Alaska’s backlog of Medicaid applications numbers nearly 16K

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Alaska’s backlog of Medicaid applications numbered nearly 16,000 at the end of last month, with about two-thirds of the cases filed last year.

The Alaska Journal of Commerce reports the backlog is down from the more than 20,000 cases noted in a state report in May, and it’s down from the 30,000 cases reported the prior year.

Clinton Bennett, media relations manager for the state Department of Health and Social Services, says the average wait time for an application to get approved is 55 days.

He says some cases get processed within two days, such as those involving a pregnant woman or a newborn.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about 210,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program in the state.
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Information from: (Anchorage) Alaska Journal of Commerce, http://www.alaskajournal.com