Ketchikan looks at cost transparency

The City of Ketchikan is exploring a health cost “transparency” rule similar to one enacted in Anchor- age following consumer complaints over confusing billings from PeaceHealth, the local health provider. PeaceHealth of cials say they are working to improve billing procedures including bringing more accounting services to Ketchikan in the hopes that it would improve communication with patients.

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Alaska health plan signups rise

A total of 18,313 Alaskans signed up for 2018 health insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act, a 4.5 percent dip from 2017 due mainly to action by President Donald Trump’s administration to cut the enrollment period in half and to cut public information programs. Nationwide, 8.7 million people signed up, down from 9.2 million last year.

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University of Alaska officials say there’s stiff competition for its four-year nursing degrees. In Anchorage there were 190 contenders for 120 available slots. In Fairbanks there were 63 applications for 16 slots.