A new lawsuit over Alaska's Medicaid backlog asks a judge to order faster processing
As of last month, more than 15,000 Alaskans had Medicaid applications awaiting approval by the Division of Public Assistance.
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As of last month, more than 15,000 Alaskans had Medicaid applications awaiting approval by the Division of Public Assistance.
Alaska will join 42 other states in using an approach intended to streamline applications for the food stamp program.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued warning letters to 32 states and two territories that were behind on processing resident applications for SNAP benefits. The backlog of applications leave many residents without food access.
Many states have struggled to maintain staffing levels at the social service agencies that handle safety net programs, even as their workload has ballooned with the expiration of pandemic-era waivers that streamlined the application process.
Many states have struggled to maintain staffing levels at the social service agencies that handle safety net programs, even as their workload has ballooned with the expiration of pandemic-era waivers that streamlined the application process.