Overview

A hospital is an institution or establishment primarily providing 24-hour diagnosis, treatment, or care, for two or more unrelated people experiencing conditions for which medical or surgical services are appropriate. Examples of conditions include illness, physical or mental disease, and injury or deformity.

A specialized hospital is a hospital that is primarily engaged in the treatment of one specific type of illness or disability.

Who qualifies?

All hospitals, including specialized hospitals, are required to be licensed in Alaska. 

Hospitals

Types of hospitals include:

  • General Acute Care Hospital (GACH)
  • Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH)
  • Critical Access Hospital (CAH)
  • Rural Primary Care Hospital (RPCH)

Specialized hospitals

Types of specialized hospitals include:

  • Psychiatric Hospitals
  • Substance Abuse Hospitals
  • Rehabilitation Hospitals

Hospitals that meet federal requirements (see Resources, below) may also be eligible for federal certification.

How to sign up

Initial licensing 

If you are interested in obtaining an initial license, please complete the following steps:

  • Complete Hospital Licensing Application packet
  • Pay the associated provisional licensing fee
  • Provide an electronic copy of all policies and procedures

Submit all requested information to Health Facility Licensing and Certification. Your application will be reviewed by our unit staff. We will work closely with you to ensure your application meets all the licensing requirements, followed by an onsite inspection. 

Provisional licensing fee: $2,000 + $85/bed

Licensing application

How to use

Renew your license

To renew your license please complete the Hospital Licensing Application and pay the renewal fee. You must submit the required information to Health Facility Licensing and Certification before April 1 of even-numbered years. 

Biennial renewal fee: $4,000 + $170 per bed

Renewal application

Modify your application

If the facility needs to modify previously approved applications, a modification application and associated fee must be submitted to Health Facility Licensing and Certification.

Relocation fee for a hospital: $500
Increase bed fee: $85 per bed
Miscellaneous modification fee: $250

Modification application

Report leadership change

If the facility has a change in administrative leadership, a Change of Leadership form needs to be completed and submitted to Health Facility Licensing and Certification.

No associated fee

Change of leadership form

Resources

Statutes and regulations

The following statutes and regulations apply to licensed hospitals in the State of Alaska.

In order to participate in Medicare, a hospital must meet federal requirements and be separately certified and approved. Federal requirements for hospitals are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). A list of specific regulations that apply to each facility type can be found in the Medicare State Operations Manual Appendix. 

Medicare State Operations Manual Appendix

Related Education

Contact us

Health facilities licensing