The package deal also includes $2 million for a pilot half-day preschool program serving up to 500 children, $923,000 to fund an obesity prevention and control program, $498,000 to develop and staff an interactive health awareness Web site, $645,000 for the state's tobacco prevention and control program, and $250,000 for better access to early screening and diagnosis of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Palin's deputy press secretary, Sharon Leighow, said Dec. 8 that the governor is optimistic about approval of these funds, which will be included in Palin's complete fiscal year 2010 operating and capital budgets, to be released Dec. 15.

The Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, meanwhile, lent its support to expansion of Denali KidCare and the Alaska Health Care Commission, which was authorized Dec. 4, but has yet to meet. The commission's mandate is to make recommendations for and foster development of a statewide plan to address the quality, accessibility, and availability of health care for all residents.

Rod Betit, president and chief executive officer of ASHNHA, applauded the health care commission.

“A major driver of higher costs is the increasing number of Alaskans who do not have health insurance, thereby spreading the cost burden across fewer Alaskans,” he said.

The commission will play an important role in proposing recommendations on how to reduce the number of uninsured, lower costs, further improve quality, and motivate Alaskans to take greater responsibility to improve their own health status, he said.

Expansion of health care to all low-income children below 200 percent of the federal poverty level is also an important step, he said.

“Disease prevention and early detection are vital with this young population in order to ensure they enter adulthood healthy and without expensive, chronic health problems,” he said.

Leighow said increasing the income eligibility guidelines for Denali KidCare to 200 percent of Alaska's federal poverty level would make about 1,300 more children and some 225 more pregnant women eligible for health coverage under Denali KidCare.

The additional $1 million in expenses to the state would be matched by federal funding, she said.

“Alaskans are becoming dangerously unhealthy,” said Palin in announcing her proposal. Alaskans must take responsibility for their personal health, take advantage of the state's abundant opportunities for healthy choices, and not look to government to make them healthy, she added.

The Palin administration is hoping that an interactive Web-based campaign which will cost the state $498,000, will educate residents on a healthy diet and exercise, with information on how to stop smoking, stem the tide of obesity and more. Leighow said Palin's proposal did not include any funds for sex education in the public school system.