Alaska’s unique challenges push providers to join PAMES

JUNEAU, Alaska – With its large geographic footprint and sparse population, servicing the state of Alaska presents special challenges compared to those in the Lower 48, prompting providers like Aaron Sycks to seek better representation. 

In April, the board of directors of the Pacific Association of Medical Equipment Services (PAMES) unanimously voted to extend its coverage to include Alaska.  

“Within the last five years or so, there have been major cuts, not just by the state, but other insurance companies are trying to mirror what’s going on in the lower states and that doesn’t work well in Alaska,” said Sycks, CEO of Procare Home Medical. “Most of the smaller providers threw up their hands up and left the space.” 

Sycks will join PAMES’s board as the Alaska Director. 

Alaska measures about 633,000 square miles – “an area akin to servicing someone in Minnesota, and then Austin, Texas, and then Florida,” says Sycks. It is logistically challenging and expensive to get equipment delivered to rural villages that aren’t hooked into the state’s road system. 

“There’s a built-in cost of losing fleet equipment because you know you’re never going to see that equipment again,” he said. “No one is going to pay to get it back to you. Sometimes the state will work with us, but it’s usually a battle to make sure we’re getting paid and not pushing costs on the patient, who may forgo care completely. We need to be sustainable; otherwise, there will be a crisis in access to care for patients off the grid.” 

Access is a real concern, says Sycks, who can count on one hand the number of companies in the state for most product lines – Procare is one of only two companies that offers complex rehab, for example. His primary goal now is to build relationships with legislators and educate them on the challenges providers face and how their decisions affect care.  

“The powers that be are making decisions without having a dialogue with the provider community and the care community,” he said. “I’m hoping to open a relationship with people who care about Alaska citizens and their access to care.” 

And now providers in Alaska like Sycks will have PAMES to lean on. The association already represents Oregon and Washington. 

“We’re very excited to have Alaska,” said Barb Stockert, PAMES executive director. “We’ve got a great group here and I thinking combining forces and efforts will help him and the rest of our members.”