IHS picks Sitka and Bethel tribal health groups for first-ever elder care construction program

The Indian Health Service selected two Alaska tribal health organizations to build and expand skilled nursing facilities under a federal construction program that has never before funded long-term care. The Alaska projects were two of three selected nationwide under the first long-term care iteration of the program, chosen from 14 applications.

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium in Sitka will build a 28-bed skilled nursing facility. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel will expand the YK Elders Home from 18 to 36 beds, doubling capacity for roughly 30,000 Alaska Native residents across 58 remote communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. YKHC's expansion is estimated at roughly $66 million.

"This is the first time that JVCP funding will be awarded for long-term care facilities, marking an important step in expanding access to these services in Tribal communities," the Indian Health Service said.

The Joint Venture Construction Program has operated since 1991. Each tribal organization must provide non-IHS construction funding. IHS commits to requesting congressional appropriations for staffing and operations under a 20-year, no-cost lease. The YK Elders Home currently runs at full capacity. YKHC said the expansion would allow "twice as many elders who need skilled nursing care to remain in their home region."

YKHC projects groundbreaking two to five years out.