Medicaid has been blamed for helping to drive the growth of Alaska's operating budget. Parnell said he told Sebelius during their meeting late Tuesday in Anchorage that the state would like greater flexibility in crafting a Medicaid program that fits Alaska's needs. He said she offered her team's assistance in working with the state on waivers that might help.
He called it a "cooperative, cordial" meeting.
The two also discussed aspects of the federal health care law, the scourge of domestic violence in Alaska and teen suicides, an issue Sebelius said she's heard about during her visit to the state this week. Parnell said he and Sebelius want to reduce teen suicide and domestic violence rates and offered to work together on that. He wasn't sure how any such future partnership might look.
Alaska has been working through the "Choose Respect" initiative pushed by Parnell to curb the rate of violence and sexual assaults.
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