2025 Alaska State of Reform Health Policy Conference

Details coming soon.

Alaska’s vast and rugged geography presents unique challenges to both broadband deployment and healthcare access. This panel will explore how strategic investments in broadband infrastructure are critical to improving healthcare delivery across the state—from urban hubs to the most remote villages. Key topics will include federal and state funding initiatives, innovative public-private partnerships, culturally responsive implementation in rural and tribal communities, and the role of broadband in building resilient health systems.

This panel will provide an overview of the current state of behavioral health in Alaska, with a focus on critical topics including children’s behavioral health, systemic gaps, and the unique needs of frontier and remote populations. Attendees will learn about innovative approaches being developed across the state—from school-based interventions and tele-behavioral health solutions to cross-sector partnerships aimed at closing critical service gaps. The panel will also explore strategies for improving access, strengthening care coordination, and fostering resilience in Alaska’s most remote regions. 

Prescription drug costs and access are critical challenges in Alaska’s healthcare system, where geographic isolation, supply chain limitations, and rising pharmaceutical prices put increasing pressure on payers, providers, and patients. This panel will explore opportunities for pharmacy and prescription drug policy reform in Alaska, with a focus on emerging trends, cost-containment strategies, and patient-centered access to essential medications.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping healthcare across the globe—and Alaska is no exception. From predictive analytics and clinical decision support to workforce optimization and patient engagement, AI offers powerful tools to help bridge longstanding gaps in Alaska’s healthcare system. But with opportunity comes responsibility: How can AI be used ethically, equitably, and effectively? This panel will explore how AI is being integrated into Alaska’s healthcare landscape.

Alaska health leaders have long been working to improve primary care to make it more affordable and accessible for all patients. With a small population spread across vast and remote geographies, the state faces unique challenges in moving away from fee-for-service models toward value-based approaches that reward outcomes, quality, and efficiency. Panelists will explore the barriers that have historically slowed progress—such as limited data infrastructure, provider capacity, and payer alignment—and discuss recent efforts and innovations aimed at building a foundation for enhanced primary care.

Across Alaska, the intersection of housing instability and poor health outcomes is becoming increasingly urgent. This panel will explore how Alaska’s healthcare system is stepping up to address housing as a critical social determinant of health. Speakers will discuss emerging models that integrate housing solutions into healthcare delivery. Topics will include medical respite care, supportive housing programs, cross-sector partnerships, and the use of Medicaid and other funding streams to support housing-related services.

As more Alaskans age into Medicare and face complex health needs, the state must grapple with how to ensure access to high-quality, coordinated, and culturally responsive care—particularly in rural and underserved areas where providers are limited and services are fragmented. Panelists will examine barriers to accessing Medicare-covered services, including provider shortages, transportation challenges, and administrative hurdles. The discussion will also focus on opportunities for Medicare reform and innovation, such as value-based care models, expanded home- and community-based services, and improved care coordination.

Alaska’s healthcare system is increasingly challenged by a small but growing population of individuals with complex medical, behavioral, and social needs. These high-needs patients often cycle through emergency departments, hospitals, and correctional settings without receiving the coordinated, long-term care they require—leading to poor outcomes and system gridlock. This panel will examine how Alaska can improve its approach to complex care through strategic collaboration, team-based interventions, and innovative residential models.

Workforce shortages continue to challenge healthcare delivery across Alaska, from bustling urban centers to remote areas. Recruiting, training, and retaining qualified healthcare professionals is essential not only to meeting immediate care needs but also to building a resilient, responsive health system for the future. This panel will explore current workforce gaps, barriers to growth, and innovative strategies aimed at building a stronger, more sustainable healthcare workforce across the state.

Alaska’s unique geography, small population, and high healthcare costs present persistent challenges to its employer-based and self-insured health insurance markets. This panel will explore innovative reforms and collaborative strategies aimed at improving affordability, access, and quality of care for Alaskans covered under these models. Discussion topics will include regulatory flexibility, pooling strategies for small and mid-sized employers, data transparency, cost containment innovations, and the potential role of state policy in driving meaningful reform.

This panel will discuss the foundational principles of Tribal sovereignty in healthcare and how these shape service delivery and funding in Alaska. Panelists will address common misconceptions about Tribal health authorities and explore how better understanding and collaboration across systems can strengthen healthcare access and outcomes for all Alaskans. Speakers will also examine successful Tribal health models from other states—highlighting what Alaska can learn from peers across Indian Country, particularly in areas like behavioral health integration, workforce development, and intergovernmental collaboration.

This plenary will examine the current landscape of Alaska Medicaid and explore what meaningful, sustainable improvements could look like in the years ahead. The discussion will address the impact of recent and anticipated federal changes, including funding shifts and waiver opportunities, and what those mean for Alaska’s unique geographic, demographic, and cultural context.