On 12/22/2009 3:45 AM, Bob Ackley wrote:

> In the US there are *many* publicly owned free standing
> hospitals.  Generally, they are operated by a 'hospital authority'
> at the county level.  That authority has the power to tax and that
> tax appears as a line item on the property tax statements in that
> authority's service area.

I don't believe there's a single one in the State of Alaska.  No, I've 
done no research on this.  Anchorage is served by 3 major hospitals. 
Providence is a non-profit, Catholic sisters of providence.  Alaska 
Regional was a joint venture between physicians and the Presbyterian 
church.  It appears to be the older and I "Think" it's a for profit, 
used to be called Humana.  The 3rd is run by the Federal Government for 
Natives ONLY.  Not a single one is state/borough tax supported.  The few 
clinics available are walk-in clinics for simple things like tetanus 
shots, when I stepped on a nail while tearing down drywall, or hook 
removal for people fishing, which I've never had done.  Further out in 
the bush they're an extension of the Native hospital for the most part.

Last summer I was hospitalized at Providence.  While the facility is 
non-profit the services are contracted out.  I was charged for more than 
3 different companies representing doctors just in the ER.  That's 
separate from the Providence charges.  Then there's the imaging 
department for X-Ray/MRI/CT/CAT scans.  This continued until I was 
released after a 3 day stay, and around $35,000 in charges.  With no 
diagnosis as to what the problem was.

My point?  One size doesn't fit all and your situation doesn't for 
Alaska.  For example, per Wikipedia and the 2000 census it cites, the 
Northwest Arctic Borough is slightly larger than Indiana.  It has about 
7,200 people living in it.  The largest town is Kotzebue and it's 
population is around 3,200.
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