Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 272 — An Act relating to insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices; relating to medical assistance for prosthetic and orthotic devices; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (H) COSPONSOR(S): SCHRAGE, FIELDS

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 36% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

17 added · 18 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of HB 272 now states that a specific section will take effect the day after it receives approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, rather than starting automatically on January 1, 2027. This change is significant because it allows for a more flexible timeline that can adapt to federal approval processes, ensuring that the bill's provisions can be implemented in a timely manner once they receive necessary endorsements.

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34-LS1296\I CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
34-LS1296\N HOUSE BILL NO.
272(HSS) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY THE HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE Referred:
272 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES JOSEPHSON, Schrage, Fields Introduced:
Finance Sponsor(s):
1/23/26 Referred:
REPRESENTATIVES JOSEPHSON, Schrage, Fields A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices;
Health and Social Services, Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices;
(b) The coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices required under this section must include all prosthetic or orthotic devices that the covered person's health care provider determines are the most appropriate models to meet the medical needs of the covered person to complete activities of daily living or essential job-related HB0272b -1- CSHB 272(HSS) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\I activities, shower or bathe, perform applicable physical activities, including running, biking, swimming, and strength training, and maximize whole-body health and limb function.
(b) The coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices required under this section must include all prosthetic or orthotic devices that the covered person's health care provider determines are the most appropriate models to meet the medical needs of the covered person to complete activities of daily living or essential job-related HB0272a -1- HB 272 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\N activities, shower or bathe, perform applicable physical activities, including running, biking, swimming, and strength training, and maximize whole-body health and limb function.
If medically necessary covered prosthetics or orthotics are not available from an in-network provider, the health care insurer shall provide the covered person with a referral to an out-of-network provider and shall fully reimburse the out-of-network provider at a mutually agreed upon rate, less the portion that is the responsibility of the CSHB 272(HSS) -2- HB0272b New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\I covered person.
If medically necessary covered prosthetics or orthotics are not available from an in-network provider, the health care insurer shall provide the covered person with a referral to an out-of-network provider and shall fully reimburse the out-of-network provider at a mutually agreed upon rate, less the portion that is the responsibility of the HB 272 -2- HB0272a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\N covered person.
intermediate care facility services, including intermediate care facility services for persons with intellectual and HB0272b -3- CSHB 272(HSS) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\I developmental disabilities;
intermediate care facility services, including intermediate care facility services for persons with intellectual and HB0272a -3- HB 272 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\N developmental disabilities;
To the extent necessary to implement this Act, the Department of Health shall amend and submit to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for approval the state plan for medical assistance CSHB 272(HSS) -4- HB0272b New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\I coverage consistent with AS 47.07.030(b), as amended by sec.
To the extent necessary to implement this Act, the Department of Health shall amend and submit to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for approval the state plan for medical assistance HB 272 -4- HB0272a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1296\N coverage consistent with AS 47.07.030(b), as amended by sec.
Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2027.
* Sec.
8.
HB0272b -5- CSHB 272(HSS) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
HB0272a -5- HB 272 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
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Action History

  1. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SCHRAGE, FIELDS

  2. (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE

  3. (H) FN2: INDETERMINATE(DOH)

  4. (H) FN1: (CED)

  5. (H) AM: PRAX

  6. (H) NR: SCHWANKE

  7. (H) DP: FIELDS, GRAY, MEARS, MINA

  8. (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 4DP 1NR 1AM

  9. (H) Moved CSHB 272(HSS) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 3:40 PM --

  10. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  11. (H) Heard & Held

  12. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  13. (H) HSS, FIN

  14. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 62 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (62)

62 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 62 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 272?
HB 272 is sponsored by Zack Fields (D), Calvin Schrage (N), and Andy Josephson (D).
What is the current status of HB 272?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 272?
Track HB 272 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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