Alaska

Quick Facts

Key Provisions

• Defines 'direct health care agreements' (DHCAs) as contracts for routine primary care services provided in exchange for a periodic fee, explicitly stating these agreements are not a form of insurance and are not subject to insurance regulations.
• Mandates that all DHCAs must be established through a written contract. This agreement is required to clearly specify the scope of health care services covered, the periodic fee amount, and the terms of the arrangement.
• Establishes consumer protections related to fees by limiting providers to changing the periodic fee no more than once per year. Furthermore, providers must give patients at least 45 days' written notice before any fee change can take effect.
• Specifies a distinct billing cycle requirement, stipulating that membership fees for a given service period must be charged to the patient at the end of the month in which the services were available.
• Restricts the services offered under a DHCA to those that fall within the scope of a primary care provider. The law primarily applies to Alaska-licensed physicians and healthcare businesses but also includes provisions for utilizing out-of-state telehealth providers in certain life-threatening conditions.
• Grants the Director of the Alaska Division of Insurance the authority to adopt regulations consistent with the law, allowing for ongoing oversight and the ability to address implementation details as the DPC market develops.
• Includes a unique provision requiring DPC practices to either accept Medicare patients or demonstrate that at least 20% of their patient panel consists of individuals who are Medicare-eligible or uninsured. This requirement has been noted for its potential conflict with federal Medicare opt-out regulations.