State officials introduce plan to reopen parts of Alaska's healthcare industry

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum announced the state’s plan to reopen parts of the state’s healthcare industry Wednesday evening during a press conference in Anchorage.

It’s a two-part plan approving health care facilities to resume services that require minimal personal protective equipment on April 20, and allowing non-urgent or elective health care procedures starting on May 4.

“Starting Monday you’re going to be able to go see your doctor again. On May 4, you’re going to be able to do more with your healthcare provider,” Dunleavy said.

This mandate, the 15th issued by the state in relation to COVID-19, supersedes prior mandates related to health care. Last week, state officials issued a mandate banning all elective medical procedures. Dunleavy said this was done to help ensure the state would have enough personal protective equipment in case there was a spike in coronavirus cases, and to reduce close contact between health care specialists and their patients.

“We were pretty sure at that time it was going to be tough to get this equipment because all other states and countries across the globe were scrambling to hang on to this PPE as we call it,” Dunleavy said. “We feel we’re at the point now where we’re getting a handle on the PPE and that’s one of the reasons why we’re going to be opening up that sector.”

The latest mandate came with a list of guidelines health care facilities are required to follow in order to continue care starting on April 20. This includes screening all patients for recent illness, travel or exposure to COVID1-19; use of face masks and shields; and continued use of telehealth and phone consultation when possible. The list of healthcare providers who can resume service on April 20 ranges from acupuncturists and massage therapists, to opticians, to chiropractors and physical therapists. The full list is available at dhss.alaska.gov.

Dunleavy said state officials will continue to monitor COVID-19 statistics and can reissue a mandate against elective health care procedures if needed.

Dunleavy said if the state sees clusters of COVID-19 cases in certain sections of Alaska, state officials can make decisions specific to that area.

“It is our hope we don’t have to do any mandates statewide,” Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy also acknowledged the economic ramifications of taking steps to reopen the healthcare industry in Alaska.

“We need to make sure we can keep our economy intact,” Dunleavy said. “Healthcare came first for obvious reasons.”

Dunleavy said state officials will continue to have conversations about other sectors.

“We’re having discussions about retail,” Dunleavy said.

State officials also announced eight new COVID-19 cases Wednesday. There were three cases in both Anchorage and Juneau, and one in both Nome and Juneau. The case in Nome is the first reported in northwest Alaska. There are now 293 total cases in Alaska.

There were also two new hospitalizations reported Wednesday, pushing the state’s cumulative total to 34. The number of recovered cases in Alaska passed the century mark, with a total of 106 as of Wednesday.

Anchorage now has 126 of the state’s 293 cases. There are 63 cases in Fairbanks and 21 in Juneau. There were no new cases in the Mat-Su Borough reported Wednesday, and the Valley’s total stands at 15.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.