about the
Alaska Primary Care Association
The Alaska Primary Care Association’s (APCA) mission is Advancing Alaska’s Wellness. The organization’s vision is to be the ally for all Alaskans to live their healthiest lives.
APCA supports the development and operation of Alaska’s 29 federally qualified health centers and look-a-like organizations. They are also known as community health centers and CHCs. APCA also trains Alaskans through a range of pre-apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships, and Community Health Worker (CHW) programs.
APCA serves as Alaska’s Cooperative Agreement contractor with the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services, specifically supporting Alaska’s health centers. In this role, it leverages that relationship with numerous other private, state, and federal partners to advance accessible, comprehensive primary care in communities throughout the state.
The Alaska Primary Care Association
Has Three Related Programs
Alaska Community Health Network
This private subsidiary directly engages in value-based contracts with health care payers on behalf of its cohort of participating health centers.
Alaska Quality Improvement Network
Alaska’s HRSA-funded Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN). It provides a data-reporting system that supports population-based health decision making in its member health centers.
Southcentral Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Southcentral AHEC is one of six in Alaska. The mission of this HRSA program is to enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals via strategic partnerships with academic programs, communities and professional organizations.
Our History
APCA was established in 1995 by health center administrators and clinicians to provide mutual support to address the challenges and opportunities in expanding access to comprehensive primary care to Alaskans. The organization was formed to advocate for health center priorities, provide technical assistance and, later, to advance a range of workforce development programs to ensure adequate staff to guarantee access to care.
Advocacy
Alaska’s community health centers serve one in six Alaskans – over 112,000 patients receive their primary care at a health center. Health centers welcome patients of any age, race, immigration status, or insurance coverage.
