Gov. Walker announces unilateral Medicaid expansion.

[Bugenhagen]

FAIRBANKS — In the biggest event since his inauguration, Gov. Bill Walker announced Thursday he’s unilaterally accepted Medicaid expansion.

In a packed news conference held in Anchorage and flanked by a retinue of government officials and supportive healthcare workers, Walker said 40,000 more Alaskans will have access to Medicaid by Sept. 1.

“Today, Alaska becomes the 30th state to accept the benefits of Medicaid expansion,” the independent governor said to nearly 30 seconds of applause and cheering from the audience.

Medicaid expansion was core to Walker’s candidacy for office, and he had promised to set the wheels in motion to accept the federal provision of the Affordable Care Act on his first day of office.

Walker didn’t take this executive action on his first day of office, opting to engage the Legislature on the change. To that end, he brought in Valerie Davidson as the state’s head of the Department of Health and Social Services.

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http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/walker-announces-unilateral-plan-for-medicaid-expansion/article_af870824-2bfd-11e5-acc6-b38720f26747.html

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He just became my favorite AK governor of all time.