The Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board held a special meeting on February 19, 2026, which Healthesystems attended to capture key updates.

During the meeting, the Board approved the 2026 medical fee schedule rule and revised its effective date to April 1, 2026. During the public comment period, stakeholders raised concerns that updated resource materials were adopted ahead of the 2026 medical fee schedule, creating confusion for payers when determining reimbursement rates. Since the resource materials became effective January 1, 2026, while the 2025 fee schedule remains in effect, the Board approved issuing a bulletin to help clarify how the materials should be applied during this interim period. The bulletin is expected to be issued soon.

The finalized medical fee schedule rule is being submitted to the Office of the Governor and filed by the Lieutenant Governor for adoption. The 2026 medical fee schedule includes new reimbursement guidance for durable medical equipment (DME) rentals without assigned values, home health services (custodial and skilled care), and medical evaluations.