Office of the Commissioner
We are pleased to confirm that Change Healthcare systems and service functionality has now been restored. Providers may resume using the Change Healthcare claims clearinghouse process.
The mission of the Department of Health is "Promoting the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Alaskans."
The Department of Health (DOH) has oversight of health care services, payment, eligibility determinations and payments of public assistance program benefits, and public health. The Divisions of Behavioral Health, Health Care Services, and Senior and Disabilities Services provide regulatory oversight, claims processing, facility licensing, and enforcement of Medicaid and state regulations. DOH actively engages with stakeholders to find opportunities for innovation within Medicaid and to improve health outcomes for all Alaskans.
Heidi Hedberg has been with the department since 2009 and has served as the Director for the Division of Public Health since 2019. She moved to Alaska in 1995 to attend Alaska Pacific University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Heidi has been involved in population health and policy for over a decade. She has a diverse background which includes topics ranging from public health emergency management to access to health care and system efficiency efforts.
Requests for scheduling appointments or invitations for Commissioner, Heidi Hedberg can made by sending an e-mail to:
doh.comm.scheduling@alaska.gov
Mailing & Physical address:
3601 C Street, Suite 902
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5923
Phone: 907-269-7800
Fax: 907-269-0060
Report: Overview of Alaska’s Behavioral Health System of Care for Children
On December 15, 2022, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a report finding reasonable cause to believe the state of Alaska is failing to provide services to children “with behavioral health disabilities” in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.
Since the release of the DOJ report, the state has received multiple inquiries about what it is doing to improve mental health services for minors in Alaska. This document summarizes the steps the state has taken, and the process it intends follow, to further improve mental health outcomes for minors with behavioral health disabilities.