SDS E-Alert: Direct Deposit Coming Soon for Adult Public Assistance and Senior Benefits

Beginning in January 2026, the Division of Public Assistance (DPA) is transitioning away from paper checks for the Adult Public Assistance and Senior Benefits programs to provide a faster, safer, and more reliable way to deliver these monthly payments. Instead of receiving a check in the mail, these benefits will be delivered by direct deposit to a bank account or to an EBT (Alaska Quest) card. This change means no more waiting for the mail or worrying about checks being lost or stolen—just quick, secure access to benefits each month.

Option 1: Direct Deposit to a Bank Account

Direct deposit is the safest and most convenient way to receive benefits. The payment goes directly into a bank account each month, so it’s ready to use without waiting for the mail or visiting the bank.

To sign up, the recipient must complete the Direct Deposit Request Form included with this letter and return it with a voided check or deposit slip. It may take up to 30 days to process the request. Once it’s active, DPA will send the recipient a confirmation notice.

The completed form can be returned in one of the following ways:

• Local Public Assistance office
• Email: hss.dpa.jnu.ebt@alaska.gov
• Fax: (907) 465-3651
• Mail: Division of Public Assistance, P.O. Box 110640, Juneau, AK 99811-0640

Option 2: Deposit onto an EBT (Alaska Quest) Card

If the recipient chooses to get these payments on an Alaska Quest card, there’s nothing more they need to do. Their benefits will be added to the card automatically each month.

Some people already have a Quest card because they receive SNAP (food) benefits. They may still receive a new card because only certain payments can go onto the same card. If a new card is needed, DPA will send it to the recipient in the mail.

Recipients can use the Quest card like a debit card to shop, get cash back, or withdraw money from an ATM. Please note: the card cannot be used at ATMs or point of sale (POS) terminals—also known as checkout machines—located in bars, liquor stores, or places that offer gambling or adult entertainment.

Cards are mailed the next business day after being issued. When the recipient receives the card in the mail, they should follow the instructions to set up a Personal Identification Number (PIN). They will need the PIN to use the card.

If an Adult Public Assistance or Senior Benefit recipient did not sign up for direct deposit by December 3, 2025, they’ll receive a Quest card in the mail, but they can still enroll in direct deposit any time.

If a recipient has questions or needs help, please have them call DPA at 1-800-478-7778 or visit their local Public Assistance office.

Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska Events 

Caregiving 101: Making Visits Positive on Dec 15th 1pm - 2:30pm in Anchorage,

When a loved one with dementia enters a hospital, assisted living, or long-term care facility, visits can feel uncertain or even intimidating. Not knowing what to say or do may cause families and friends to pull back missing opportunities for meaningful connection.

In this class, you will learn:

• Simple visiting strategies that foster comfort and engagement
• How to navigate uncertainty with confidence and empathy
• Tips to spark moments of joy and familiarity
• Ways to create quality time even in unfamiliar settings

For more information, contact Debbie Chulick at dchulick@alzalaska.org.

Movie Showing: Alive Inside on Dec 16th at 1pm at 777 N. Crusey St. Ste B101, Wasilla, Alaska,

Experience A Story of Music and Memory, a powerful film that reveals how music can reawaken joy, connection, and cognitive function for people living with dementia. Join us to see how music reaches the deepest parts of our humanity.

Statewide Grief Support Group on Dec 18th from 1-2:30pm via Zoom,

These twice monthly grief support groups create a compassionate space to share your experience, ask questions, and find comfort among others who understand the journey of dementia related loss. Guided on Zoom by facilitator Gay Wellman, the groups meet on the first and third Thursday of each month and welcome anyone navigating the loss of a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

With questions or to sign up, reach out to Gay Wellman at gwellman@alzalaska.org.

Sign up for ARA's weekly newsletter here.

Alaska Behavioral Health's Winter Series 

Looking to deepen your understanding of mental health and ways to offer support? The Mental Health Lunch & Learn: Winter Series offers free, therapist-led sessions every Monday. Join ABH for practical insights and open conversation—no referral needed, just a welcoming space to learn and grow. Register here!

Alaska Training Cooperative Updates

Troy Medical Care: Medicare Patient Openings in Fairbanks 

Troy Medical Care is now accepting new Medicare patients for primary care in Fairbanks. They also have an in-person provider for primary care to complement their hybrid-telehealth options.

All of their primary care patients are offered a local in-person dedicated medical assistant to help them with their care.

TMC also provides the following: Neurology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, and Dermatology. Specialty patients are also offered an in-person dedicated medical assistant.

Call them at (907) 268-2737 or visit: www.troymed-fairbanks.com

Alaska Public Health Association Summit in Anchorage / Hybrid Jan 20-22 

Alaska Public Health Association (ALPHA) Health Summit 2026 theme is "Stronger Together: Strengthening Public Health Through Partnerships," emphasizing ALPHA's commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare access and outcomes across our beautifully diverse state.

This year's conference will be held in person in the beautiful city of Anchorage, Alaska, with a hybrid option available for those who wish to participate online. To be a sponsor, an exhibitor, or to review the agenda, click here.

Parkinson's Foundation Community Grants Due Jan 30

The Foundation funds programs that are impactful, sustainable, scalable and measurable. Programs may be new and existing grant-supported areas and/or pilot programs. All funded organizations and institutions must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Programs for the 2026 grant cycle should be geared towards expanding or creating access for populations of focus and must incorporate at least one of the following focus areas: 

1. Address mental health and PD
2. Reach and support care partners of individuals with PD
3. Educate and deliver exercise programs specifically designed for people with PD

Submit your application by January 30. 

AARP National Long-Term Care Ombudsmen Program Report 

CDC Released 2023 PLACES Data 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is excited to announce the release of 2023 PLACES data. 

How PLACES Can Improve Your Health Efforts:

• The PLACES data tool provides local, model-based estimates for understanding health outcomes, preventive service use, health-risk behaviors, disabilities, health status, and health-related social needs at the local level.
• PLACES covers various geographic areas, including counties, census-designated places, census tracts, and ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. 

Unique Value of PLACES:

• PLACES enhances existing surveillance data by offering estimates for health issues in local areas of all sizes, whether urban or rural.
• The tool helps to inform targeted public health interventions and resource allocation to improve community health. 

Overview of Release:

The latest PLACES model-based estimates are generated using 2023 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), U.S. Census 2020 Population Count, and the American Community Survey 2019–2023 including:

• 35 measures from 2023 BRFSS data.
• 5 measures from 2022 BRFSS estimates: colorectal cancer screening, mammography, short sleep duration, dental visit, and all-teeth lost.
• The mental health measure “loneliness” has replaced “social isolation” for 39 states and the District of Columbia. Compared with social isolation, loneliness is a stronger indicator of health. It reflects a person's real feelings and experiences, and with the right support, people with loneliness can find help.

Data Tools:

Access a suite of PLACES interactive data tools to visualize, map, and compare local health data: PLACES Online Data Tools | PLACES | CDC .

You can access previously released data or access the entire PLACES Data Portal to search, select, view, query, and download PLACES data from current and past releases.

Learn more about the BRFSS or send an inquiry to CDCINFO@cdc.gov 

NCOA Applauds Bipartisan Push to Boost Enrollment in Low-Income Medicare Programs

Medicare helps millions of older Americans stay healthy, but it isn’t free. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) helps make Medicare affordable by providing funding to find and enroll low-income people into money-saving programs. New legislation would reauthorize MIPPA for five years. Read the NCOA statement.

MAHA ELEVATE Brings Lifestyle Medicine to Original Medicare

CMS announced the Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (MAHA ELEVATE) Model, a voluntary model to fund up to 30 chronic disease prevention and health promotion pilot projects that utilize evidence-based functional or lifestyle medicine interventions currently not covered by Original Medicare.

These types of interventions, including those focused on nutrition and physical activity, may slow or prevent chronic disease; MAHA ELEVATE will gather and evaluate necessary data on cost and quality to inform decisions about the feasibility of including such lifestyle-based interventions in Original Medicare in the future.

CMS will release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in early 2026 for the first cohort. The model will begin on September 1, 2026. The second cohort will begin 1 year later.

By building evidence for interventions that empower people with Original Medicare to improve their health upstream of costly treatments or procedures, MAHA ELEVATE will help transform the U.S. health care system to one that proactively addresses the root causes of chronic disease rather than reactively addressing symptoms.

CMS will test evidence-based functional or lifestyle medicine interventions currently not covered by Medicare through cooperative agreements with organizations that have already demonstrated success integrating these approaches into conventional medical care with scientifically documented improvements in health. Participating organizations will receive approximately $3 million each over 3 years of funding to collect quality and cost data on their interventions.

Interventions tested in the model are intended to support, not replace, the medical care received by people with Medicare. They may combine psychological, nutritional, and physical interventions along with self-care strategies to promote wellness and prevent illness.

Find out more:

• MAHA ELEVATE webpage
• HHS MAHA in Action webpage
• CMS Innovation Center Strategic Direction
• Value-Based Care Spotlight
• Innovation Insights