Alaska Primary Care Association & Alaska Behavioral Health Association

The Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA) is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) training & technical assistance organization with membership that includes 27 community health centers and two Look-Alike health centers. Training & TA services are provided through three programmatic departments: T/TA, Workforce Development, and Health Policy.

The Alaska Behavioral Health Association (ABHA) is the trade organization representing behavioral health providers in the State of Alaska. The Association was formed in 1996 to help improve the delivery of substance abuse and mental health treatment services in Alaska. ABHA is comprised of leadership from over 60 community mental health and substance abuse treatment providers across the state.

The Alaska team's joint project will promote sustainable policy changes that integrate the effective use of telehealth into Alaska’s primary care and behavioral healthcare system. The team will work to identify opportunities to advocate and educate together on issues that inhibit or support integrated behavioral health and telehealth such as defense of optional services, inclusive enrollment, a full array of benefits, adequate provider reimbursement, and opportunities for value-based payment and regulatory reform.

This project aims to account for equitable access to telehealth through genuinely inclusive and trust-inducing methods of soliciting confidential and structured input. The advisory board will engage a diverse group of advisors and consumers, including representation from the Alaska Tribal Health System, who will help guide the development of policy and advocacy initiatives.