Begich Produces Results in Bringing Care Closer To Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/30/2014

ANCHORAGE - Senator Mark Begich’s central role in facilitating an agreement between tribal health care facilities and the VA is being noted by Military.com.

Begich’s proposal for the Alaska Hero’s Health Card was taken up by the VA and helped significantly reduce wait times across the state. A proposal similar to Begich’s Alaska fix passed the Senate as a solution for a national fix to VA wait times.

Begich sits on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and is one of a select group of Senators negotiating on a Conference Committee to pass legislation curbing unacceptable wait times at the VA..

Read the full article below:

Military.com: Senator: Alaska Key to VA Healthcare Fix

Military.com Jun 26, 2023 | by Bryant Jordan

The future of veterans’ health care across the U.S. may be getting its trial run up in Alaska, a state one-fifth the size of the lower 48 and with more veterans per capita than any other state.

Alaskan veterans, many of whom live in remote areas, are increasingly getting health care at hospitals and clinics operated by the Indian Health Service.

“We now have [26] agreements with tribal providers,” Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, told Senate and House lawmakers on Wednesday. “Each is a unique agreement that saves veterans from traveling thousands of miles [for care].”

Begich, one of a number of lawmakers working on a compromise bill intended to speed up health care delivery to the nation’s veterans, is championing the Alaska system as a national model.

The lawmakers are working on legislation against a backdrop of scandal at the VA, where investigators have confirmed systemic abuses of appointment scheduling, including in Phoenix, Arizona, where 35 veterans on a secret wait list died before getting to see a doctor.

Among provision in legislation drafted by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is one to expand the pool of providers available to veterans by enabling them to access Indian Health Service, or IHS, facilities.

Under the arrangement, non-Native American veterans could get care in the facilities and the VA would reimburse the costs.

“The Alaska experience was absolutely a factor for including [that] language” in the bill, Sanders spokesman Mike Briggs told Military.com on Thursday.

Begich told lawmakers in conference committee that when the idea of utilizing IHS care was first raised some veterans service organizations were leery, but that’s no longer the case.

Gerry Glover, a state veterans’ service officer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Alaska, called the arrangement “a great step in the right direction.”

“It’s been a slow process over the last couple of years to get information out there [on the agreements] but veterans are now starting to get into some of the rural native health care facilities,” he told Military.com.

Begich spokesman Josh Stewart said more than 200 village and tribal health programs are included in the agreements to serve veterans.

“We have 26 total agreements, which cover the geographical area of the entire state to include the Aleutian Chain,” he said. “Currently there is no specific clinic that is not covered by these agreements. The whole state is covered.”

According to the VA, 62 veterans took advantage of IHS healthcare when agreements began taking effect in 2012. In 2013 the number had jumped to 279. As of June 6, 2014, the figure was 273.

As tough a time as the VA has had serving the population in the lower 48 states, Alaska has had even more challenges.

“Eighty percent of the communities are not accessible by roads,” Begich said on Wednesday.

Additionally, there is no dedicated VA hospital in Alaska. The VA Healthcare System is a joint venture with the Defense Department operating on Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage. There are also three community-based outpatient clinics, including on Fort Wainwright.

For an area the size of Alaska, that’s not a great many resources.

That means travel and expense for a veteran who can only get his health care needs met at a VA facility.

In 2011, when Begich was trying to find new ways to get health care to veterans, he told reporters in the state of one veteran who had to spend $2,000 to travel from his home village to Anchorage for care.

It was then he came up with another idea that has found its way into the McCain-Sanders bill. Begich called it the “Alaska Hero’s Card” when he put it into a bill in 2011. It would allow the state’s veterans to go to community providers for their care.

The Sanders-McCain bill has a provision for a “Choice Card,” that would allow the veteran user to seek care at non-VA hospitals or clinics under certain conditions.

Begich’s “hero card” went nowhere. But it was out of talks with the VA on the access to care issue that then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki was won over to the idea of the VA reimbursing ISH facilities for serving veterans, according to Begich spokesman Josh Stewart.

Begich had wanted a legislative solution, but when that failed came up with an administrative one, he said.

Should the Senate bill pass with the “Choice Card” intact, however, Begich will finally see the act approved by Congress.

During the conference committee meeting, Begich was bullish on offering the Alaska system as a model.

“If it can work in Alaska it can work anywhere in the country,” he said.

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Decision Lets Employers Impose Personal Views on Women’s Health Care Decisions, Access to Birth Control

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/30/2014

Today’s Supreme Court ruling reminds Alaska women that Dan Sullivan, Mead Treadwell, and Joe Miller believe employers and the government should invade a woman’s privacy and make health care decisions for them.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a lawsuit brought in part by the chain Hobby Lobby. As a result, employers can take away employee access to contraception and reproductive health care services, potentially costing Alaska women hundreds of dollars more per year.

“As if today’s Supreme Court decision weren’t already bad enough for Alaska women, GOP candidates Dan Sullivan, Joe Miller and Mead Treadwell support this gross violation of privacy. Alaska women are taking note of their anti-family, anti-woman agenda,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, Campaign Manager for Alaskans for Begich.

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Billionaire Donor is Funding Outside Attacks on Mark Begich

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/27/2014

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan avoided honest discussion about the millions of dollars in shadowy Outside money supporting his candidacy while accusing his opponents of seeking Outside campaign money. Sullivan conveniently ignored the $1,000,000 donation announced in the last week from one of his billionaire donors to Karl Rove’s Crossroads.

New York billionaire Paul Singer hosted a plush Aspen fundraiser for Sullivan in February and now is now giving more firepower to the Outside groups leading the charge on Sullivan’s behalf.

“Dan Sullivan and his allies continue to believe they can buy Alaska’s Senate seat by writing million dollar checks without looking Alaskans in the eyes and sharing the dangerous special interest agenda they support,” said Max Croes, Communications Director for Alaskans for Begich.

Karl Rove’s groups American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS have pledged to spend more than $7 million on television ads in Alaska.

The Aspen event Sullivan attended was labeled a discreet ‘Mega-donor war council’ by Politico and mirrored a similar New York City event in support of Sullivan in December that helped raise six figures in Outside checks for Sullivan.

Singer heads New York-based investment firm Elliott Management Corp. He has already provided millions to Karl Rove’s Crossroads groups. American Crossroads has reportedly already raised $11 million dollars to run ads in the 2014 election.

Outside groups have collectively pledged nearly $10 million in television spending from now through Election Day in addition to the millions they’ve already spent.

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Billionaires Distract from Sullivan Falling Poll Numbers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/27/2014

ANCHORAGE — Hours before last night’s debate where Dan Sullivan was finally forced to face tough questions and debate his primary opponents, Karl Rove and his Outside attack group American Crossroads had launched another television ad in an attempt to prop up Sullivan’s falling poll numbers.

“From using the tragic death of veterans in Arizona in their last ad to today’s false attacks, Dan Sullivan and Karl Rove are proving they will do or say anything to mislead Alaskans in an attempt to buy our Senate seat,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, campaign manager for Alaskans for Begich.

The newest Crossroads attack appears to be in response to Sullivan’s falling poll numbers. Crossroads ads run in Alaska continue to draw the attention of independent fact check groups who rule attacks from Sullivan and Crossroads “false” and “twisted.”

Begich’s record of delivering results for Alaska is clear. It includes opening the Arctic to the first drilling seen in over a decade, successfully fighting the EPA to obtain permits for a road to drill in the NPR-A and overseeing the Dena’ina Center from conception to completion – Alaska’s largest newspaper called Anchorage’s new convention center a “crowning achievement” of then-Mayor Mark Begich.

“For an Outside group to say that Senator Mark Begich hasn’t produced results for Alaska is flat out not true. I’ve known Mark for years and he’s delivered for Alaskans in every corner of our state. Veterans like me know he is a tireless champion for Alaska’s 77,000 veterans and military families. These Outside attack groups don’t know Mark, his record fighting for Alaska and what his clout means for our state,” said Gene Horner, Vietnam Army Veteran.

Read more about Begich’s record here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/26/2014

ANCHORAGE - Thursday night’s Republican primary debate reminded Alaska women of the dangerous anti-women stances of Dan Sullivan, Mead Treadwell and Joe Miller, who each believe government should make health care decisions for Alaska women.

Mark Begich is the only candidate who believes women deserve equal pay for equal work and should have the ability to make their own decisions about their health care. All three Republican candiidates have established themselves as anti-choice and believe a woman’s boss should have a say in her access to birth control.

“Dan Sullivan, Mead Treadwell and Joe Miller are telling Alaska women they believe government should make their decisions for them when it comes to health care, which amounts to a complete invasion of privacy ,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, campaign manager for Alaskans for Begich.

Sullivan, Treadwell and Miller have all voiced their opposition to a woman’s right to choose and their support of the Hobby Lobby lawsuit, which would allow bosses to cancel doctor’s visits for women’s coverage of reproductive health care. The three candidates are also opposed to employer coverage of reproductive services like birth control which could cost Alaska women hundreds of dollars a month.

Billionaires Continue Record of Lying to Alaskans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/26/2014

ANCHORAGE — The biggest spenders in Alaska’s 2014 Senate race — the Koch brothers and Karl Rove – disappointed Alaskans and missed this evening’s GOP debate. Just today, Rove’s group American Crossroads went up with yet another ad repeating already debunked lies about Mark Begich’s record.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/26/2014

Senator Mark Begich received the endorsement of the United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), the largest statewide commercial fishing industry trade association which represents 36 different Alaska commercial fishing organizations. UFA is also endorsing Congressman Don Young. Begich is the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard, a key leadership role on fish issues, as well as other key sectors of Alaska’s economy.

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Sullivan Supporters Try to Distract from Falling Poll Numbers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/26/2014

ANCHORAGE — Just hours before Dan Sullivan will finally be forced to face tough questions and debate his primary opponents, Karl Rove and his Outside attack group American Crossroads launched another television ad in an attempt to prop up Dan Sullivan’s falling poll numbers.

“From using the tragic death of veterans in Arizona in their last ad to today’s false attacks, Dan Sullivan and Karl Rove are proving they will do or say anything to mislead Alaskans in an attempt to buy our Senate seat,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, campaign manager for Alaskans for Begich.

Today’s Crossroads attack appears to be in response to Sullivan’s falling poll numbers. Crossroads ads run in Alaska continue to draw the attention of independent fact check groups who rule attacks from Sullivan and Crossroads “false” and “twisted.”

Begich’s record of delivering results for Alaska is clear. It includes opening the Arctic to the first drilling seen in over a decade, successfully fighting the EPA to obtain permits for a road to drill in the NPR-A and overseeing the Dena’ina Center from conception to completion – Alaska’s largest newspaper called Anchorage’s new convention center a “crowning achievement” of then-Mayor Mark Begich.

“For an Outside group to say that Senator Mark Begich hasn’t produced results for Alaska is flat out not true. I’ve known Mark for years and he’s delivered for Alaskans in every corner of our state. Veterans like me know he is a tireless champion for Alaska’s 77,000 veterans and military families. These Outside attack groups don’t know Mark, his record fighting for Alaska and what his clout means for our state,” said Gene Horner, Vietnam Army Veteran.

Read more about Begich’s record here.

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Decisions Belong to Alaska Women, Not Employers or Government

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/25/2014

ANCHORAGE — Senator Mark Begich reaffirmed his position on the Hobby Lobby lawsuit currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, calling the attempt to allow employers to determine an employee’s access to reproductive health care an “invasion of privacy.”

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Hobby Lobby, women face the real threat of paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket every year for access to contraception at the discretion of the government and their employers. The court is expected to rule on the case in the next week.

“Decisions about reproductive health and contraception should be made in private between a woman, her doctor, her family and her faith — It is a gross invasion of privacy to allow employers or the government to make these decisions,” said Mark Begich.

Republican Senate candidates Dan Sullivan, Mead Treadwell and Joe Miller have all voiced their support for the lawsuit

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Billionaire hosted Sullivan in Aspen — Generated thousands in campaign cash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/24/2014

ANCHORAGE — One of U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan’s supporters has dumped $1,000,000 into Outside groups attacking Mark Begich. The donation is New York billionaire Paul Singer’s second major boost to Sullivan after hosting a plush Aspen fundraiser for Sullivan in February.

The donation to Karl Rove’s Crossroads supports the political attack ads in Alaska that have been called false by independent fact check groups.

“Dan Sullivan and his allies continue to believe they can buy Alaska’s Senate seat by writing million dollar checks without looking Alaskans in the eyes and sharing the dangerous special interest agenda they support,” said Max Croes, Communications Director for Alaskans for Begich.

The Aspen event Sullivan attended was labeled a discreet ‘Mega-donor war council‘ by Politico and mirrored a similar New York City event in support of Sullivan in December that helped raise six figures in Outside checks for Sullivan.

Singer heads New York-based investment firm Elliott Management Corp. He has already provided millions to Karl Rove’s Crossroads groups. American Crossroads has reportedly already raised $11 million dollars to run ads in the 2014 election.

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