Health
RSSAlaska News covers health policy, public health trends, and healthcare system developments affecting Alaska communities and residents.
Alaska's worst-ever syphilis outbreak is now reaching newborns
Alaska is in its worst syphilis outbreak ever, up twentyfold since 2016 — and it's now reaching babies. A record 14 newborns were born with it in 2025, though it's preventable with prenatal testing.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago1 min readAIAlaska
IHS picks Sitka and Bethel tribal health groups for first-ever elder care construction program
Indian Health Service picked Sitka and Bethel tribal health groups to build and expand skilled nursing facilities, the first time the federal program has funded long-term elder care in Alaska.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago1 min readAISitka and Bethel, Alaska
Murkowski bill targets Alaska's rural health shortage with immigrant credential grants
Sen. Murkowski introduced a bill to fund grants helping internationally trained health professionals already in the U.S. get licensed and work in Alaska's rural clinics and hospitals.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaskans can call 988, but in many places no team can respond
Alaskans in crisis can reach the 988 line, but many communities have no local team to respond. The state's new answer, for now, is a training network.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago1 min readAIAlaska
Cyclospora cases nationally up sixfold; Alaska Department of Health urges produce washing
Cyclospora cases nationwide have jumped sixfold since May, and Alaska has recorded five cases this year; the CDC urges thorough washing of fresh produce under running water.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readAIAlaska
Federal grant would re-launch Alaska Native elder resource center; deadline July 27
The federal Administration on Aging is offering $215,000 annually for three years to re-establish a resource center for Alaska Native elders, with applications due July 27.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska child vaccination rate at 55%, well below national average
New state data shows 55% of Alaska toddlers have finished the recommended vaccine series and kindergarten measles coverage is 77% — below national averages and the herd-immunity threshold.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min readAIAlaska
Alaska updates Medicaid pay — providers say it's still too low
Alaska's annual Medicaid rate update is here, and hospitals and tribal clinics say it still doesn't cover the real cost of care — a chronic squeeze on rural and Native health services.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAIAlaska
A New Law Aims to Bring Alaska's Most Complex Patients Home
Alaska just created a new kind of care home so its most complex patients aren't shipped out of state — though for now it's a license on paper, waiting on federal Medicaid sign-off.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska nudges up what it pays to house low-income seniors
Alaska bumped up what it pays to house low-income seniors by 3.5%, to $113 a day. Trouble is, assisted living here runs about $10,000 a month, and costs are rising faster.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAIAlaska
Anchorage weighs $528,000 for addiction, homelessness, and disability care
Anchorage is set to accept ~$528,000 in grants for opioid treatment, homeless outreach, and disability services — the last one patching three years of state funding cuts.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min readAIAnchorage, Alaska
A new federal water-testing rule could check rural Alaska for 'forever chemicals' — if it reaches us
An EPA rule would test drinking water for 30 contaminants, including the PFAS Alaska already has in its water. The catch: whether it reaches the state's small, rural systems.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min readAI
Alaska files telemedicine rules with July 4 effective date
The Alaska State Medical Board filed permanent telemedicine rules effective July 4. • Providers must register with the state and update prescribing workflows. • These rules replace pandemic emergency standards for opioid treatment.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Southcentral Foundation treats traditional food as medicine at a free Anchorage gathering
Southcentral Foundation hosts a free two-day Traditional Foods Gathering July 27 and 28 in Anchorage, treating Alaska Native harvests as medicine and health, not just culture.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAIAnchorage, Alaska
IHS proposes $93M sanitation cut as Alaska Native villages face sanitation gaps
Indian Health Service proposes cutting sanitation funding by 93 million dollars in Alaska Native villages that still use honey buckets. • Over 2,000 water and sanitation projects remain unfunded across Indian Country. • Senator Murkowski challenged the cut, saying sanitation prevents illness. • Congress rejected similar cuts last year and plans to fight again.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readAIWashington, District of Columbia
At a remote Interior camp, sobriety is celebrated the Athabascan way
Old Minto, a remote Interior camp that roots addiction recovery in Athabascan tradition, holds its Annual Sobriety Potlatch July 23 — celebrating sobriety the way the culture always has.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAIInterior Alaska
Alaska deploys $272M federal award to reshape rural health care delivery
Alaska got 272 million dollars to fix rural health care through hiring, technology, and access. • 1,800 groups applied in round one across five health focus areas. • Money must be spent by September 2027 with strict cost limits. • Year two applications open late summer 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska clarifies Medicaid psychotherapy billing rules for master's-level clinicians
Alaska's Division of Behavioral Health clarified that master's-level clinicians pursuing licensure can bill Medicaid for psychotherapy under supervision, letting clinics deploy new therapists immediately.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAIAlaska
Three new Community Health Aides head to Interior Alaska villages
Tanana Chiefs Conference recognized three new Community Health Aides for Tetlin, Dot Lake, and the Upper Tanana — often the closest thing to a doctor for miles.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAIInterior Alaska
Alaska seniors lost $8M to scams as programs expand to meet growing population needs
Alaska seniors lost 8.17 million dollars to scams in 2024, led by tech support fraud. • Senior population grew 78 percent since 2010 and now makes up 22 percent of the state. • State launched a mobile app to help seniors apply for eight public assistance programs. • Community programs are expanding volunteer services and elder abuse awareness.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska House raises unemployment benefits, expands telehealth coverage
Alaska House raised maximum weekly unemployment benefits from $370 to $470, first increase since 2009. • Expanded telehealth coverage and raised disability pay for firefighters and police from 40 percent to 75 percent. • Updated insurance laws to clarify rebates and ban misleading advertising.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIJuneau
Alaska launches new online system to report elder abuse, harm
Alaska's Division of Senior and Disabilities Services has launched a new federally compliant online reporting system for vulnerable adult harm, critical incidents, and assisted living complaints, with the old system redirecting until May 22, 2026.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAIAnchorage, Alaska
Alaska's Medicaid self-audit deadline lands amid a fraud crackdown
Alaska is telling Medicaid providers to audit their own billing and repay overpayments — weeks after charging 15 people with about $1.83M in Medicaid fraud.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAIAnchorage, Alaska
Alaska Senate committee hears nurse staffing bill amid safety concerns
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on legislation that would establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in Alaska hospitals, with nurses describing unsafe workloads and advocates citing Oregon's successful implementation.
by Alaska News2mo ago4 min readAIJuneau, Alaska
Petersburg residents can finally get an MRI without leaving the island
Petersburg just got its first MRI, so island residents no longer have to travel off-island for a scan. A July 14 open house lets people tour the new suite.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAIPetersburg, Alaska
New Medicaid work-reporting rule puts Alaska's paperwork system in the middle of health coverage
Alaska must implement a federal Medicaid work-reporting rule by January 2027, requiring most adults 19 to 64 to prove 80 hours monthly of work or qualifying activity.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska offers fast-track fall training for substance-abuse counselors
Alaska is offering fast-track fall certification courses for substance-abuse counselors to address critical shortages in rural communities hit hard by overdose deaths and fentanyl spread.
by Alaska News1mo ago1 min readAIAnchorage
Alaska House passes tobacco age increase, vape tax, cigar lounge exemption
Alaska House passed bill raising tobacco and vape purchase age from 19 to 21, matching federal law. • New statewide tax on vaping products will fund smoking education programs. • Bill includes exemption for premium cigar lounges meeting strict requirements. • Penalties for underage possession lowered to $100 with no court appearance required.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago4 min readAIJuneau
Tick found after Flattop hike shows Alaska's changing tick reality
A tick found on a pet after a Flattop hike near Anchorage has prompted veterinarians to remind residents that non-native ticks are arriving in Alaska and pet owners should check for them after outdoor activity.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readAIAnchorage
Federal rule sets 80-hour work requirement for Alaska Medicaid adults
Starting January 1, 2027, Alaska Medicaid adults ages 19 to 64 must work or participate in approved activities 80 hours per month to keep coverage, with exemptions for Alaska Natives, parents of young children, pregnant people, and others.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAIAlaska
Alaska nudges up what it pays to keep seniors out of nursing homes
Alaska bumped its assisted-living reimbursement rate 3.5% — small money for a program built on a big bet: home care is cheaper than the nursing home alternative.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAIAlaska
Cook Inlet Housing breaks ground on 24 senior apartments in Anchorage
Cook Inlet Housing Authority will build 24 senior apartments in Anchorage by 2027. This project addresses a housing cost burden for seniors who spend over a third of their income on rent.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAIAlaska
Alaska Just Graded Its ERs on Treating Kids
Alaska measured how ready its ERs are to treat critically ill kids and sent each hospital a private list of its gaps — now comes the harder part: fixing them.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAIAlaska
Petersburg's hospital more than doubled its cash reserves in three years
While rural hospitals nationwide struggle, Petersburg's has more than doubled its cash cushion in three years, to 133 days on hand, on tighter billing and better management.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAIPetersburg, Alaska
Alaska targets 18-25 age group as substance use escalates after 25
Alaska launched the Next Move campaign May 20 targeting ages 18 to 25, when state data shows substance use escalates, offering mental health resources and coping strategies at NextMove.alaska.gov.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIAnchorage, Alaska
Seven Anchorage patients develop rare heart infection from gonorrhea
Alaska health officials reported seven cases of gonococcal endocarditis in Anchorage between December 2024 and March 2026, with one death, linked to homelessness and drug use.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAIAnchorage, Alaska
House panel fast-tracks insurance coverage for PANDAS treatment
The House Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 292 requiring insurance coverage for pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders after parents testified about children experiencing severe symptoms and treatment delays.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAIHouse
House advances complex care homes for behavioral health patients
Alaska House unanimously approved HB 73 to create new residential homes for people with behavioral health conditions like schizophrenia. • New license category takes effect July 1, 2027, giving the Department of Health time to set service standards and payment rates. • Bill addresses people who cannot access existing group homes or assisted living facilities.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIJuneau, Alaska
Alaska Senate adds telehealth parity and disability coverage to benefits bill
Alaska Senate added telehealth pay parity to a welfare bill, requiring insurers to pay the same rate for remote care as in-person visits. • Disability benefits for injured troopers and firefighters increased from 40 percent to 75 percent of salary, with health insurance restored. • The amendments passed 19-1 and now return to the House for final approval.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Federal program offers Alaska SUD workers up to $250,000 in loan repayment
A federal loan repayment program offers Alaska substance use disorder workers up to $250,000 for student loans in exchange for six years of service at approved facilities, with applications due June 23, 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAIAlaska
