The job of changing the Alaskan health care environment is challenging for a State Representative. Health care costs are driven by every one of the many sectors of health economics, from prescription drugs, provider costs, to individual consumer’s behavioral choices. And although he Federal Government has a heavy hand in health care solutions, our state is not without some power to provide fairness in access and affordability in health care.

So many people I have talked with are working, responsible Alaskans who have or are in danger of loosing everything because of their own or children‘s health care costs. The outcome can be family breakup, and homelessness. The most at-risk population in Alaska are self-employed, non-profit or small business employees, and the uninsured in Alaska is growing.

I have dedicated myself to raising the awareness of this issue and creating of solutions to this problem by:

• Meeting regularly with Alaskan health providers, health insurance professionals and citizens, to expand commitment to affordable health care for all Alaskans. (regular meetings of the Affordable Health Workgroup, founded in 2001, and U/Med Neighborhood Meetings beginning in 2002).
• Coordinating forums to bring care professionals together to discuss collaboration, awareness and problem-solving (2002 – Mission Possible, 2003 – Health Summit forum.)
• Forming and cochairing the Alaska State Legislative Joint Health Caucus to educate lawmakers and public policy workers on Alaska’s health care issues.
• Fighting for accessible and quality health care as a member of the Alaska State House’s Health, Education and Social Services Committee, the Finance Health and Social Services Subcommittee.
• Participating with lawmakers, health professionals and health scientists throughout the country as a member of the National Conference of State Legislators’ Health and Social Services Committees, Academy Health (the leading national health scientists’ organization) and the National Association of Public Health.
• Securing funds for local medical education programs like the UAA nursing program, insuring decent paying jobs for Alaskans that provide affordable health care.
• Working with the Anchorage School District to demand our schools give adequate preparation to students so that the great number of jobs held now by visiting and temporary health workers can be filled in the future by our own residents. This is a crucial education issue and one that must take precedence if we are to have a future with good jobs and adequate health care.
• By vigorously supporting community health centers.
• By funding local medical education programs like the UAA nursing program, so Alaskans have decent paying jobs and can afford health care.
• Crafting state policy through my position on the State House Health and Social Services Committee to ensure that we, as individuals, have affordable health insurance and access to health care.
• Sharon's Health Odyssey