Official RHTP Program Links
These are the canonical sources for RHTP program information.
Program Governance & Administration
Alaska Department of Health
Lead agency for RHTP. The Commissioner makes all final funding decisions, subject to CMS review.
Alaska Community Foundation
Manages subrecipient applications and awards for community-based organizations. Administers the online LOI portal and provides applicant support.
RHTP Advisory Council
- Steering Committee: Advises the Commissioner on strategy and priorities.
- Stakeholder Committee: Represents broader community perspectives.
Time-limited workgroups may address specific challenges. Meeting notes are public records.
Alaska’s 14 Health Regions
Anchorage / Mat-Su
Alaska’s population center. RHTP focus: referral hub for rural patients, urban-rural coordination gaps, behavioral health capacity.
Fairbanks / Interior
Second population center with extreme climate. RHTP focus: workforce retention in Interior villages, telehealth for remote communities.
Juneau / Southeast
Island and coastal communities connected by ferry. No road access to most. RHTP focus: marine-accessible health services, inter-island telehealth.
Kenai Peninsula
Road-accessible, growing retirement population. RHTP focus: senior care, substance use treatment, specialty referral pathways.
Bethel / YK Delta
Among the most remote US regions. No road access. Served by YKHC. RHTP focus: CHAP expansion, maternal health, behavioral health.
Nome / Bering Strait
Extreme isolation. Norton Sound Health Corporation. RHTP focus: telehealth, emergency care, workforce housing.
North Slope
Arctic Alaska. Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital in Barrow. RHTP focus: specialty access via telehealth, chronic disease management.
Northwest Arctic
Inupiat communities served by Maniilaq Association. RHTP focus: dental health, behavioral health, community health aide training.
Bristol Bay
Seasonal population fluctuations. Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation. RHTP focus: seasonal healthcare surge, emergency services.
Kodiak Island
Island with air and ferry access. Kodiak Area Native Association. RHTP focus: specialty referral, maternal health, telehealth.
Aleutians
Most remote island chain in the US. Eastern Aleutian Tribes. RHTP focus: emergency care, basic access, provider recruitment.
Valdez / Copper River
Road-accessible but mountain-isolated. RHTP focus: behavioral health, EMS response times, chronic disease.
Alaska Telehealth Regulatory Landscape
Telehealth Parity
Alaska has telehealth parity laws requiring private insurers to cover telehealth at the same rate as in-person. Medicaid also covers telehealth broadly, including audio-only in many cases.
Licensure
Providers must hold an Alaska license for telehealth to patients in Alaska. The state participates in some interstate compacts but not all. Verify with the relevant licensing board.
Connectivity Reality
Many rural communities rely on satellite internet with high latency. Store-and-forward (asynchronous) telehealth and audio-only are primary care delivery methods, not workarounds. Technology investments should account for this.
Key Alaska Healthcare Organizations
Regional descriptions are general overviews. Contact regional health corporations directly for the most current local information.