Alaska's Healthcare Markets: The Free Market is Nota "Cure"

Healthcare reform in the United States requires a nuanced approach to improve quality and access while managing costs—a challenge particularly pronounced in Alaska. Despite being the highest spender on healthcare globally, the U.S. fails to deliver commensurate health outcomes, with Alaska exemplifying these systemic issues. The state faces the highest healthcare costs in the nation yet performs poorly in quality and access metrics. This situation has prompted urgent legislative scrutiny of existing policies, such as the Certificate of Need (CON) Law and the 80th Percentile Rule. This Note critically evaluates the argument that deregulating Alaska's healthcare market will lead to improved outcomes through increased market competition. Through a comprehensive analysis, it identifies unique factors contributing to Alaska's healthcare dilemma, including geographical isolation, cultural distinctiveness, and specific budgetary constraints. The Note examines the primary cost drivers and contrasts Alaska's market with those of other unique states. Ultimately, it argues that simplistic, market-driven solutions are inadequate; instead, legislative efforts should focus on addressing the root causes of high costs to create a more effective healthcare system tailored to Alaska's specific needs.