Healthy people, thriving communities.
Maniilaq Association is a non-profit corporation that provides health, tribal, and social services to residents in the Maniilaq Service Area which is comprised of communities in the Northwest Arctic Borough and Point Hope. Maniilaq represents twelve federally recognized tribes in Northwest Alaska and provides services to a population of about 8,000 people in an area of land roughly the size of Indiana. With approximately 550 in its workforce, Maniilaq Association is also the largest employer. Read more.
Current notices:
June 5, 2024: Attention all Maniilaq service area Medicare beneficiaries. While most Medicare beneficiaries are given a number for life, last fall, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) notified many Medicare enrollees that they might have been impacted by a data breach at a CMS contractor, Maximus Federal Services, Inc. CMS mailed a letter in late December 2023 to all potentially affected Medicare enrollees to notify them of the data breach and what steps CMS is taking to protect them. As a result, your Medicare Beneficiary ID Number may have changed. If you have received a new Medicare card with a new Medicare Beneficiary ID Number in the mail, please bring it to the Maniilaq Health Center or your village clinic to ensure the correct number is uploaded to your medical record.
June 4, 2024: Maniilaq Association has received several inquiries from tribal members recently, with similar questions about who determines how federal funding the tribes receive can and will be used. While Maniilaq Association is a pass-through for some funding, Maniilaq does not set any specific limits on its use. The usage and disbursement of this funding is determined by the local tribal council and its staff. Maniilaq does not have any authority over disbursement, and we advise that tribal members with questions speak with their tribal council and/or its executive director.
January 16, 2024: In a new press release, the Alaska Department of Health is recommending that Alaskan adults be tested for syphilis. Over the last 10 years, the United States has seen a surge in the number of syphilis cases. In 2022, Alaska had 424 reported cases of syphilis, more than a 20 fold increase from 2016. When detected early, syphilis is easily treatable with antibiotics. However, if left untreated it can lead to serious health complications even after months or years of having no symptoms. Syphilis can also be passed from a pregnant woman to their fetus; which can result in fetal death, premature birth, death shortly after birth, or lifelong medical issues. Read the full press release here. For more information on STDs in Alaska visit here. If you would like to get tested, Maniilaq PHN offers confidential testing for sexually transmitted diseases, treatment, and contact follow-up. PHN Services are available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a closure from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. To make an appointment, please call 907-442-7144. Walk-ins are welcome.
January 10, 2024: A message from Maniilaq Health Center Administration: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an extension for the shelf life of BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test kits from 15 months to 22 months. This is a 7 month extension to the printed expiration date on the box. If you would like to confirm the expiration date of your kits at home, the FDA maintains a list of testing kit lot numbers with their original and new expiration dates here. For more information, call 907-442-3321.
January 9, 2024: The State of Alaska has recently identified a concern of rabies in Alaska. Please report any suspicious wild animal activity to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at 907-269-8000, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1-800-478-0084 after hours; or the Kotzebue Police Department at 907-442-3351.
January 4, 2024: Due to a recent increase in cases in the Maniilaq Service Area, we recommend that employees and the public take extra precautions regarding the spread of COVID-19, along with other respiratory illnesses like influenza and RSV. Vaccines and Covid-19 home tests are available at Public Health Nursing in Kotzebue. Covid-19 home tests can also be ordered online for free. Read more here.
December 11, 2023: Maniilaq Association no longer offers quarantine housing in Kotzebue for those who test positive for COVID-19. We recommend having a plan in place in the event that you or a family member tests positive for COVID-19, especially while traveling. Please follow all current CDC recommendations for COVID-19. Thank you for your cooperation. Questions? Call 907-442-3321.