State seeks review of options for psychiatric facility

The facility has been under scrutiny from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • Monday, August 5, 2019 8:54pm
  • News

JUNEAU — State health department officials want to take another look at options for running Alaska’s state-owned psychiatric facility, including privatization.

The request for proposals was released Monday, the same day Gov. Mike Dunleavy and department officials touted progress at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. The state Department of Health and Social Services has been under contract with Wellpath Recovery Solutions to stabilize the facility and take steps to bring it to full operation. The contract is set to run through 2019.

The facility has been under scrutiny from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which the state said found more than 80 deficiencies between July and December 2018.

State officials said Monday that the facility is now considered to be in good standing with federal requirements. The federal agency, in a report, said an unannounced visit last month found the facility to be in “substantial compliance.”

Dunleavy, speaking to reporters at the Anchorage facility, said the Alaska Psychiatric Institute was failing in its mission when he took office in December. He said things are moving in the right direction, citing as an example an increased number of patients who can be accepted due to additional staffing. But he said there remains room for “a lot of improvement.”

Health Commissioner Adam Crum said there is a demand nationally for psychiatric care providers and that hiring psychiatric nurses and psychiatric nurse assistants has been difficult.

Albert Wall, a deputy health commissioner, said the number of available beds has more than doubled over the last eight months. It remains below an 80-bed target.

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, co-chair of the House Health and Social Services Committee, said she hasn’t seen a concerted effort from the administration to fill positions at the facility. The Anchorage Democrat also said she sees no need to do another study.

The request for proposals seeks an analysis of privatization options, such as having an outside party assume hospital management and operations. Other areas the state wants studied include maintaining state ownership and operation but looking for more efficiencies or contracting for certain services. It also seeks analysis on whether and how the facility could remain exclusively state run.

The state has studied privatization before. A 2017 consultant’s report called the full privatization option it analyzed cost prohibitive.

Wall said a lot has changed since that report was written and it was determined that a fresh look was needed.

More in News

The Kenai Peninsula College main entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Chiappone and Dunstan to speak at the KPC Showcase

Kenai Peninsula College continues its showcase with two new speakers this week and next

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday. (Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed)
Begich leads in early results, but Alaska’s U.S. House race won’t be immediately decided

About 245,000 ballots had been counted by 11:32 p.m., and Peltola trailed by about 5 percentage points

The Alaska governor’s mansion on Wednesday. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is considered a contender for a post in Donald Trump’s second presidential administration. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Election summary: Trump wins, GOP takes over U.S. Senate, Alaska may get new governor

Begich and repeal of ranked choice voting narrowly lead; GOP may lose control of state House.

Nesbett Courthouse in downtown Anchorage on Oct. 7, 2024. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Voters line up at the polling site at Anchorage City Hall on Nov. 4, 2024. City Hall was one of the designated early voting sites in Alaska’s largest city. It is not a designated site for Election Day voting. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Republicans lose two seats in state House, increasing odds of leadership switch

Rural Alaska precincts had reported few results by 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Donald Trump won or was leading as of Wednesday morning in all seven swing states in the 2024 presidential election. (Doug Mills / The New York Times)
Donald Trump returns to power, ushering in new era of uncertainty

He played on fears of immigrants and economic worries to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris.

A voter is handed as ballot at Woodworth School in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. One of the most consequential presidential elections in the nation’s modern history is well underway, as voters flocked to churches, schools and community centers to shape the future of American democracy. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)
Trump verges on victory, picking up Pennsylvania

Donald Trump has captured Pennsylvania, the biggest prize of the seven battleground… Continue reading

Signs and supporters line the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Unofficial results for the 2024 general election

Preliminary, unofficial election results as of 9:55 p.m.

Poll worker Carol Louthan helps voters submit ballots at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Bjorkman, Ruffridge, Elam and Vance lead in election night results

Several residents said that they came out to vote because they knew this election was “a big one.”

Most Read