Alaska challenges require Alaska solutions

Last week I had the opportunity to address more than 1,600 business leaders and community members in Anchorage, Alaska as part of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation’s annual luncheon.

I shared that it seems like medical miracles are happening every day. We live in an unprecedented age of technical advancement. These breakthroughs lead the good news stories about health care.

The bad news is these breakthroughs come at a cost. Health care is expensive, nowhere more so than in Alaska.

So what is the solution?

The unique challenges facing Alaska require unique, Alaska-centered solutions.

For example, at Premera we are implementing clinical programs designed for the Alaska market, such as maternity management services, free kits for colorectal screenings, and care coordination and transportation services for residents in remote areas to access critical care such as oncology services. 

As a health plan, we can provide financial incentives that reward doctors and hospitals for the quality of care they provide rather than for the volume of care. We recently signed the first of these contracts with Pinnacle Integrated Medicine, a multi-specialty medical group operating in Alaska.

The truth is, the most effective ways to combat high health care costs all involve collaboration – between patients, payers, providers, regulators and legislators. None of us can do it alone. 

A version of this article first appeared as an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News.