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Alaska faces a statewide gap in access to mental health care. This project brings help closer to home.

The Need

Demand for mental health care is growing—but resources haven't kept up.

Since opening its 16-bed inpatient behavioral health unit in 2020, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center (MSRMC) has seen demand far exceed available capacity.

When those beds are full—as they often are—patients in crisis must be transferred to Anchorage or even out of state to get the care they need.

This adds strain during some of the most vulnerable moments in a person's life.

Consider the scope:

• More than 132,000 adults in Alaska are living with a mental health condition—that's over four times the population of Juneau.
• Alaska's suicide rate is far above the national average, and it's been climbing since 2014—especially among teens and young adults.
• In 2024 alone, MSRMC received 1,253 behavioral health referrals—but could only admit 437 due to limited space.
• In 2023, more than 450 patients could not be admitted for inpatient behavioral health care at MSRMC because no beds were available.

With nowhere else to turn, many individuals in crisis end up in the emergency room—the only available option, but not the most appropriate one.

When emergency departments are stretched thin managing behavioral health cases, it affects wait times and care for everyone.

We see the need and Look Forward -- it's time to expand capacity for timely, compassionate, and local behavioral health care—right here in the Valley.

In Their Words:

"Our ER is here for everyone. A growing number of patients has pushed our space and resources to the limit, especially impacting those in mental health crises. A dedicated Behavioral Health hospital would mean more focused and efficient care for patients struggling with mental health challenges and allow us to better care for all emergencies coming through our doors."
— Kurstin Svoboda, MSN, R.N., CEN, Director of Emergency Services, MSRMC

"I'm excited and grateful to see Mat-Su take this major step by submitting a Certificate of Need to expand mental-health resources for Alaskans. These services are urgently needed across the state and in our community—especially for our youth—and this action brings us closer to meeting those needs."
— Anne Zink, M.D., Emergency Medicine physician, MSRMC

The Solution

Look Forward - To a dedicated hospital, built for recovery and hope.

• Overview: A 52,000-square-foot freestanding behavioral health hospital in Palmer, Alaska, offering 45 inpatient beds (including 16 beds relocated from the existing hospital unit)
  • 27 for adults
  • 18 for adolescents
• Location: 1790 S. Woodworth Loop, Palmer, AK — a 10-acre site owned by the Mat-Su Health Foundation, situated just east of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center campus. Proximity to the hospital ensures integrated emergency and coordinated medical care.
• Staffing: Approximately 50 full-time equivalent employees.
• Budget: $70 million total project cost.
• Timeline: Pending CON approval, the facility could be completed within 24-36 months.

What makes this project different?

This plan is years in the making because we continually Look Forward—backed by local health leaders, designed for local needs, and built with one goal: to provide life-saving care in the community where people live.

"We look forward to our readiness for the day someone you love needs this care." — James Bunch, Interim CEO, MSRMC