Mission Statement Board of Directors History of APS Legislative Activity Benefits of Membership Member Application Feedback       History of APS 1996 Seventy medical and surgical specialists formed a group, Alaska Specialists Network. 1997-98 Alaska Specialists Network met weekly, hired consultants and a legal advisor. Alaska Specialists Network invited primary care physicians to join and became incorporated. Membership swelled to over 100, and the name changed to Alaska Physicians & Surgeons, Inc. 1999 APS hired Executive Director, Michael Haugen, and moved its coporate office. Membership continued to grow. APS signed a group purchasing contracts with AmeriNet. APS signed laboratory services contracts with Quest. In addition, APS sponsored its first CME seminar and created a Model Medical Services Agreement. Finally, APS became more politically active, hiring a lobbyist to work on legislation in Juneau. 2000 APS was instrumental in helping pass HB211-The Alaska Patients Bill of Rights, and fought hard for passage of a Physician Negotiation bill. APS messengered two PPO contracts to members, Admar and One Health Plan, and added several cost-saving member group purchasing contracts. Additionally, APS hosted its 2nd CME seminar on Medicare/Medicaid compliance. 2001 APS' work for passage of the Physician Negotiation bill paid off with its passage, and it is now law. It requires 3rd party payors to pay "clean claims" within 30 days, or interest penalties accrual. APS entered into more group purchasing contracts, examples of which are" Northrim Bank, First National Bank of Anchorage, First Interstate Bank, and Residential Mortgage. APS created its own website, applied for CME accreditation, and hosted two CME seminars on Coding & Documentation, and HIPAA compliance. 2002 The Physician Negotiation bill, SB37 passed in the House & Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Tony Knowles. Purchasing buying opportunities, host CME accredited seminarts, and provide BLS re-certification and Heart saver courses for member offices at a discounted rate. 2003 APS added Personnel Plus, employment agency to its long list of value-added vendors. Additionally, APS finished a three part HIPAA workshop series, and a payor contract seminar. APS will continue to work on HB260, the Retired Physician Immunity Bill.  IN THE NEWS 4120 Laurel Street · Suite 206 · (907) 561 - 7705 · FAX (907) 561 - 7704 akphys@alaska.net