News
ANHB Hosts ATHC Pre-Negotiations and Tribal Consultation on IHS Realignment
On March 17-18, 2026, ANHB hosted Alaska Tribal Health Compact (ATHC) Pre-Negotiations with the Indian Health Service (IHS), alongside formal Tribal Consultation on the IHS proposed realignment. During Tribal Consultation, Co-Signers bought forward comments, questions, and requests, including a request that the agency pause implementation of realignment until it has sufficiently discussed and negotiated with Tribes. ANHB submitted a follow-up letter to the IHS outlining Co-Signers’ comments. ANHB additionally sent letters thanking Senators Murkowski and Sullivan for their work in urging the IHS to conduct Tribal Consultation in Alaska.
ANHB Hosts Juneau Mega Meeting and Legislative Fly-In
ANHB hosted the ANHB Mega Meeting alongside state legislative visits in Juneau the first week of February 2026. During the meeting, ANHB members met with the Indian Health Service, Alaska Department of Health, and the Alaska Veterans Affairs, raising the Tribal Health System’s top priorities and engaging in constructive dialogue. ANHB members also met with dozens of legislators at the Alaska State Capitol for the annual legislative fly-in, deepening relationships, discussing ANHB’s 2026 state priorities, and educating lawmakers on the Tribal Health System.
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.
Tribal Environmental Resiliency Resources Act
On April 2, 2024, the Tribal Environmental Resiliency Resources Act (TERRA Act) was officially introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 7859 during a pro forma session. The bill was referred to the House Natural Resources Committee.
Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB) commends the introduction of the Tribal Environmental Resiliency Resources Act (TERRA). The health and wellness of Tribal communities is intrinsically tied to the environment. As the statewide voice on Alaska Native health, ANHB acutely understands how climate change disproportionately affects Alaska Tribes, many of which are already facing the extreme scenario of relocating their communities. The TERRA Act fills essential gaps by providing a way to coordinate these complex community driven relocation projects, as well as other Tribal climate resiliency efforts at all levels, while centering Tribal self-determination. ANHB calls on Congress to prioritize these urgent concerns and pass the TERRA Act to support the environmental resiliency of all Alaska Native and American Indian people.
ANHB Releases White Paper on Ongoing Barriers to Access Water and Sanitation in Rural Alaska
ANHB’s Water and Sanitation Committee has released a White Paper, entitled “Ongoing Barriers to Access Water and Sanitation in Rural Alaska”, to highlight continued barriers to achieving access to water and sanitation systems in our unserved and underserved rural Alaska communities.
Executive Summary
Piped water prevents disease and unnecessary suffering, and saves money and lives. Health disparities in rural Alaska persist due to lack of piped water systems. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $3.5 billion to the Indian Health Service (IHS) for sanitation facilities construction for Alaska Native and American Indians, but the projects in rural Alaska still require cost contributions for the costs to serve public facilities. The State of Alaska is in a position now to support these projects through its Village Safe Water (VSW) Program, yet several barriers exist for rural Alaska communities to access this funding. Operation and Maintenance Best Practices scores and Sustainability Plan requirements prevent communities from accessing VSW Program funds, which are required to match federal funds from USDA and EPA. The result of these barriers is that our rural Alaska, predominately Alaska Native communities will miss the opportunity to leverage VSW funds to fully serve communities. We should act now to take advantage of the opportunity the IIJA offers to provide lifesaving water and sanitation in rural Alaska.
You can read the full White Paper by following this link.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) met in Albuquerque. Tribal leaders met with federal officials to receive updates and share ways to collaborate to improve health and wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native people. The committee is pictured here with Xavier Becerra, HHS Secretary. Alaska Native Health Board participated with Alaska Area Representatives. 
