HB 178 Summary: Doctors for Seniors Act

• Establishes annual state incentive payments to Alaska-licensed physicians who provide at least 200 qualified office or outpatient visits to Medicare patients or patients treated at no charge.

• Payment amounts range from $6,000 (200-399 visits) to $28,000 (700+ visits) based on the number of qualified visits completed annually.

• Qualified visits must include evaluation and care management services with history, examination, and medical decision-making for new patients (requiring face-to-face contact) or established patients (with or without face-to-face contact).

• Physicians must apply on department-approved forms and provide proof of eligibility; payments are contingent on available funding.

• Medicare incentive payments require federal approval through a waiver, pilot project, or medically underserved area designation before taking effect, while non-Medicare charitable care payments may proceed independently.