing, subcommittee chair Dan Saddler, a Republican from Eagle River, was ready to ask a bigger picture question:

Given the federal governments debt load, thats also projected to increase tremendously over future decades. does it cause you any concern or to question the wisdom of expanding Medicaid?

The federal government would cover Medicaid expansion at 100% until the end of next year, then that match gradually decreases to 90% in 2020. The money would pay for health coverage for mostly childless adults who are near or below the federal poverty level.

Davidson said they are mostly the working poor and she told Saddler she didnt have a problem accepting federal funds to give them access to health care.

She pointed out that federal highway funds have a similarly generous match rate.

We can build roads, she said. We can build all kinds of opportunities, but if we dont have Alaskans who are healthy enough to participate in that economy, then we have done ourselves a disservice and so I am comfortable moving forward with expansion just as I am comfortable driving on roads that have the potholes replaced at those corresponding matches.

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Republican Lawmakers Express Doubts On Medicaid Expansion