YKHC administers a comprehensive health care delivery system for 50 rural communities in southwest Alaska. The system includes community clinics, sub- regional clinics, a regional hospital, dental services, behavioral health services including substance abuse counseling and treatment, health promotion and disease prevention programs, and environmental health services.

YKHC is a Tribal Organization authorized by each the 58 federally recognized Tribal councils its service area to negotiate with the Federal Indian Health Service to provide health care services under Title III of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.

YKHC, along with 12 other Tribal Organizations, is a co-signer to the Alaska Tribal Health Compact, a consortium which secures annual funding agreements with the federal government to provide health care services to Alaska Natives and Native Americans throughout the state.

At YKHC, our mission is "Working Together to Achieve Excellent Health." It requires the dedication and excellence of truly outstanding individuals. If you're ready for the chance to work with other professionals who share your values, your desire to face new challenges, and your commitment to improving the quality of life, we invite you to discover more about us. In the process, you may just discover where your career journey is leading you.

Outside of daily work in the main medical center, a typical day for a YKHC professional could consist of making small trips throughout Bethel and the Y-K Delta region (an area the size of Oregon) to treat residents in the 56 villages and four subregional clinics we serve. You'll enjoy working with and getting to know a diverse mix of delta residents and experience an array of medical conditions and procedures you would normally not encounter in the lower 48 states.

Our services extend from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital in Bethel to three subregional clinics in Aniak, Emmonak, and St. Mary's, to community health clinics in each of 50 villages in our huge region.

Our health care system includes primary care, inpatient services at the Bethel hospital, specialty services, pediatric care, emergency services, behavioral health counseling and treatment services, dental and optometry clinics, home care services, specialized programs for people living with diabetes, tobacco cessation, and many outreach/ education programs to promote healthy living.

YKHC also owns Aeromed International, a critical care air ambulance service providing worldwide medevac services as well as emergency air transport between regional villages and the Bethel hospital.

As a Native healthcare corporation, we are owned by our customers. Thus we are doubly committed to the health, safety and well-being of our people.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SUMMARY
Effective first day of month following employment

Health Plan Employee Contribution
Employees will be required to pay $10 per pay period for single coverage.
Employee and dependent(s) will be required to pay $30 per pay period for family coverage.

Medical Deductible
Individual deductibles are $100 maximum per calendar year.
Family deductibles are $300 maximum per calendar year.

Coinsurance Amount (Out of Pocket Expenses)
Once the deductible is satisfied, the plan will pay 80 percent for preferred providers and 60 percent for non-preferred providers. The employee will pay 20 percent of preferred provider charges and 40 percent for non-preferred providers up to $500 for preferred providers and $1,000 non-preferred providers.

The family out-of-pocket maximum will continue to be 4 times the individual out-of-pocket maximum.

Pharmacy Benefit
Retail
A 3-tier pharmacy program is available and the claims administrator is Express Scripts. The plan design for a 30-day supply is as follows:

• $10 Copay for Generic Prescriptions
  
• $20 Copay for Formulary Prescriptions
  
• 50 percent Coinsurance for Non-Formulary Prescriptions

Mail Order Program
A mail order program is available, and this will be administered by Express Scripts as well. Covered persons who have a prescription for maintenance medications (i.e. for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) may have a 90-day supply of their medication sent directly to their home for a lower copay amount. The copay for a 90-day supply is as follows:

• $20 Copay for Generic Prescriptions
  
• $40 Copay for Formulary Prescriptions
  
• 50 percent Coinsurance for Non-Formulary Prescriptions (no limit)

Dental Plan
Deductible: $50

Coverage

• Type A - Preventative: 100 percent (no deductible)
  
• Type B- Basic: 80 percent
  
• Type C - Major: 50 percent

Vision
1 Exam per year covered at 100 percent.
Lenses and Hardware will be covered at 80 percent up to an annual maximum of $300.

Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
This benefit is 2.5 times annual salary with a maximum of $350,000.

Long Term Disability
This benefit is 60 percent of salary up to $10,000 per month.

Travel Accident Insurance
$20,000 additional life insurance if death occurs while traveling on corporation business.

Workers Compensation
Provided for all employees to protect against injuries or accident in connection with employement.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Section 125 Plan
These accounts are designed to give the employees an opportunity to pay for eligible expenses with pre-tax dollars. Employees are able to establish an account for unreimbursed healthcare expenses and an account for dependent care expenses. Employees may elect to set aside pre-tax amounts of $1,500 for healthcare expenses and $5,000 for dependent care expenses.

Malpractice Insurance
All professional employees are covered for malpractice under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Retirement Plans
401(a)
Once the employee has satisfied the eligibility requirements of 18 years of age and 1,000 hours of service in a 12 month period from the date of benefited full- time or benefited part-time employment, YKHC contributes 6 percent of gross salary into a pension plan. The entry dates into the Pension Plan are January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1 following 12 months of benefited full time or benefited part time employment. Incremental vesting to 100 percent after 5 years is achieved with regular, continuous employment.

403(b)
Employees are eligible for the 403(b) Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) Retirement Plan upon employment. This is an employee voluntary plan in which you may set aside payroll deductions pre-tax into a retirement account. When enrolled into the 401(a) and you are participating in the 403(b), YKHC will add an additional 2 percent of your gross salary into your 401(a).

Paid Time Off Plan (PTO)
23 days per year based on regular, full time position. After 3 years of continuous employment, PTO increases to 28 days per year. After completing 6 years of continuous employement, 38 days of PTO is accrued annually.

Extended Illness Benefit
Extended employee illnesses are protected with full and partial pay programs based on the following years of service.
1-3 years of service 3 wks full pay; 9 wks _ pay
3-6 years of service 6 wks full pay; 6 wks _ pay
6+ years of service 12 wks full pay

Holidays
10 paid holidays per year:

• New Year's Day
  
• Martin Luther King Day
  
• President’s Day
  
• Memorial Day
  
• Independence Day
  
• Labor Day
  
• Veteran's Day
  
• Thanksgiving Day
  
• Traditional Chief’s Day
  
• Christmas Day

Hard work results in Lab success YKHC Public Relations

For the first time in YKHC history, laboratory employees will know what it’s like to have a full staff on board. Following a recent recruiting campaign by laboratory staff and YKHC recruiters, four Medical Technologists are hired and will be arriving in Bethel throughout the summer.

“As far as anybody knows this is the first time the lab has been fully staffed!” Laboratory Director, Jon Baker proclaimed

In order to fill the positions, Baker and team used an in-depth hiring process beginning with market research, moving on to industry specific screening and evaluations, and contacting every University based program director in the U.S.

The YK Delta is not the only place where finding Medical Technologists is a struggle. “Nationally the market looks a lot like nursing,” Baker said. “Every year there are 10,000 too few graduates to meet the demands in the field.”

After graduating with a baccalaureate degree, Medical Technologists are required to complete a one-year internship before becoming certified.

“A lot of these programs are diminishing because they don’t have places to put students for internships. It’s kind of a catch-22, labs are short-staffed so they are less likely to take on interns,” Baker said.

Now that the lab is fully staffed Baker hopes to focus on the University of Alaska’s Native Staff Development Career Ladder to fill future openings. Three Bethel-based interns and four village-based interns are currently working their way towards the position of Medical Laboratory Technician. Baker is looking to follow that trend with help from YKHC’s Lab Assistant Program Manager, Leslie Boelens.

Boelens is a mentor for students working up the career ladder at YKHC. Recently Boelens was nominated for the Key to the Future award from the National Association for Clinical Laboratory Science for her efforts in making sure sub-regional clinics have qualified, competent laboratory employees.

Jon Baker came to Bethel in March from Michigan where he graduated from college and spent the majority of his professional years. Along with successfully filling all lab positions, Baker and staff are celebrating good reviews from recent unannounced lab inspections from the College of American Pathologists at YKHC’s five certified laboratories.

“The results were good, with inspectors describing deficiencies as minor without impact on patient care. A full reaccredidation decision is expected in the next 120 days,” Baker said.

Great job Jon Baker, Leslie Boelens and all the staff at YKHC’s Laboratories!