News
ANHB Hosts October 2025 CFO and Medicaid Task Force Meetings
On October 29 and 30, 2025, the Alaska Native Health Board held meetings with the Tribal Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and the Alaska Department of Health (DOH). During the Medicaid Task Force meeting with DOH, Tribal Health leadership and DOH discussed how to move forward meaningful progress on issues ranging across the Alaska Medicaid Program. DOH also provided updates on their work with the Rural Health Transformation Program application, Typhoon Halong response efforts, and Division of Public Assistance (DPA) system modernization.
During the meetings, ANHB took time to thank Tribal Health Organizations who are working countless hours to support communities impacted by ex-Typhoon Halong. Their work includes immediate relief operations, infrastructure assessments, coordinating the collection and distribution of essentials and providing support services for displaced community members in Anchorage and the affected region.
ANHB Supports Senate Hearing on Indian Self-Determination and Self-Governance
[Left to right: Mr. Kennis Bellmard, Mr. Ben Smith, The Honorable Chuck Hoskin Jr, Mr. Victor Joseph, Mr. Jay Spaan] (Official U.S. Senate photo by Ryan Donnell)
ANHB President/CEO Alberta Unok supported Tanana Tribal Council Executive Director Victor Joseph who testified on behalf of the Alaska area. Mr. Joseph explained, “As the committee rightfully focuses on the successes and potential opportunities associated with ISDEAA, the Alaska Tribal Health System serves as a powerful example of what is possible under self-governance, and we fully support the expansion of Tribal Self-Governance.”
This hearing allowed the Committee to better understand the factors that contribute to the success of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) at the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service and ways Congress can further improve service delivery through ISDEAA.
Thank you to Executive Director Victor Joseph, Tanana Tribal Council and President/CEO Alberta Unok, Alaska Native Health Board for your work to highlight the successes of the Alaska Tribal Health Compact and the Alaska Tribal Health System.
ANHB Hosts Historic Mega Meeting in Anchorage
The Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB) hosted the August Mega Meeting in Anchorage on August 5-6, 2025, with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Senator Dan Sullivan all in attendance. The Alaska Tribal Health Directors used this time to emphasize the importance of Tribal health self-governance and to elevate the most pressing issues that the Alaska Tribal health system is seeing. During the Mega Meeting, ANHB members also engaged in productive dialogue with the leadership of the Indian Health Service (IHS), the Alaska Department of Health, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
IHS Scholarship Program Seeks Feedback
The Indian Health Service (IHS) has requested assistance in identifying priority health professions for inclusion into categories eligible for the IHS Scholarship Program (SP) in academic year 2026-2027 and the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) in fiscal year (FY) 2026. Annually, the IHS seeks feedback on a list of “Priority Categories” for inclusion in the IHS SP and the IHS LRP. For academic year 2026-2027, and FY 2026, the IHS SP and the IHS LRP, respectively, will be funding physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and optometrists. The IHS Areas are also being asked to provide their feedback on health professions funding priorities. To read the Dear Tribal Leader letter requesting this input, click here. For more information on the SP and LRP, click here. Input is due by September 5, 2025, to Mr. Jeremy Sheehan at Jeremy.Sheehan@ihs.gov.
Prior Authorization Reform Bill SB 133 Becomes Law
On July 15, 2025, Senate Bill 133 became law in Alaska. This bill speeds up the turnaround time for prior authorization requests by requiring insurance companies to respond to routine requests within 72 hours and expedited requests within 24 hours.
The Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB) commends the passage of this legislation. While prior authorization can be useful for reviewing the appropriateness of medical care, it can also cause significant delays in necessary, urgent patient treatment. Across the Alaska Tribal Health System, the current prior authorization process serves as an administrative challenge to Tribes’ and Tribal Health Organizations’ ability to provide needed health care services and medications in a timely and efficient manner. SB 133 represents a significant step in strengthening our state’s health care delivery system and the health of patients.
In addition to speeding up the prior authorization turnaround time, SB 133 provides long-term prior authorization for treatment of chronic conditions, prohibits restrictions on key therapies for advanced cancer, requires an exception process to step therapy, increases transparency and accountability, and prioritizes automation – all positive steps for improving access to timely, quality care in our state.
To learn more about the SB 133, read this article from the Alaska Beacon, which names us as well as the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association and the Alaska State Medical Association as having supported the bill’s passage.
