WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The office of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release:

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she will hold an "Alaskan Bottom Line of Health Care Law" panel discussion in Anchorage next Wednesday morning. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 28th, 2012, with the justices ruling the controversial individual mandate is legal - but only as a tax.

According to research by one of the nation's largest health insurance providers, the ACA imposes more than $340 million in new taxes on Alaskans including a "Cadillac tax" that could add up to $1,500 per person and $5,400 per Alaskan family per year. The full impacts of the ACA on small business owners, health care providers and individuals are still being calculated. Just today, the head of a national pizza chain announced he plans to raise prices in order to absorb the tax hikes associated with the health care law. "While I agree good health care should be more accessible for Alaskans, the Affordable Care Act is not the answer," says Senator Murkowski. "Costs for health care in Alaska are often higher than in the Lower 48, so many Alaskans have more expensive health insurance plans. This bill will punish thousands of Alaskans for our state-specific insurance rates, not to mention put additional hardships on small business owners already facing higher operating costs."

To tackle the issue from all angles, Sen. Murkowski has invited a doctor, a real estate agent, and a local small business owner to talk about the economic drawbacks of the ACA on their work.

What: "The Alaskan Bottom Line of Health Care Law" Panel

Who: U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska

Dr. Bruce Kiessling, Medical Director of Primary Care Associates

Michael Droege, President-Elect, Alaska Association of REALTORS

Skip Winfree, President, 10th & M Seafoods

When: August 15th, 201210:00am -11:00am AKDT

(With media availability to follow)

Where: UAA School of Nursing at the UAA Health Sciences Building

3795 Piper Street, Anchorage Alaska (Map below)

TNS MJ88-120809-3982802 StaffFurigay