State leaders look to fix Alaskan health issues

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Medicaid is one of the biggest drivers of Alaska’s state spending.
At the same time, Alaska has the nation’s highest suicide rate, and a growing problem with opioid addiction.
There is a new effort to address both issues. State leaders believe they can lower the long term growth in Medicaid costs – and make Alaskans healthier mentally and physically.
They plan to do that by better coordinating behavioral health care – the treatment of mental health and addi