Editing Alaska (section)

==Public health and safety==
{{See also|Dentistry in rural Alaska}}

The [[Alaska State Troopers]] are Alaska's statewide police force. They have a long and storied history, but were not an official organization until 1941. Before the force was officially organized, law enforcement in Alaska was handled by various federal agencies. Larger towns usually have their own local police and some villages rely on "Public Safety Officers" who have police training but do not carry firearms. In much of the state, the troopers serve as the only police force available. In addition to enforcing traffic and criminal law, wildlife Troopers enforce hunting and fishing regulations. Due to the varied terrain and wide scope of the Troopers' duties, they employ a wide variety of land, air, and water patrol vehicles.

Many rural communities in Alaska are considered "dry", having outlawed the importation of alcoholic beverages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dps.state.ak.us/AST/ABI/docs/SDEUreports/2003AnnualReport.pdf |title=Alaska State Troopers Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement Control Board |publisher=Dps.state.ak.us |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230011202/http://www.dps.state.ak.us/AST/ABI/docs/SDEUreports/2003AnnualReport.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Suicide rates for rural residents are higher than urban.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hss.state.ak.us/suicideprevention/statistics_pages_sspc/AKsuiciderate_rural_urban_90-00.htm |title=State of Alaska |publisher=Hss.state.ak.us |access-date=June 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925085430/http://hss.state.ak.us/suicideprevention/statistics_pages_sspc/AKsuiciderate_rural_urban_90-00.htm |archive-date=September 25, 2009 }}</ref>

[[Domestic abuse]] and other violent crimes are also at high levels in the state; this is in part linked to alcohol abuse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/2010/09/30/1480089/survey-finds-high-rates-of-sexual.html |title=Survey reveals higher rate of violence against Alaska women |access-date=May 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105355/http://www.adn.com/2010/09/30/1480089/survey-finds-high-rates-of-sexual.html |archive-date=May 31, 2014 }}</ref> Alaska has the highest rate of sexual assault in the nation, especially in rural areas. The average age of sexually assaulted victims is 16 years old. In four out of five cases, the suspects were relatives, friends, or acquaintances.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-29-alaska-sexualassaults_N.htm |title=Rural Alaska steeped in sexual violence |work=USA Today |date=January 30, 2008 |access-date=December 31, 2010 |first=Rachel |last=D'oro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105151430/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-29-alaska-sexualassaults_N.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Health insurance ===
{{As of|2022}}, [[CVS Health]] and [[Premera Blue Cross|Premera]] account for 47% and 46% of private health insurance, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Competition in health care research |url=https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/patient-support-advocacy/competition-health-care-research |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=American Medical Association |language=en |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013110236/https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/patient-support-advocacy/competition-health-care-research |url-status=live }}</ref> Premera and [[Moda Health]] offer insurance on the federally-run Affordable Care Exchange.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-01 |title=Health insurance in Alaska: find affordable coverage |url=https://www.healthinsurance.org/states/alaska/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=healthinsurance.org |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422120253/https://www.healthinsurance.org/states/alaska/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Hospitals===
{{Main|List of hospitals in Alaska}}
[[Providence Alaska Medical Center]] in Anchorage is the largest hospital in the state as of 2021;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruskin |first=Liz |date=2021-09-20 |title=How Alaska's largest hospital reached its tipping point |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2021/09/20/how-alaskas-largest-hospital-reached-its-tipping-point/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Alaska Public Media |language=en-US |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609054643/https://alaskapublic.org/2021/09/20/how-alaskas-largest-hospital-reached-its-tipping-point/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Anchorage also hosts [[Alaska Regional Hospital]] and [[Alaska Native Medical Center]].

Alaska's other major cities such as Fairbanks and Juneau also have local hospitals.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Individual Hospital Statistics for Alaska |url=https://www.ahd.com/states/hospital_AK.html |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=American Hospital Directory |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609054642/https://www.ahd.com/states/hospital_AK.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In Southeast Alaska, [[Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium]], runs healthcare facilities across 27 communities as of 2022, including hospitals in Sitka and Wrangell;<ref>{{Cite web |title=SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium |url=https://www.pmcak.org/uploads/3/1/1/0/31108911/searhc_slide_deck_3.24.22.pdf |date=March 24, 2022 |website=Petersburg Medical Center |access-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609054643/https://www.pmcak.org/uploads/3/1/1/0/31108911/searhc_slide_deck_3.24.22.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> although it originally served Native Americans only, it has expanded access and combined with other local facilities over time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stremple |first=Claire |date=2021-11-03 |title=ICYMI: Southeast Alaska's tribal health provider has expanded its service in Juneau |url=http://www.ktoo.org/2021/11/03/searhc-expands-service-to-all-juneau-residents/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=KTOO |language=en-US |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609110726/https://www.ktoo.org/2021/11/03/searhc-expands-service-to-all-juneau-residents/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Robert |last=Woolsey |date=2017-06-02 |title=SEARHC takes on questions of ethnicity, access, and workplace values |url=https://www.kcaw.org/2017/06/02/searhc-takes-questions-ethnicity-access-workplace-values/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=KCAW |language=en-US |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609054649/https://www.kcaw.org/2017/06/02/searhc-takes-questions-ethnicity-access-workplace-values/ |url-status=live }}</ref>