Before Becky Hultberg was president and CEO of the Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home Association, she helped the state dramatically reduce its unfunded retiree health care debt as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration. 

Hultberg said the pension world is having “a very similar conversation to the one we're now having in the health care world — How do we keep the promises we've made, and ensure that we're not burdening future generations?”

At ASHNHA, Hultberg has worked with the state’s hospitals to significantly reduce sepsis mortality, improve behavioral health and address the unique challenges of rural hospitals. 

“Rural hospitals are very connected to their communities; they're very connected to individual patients; they manage chronic disease really well,” she said. “They ensure access to the appropriate level of care. But the financial model right now doesn't always reward the value they bring in managing the health of their communities.”

Hultberg said partnerships are crucial for small, independent and rural hospitals, who face dire financial challenges. 

“Those may be partnerships with other hospitals, partnerships with their association, or partnerships with other providers in their community,” she said. “But as resources become more constrained, partnerships are going to be important to all of us to ensure that we can continue to deliver the services we deliver today."

Hultberg joined the AHA Board of Trustees in January. She brings that rural focus to the AHA board and welcomes AHA’s leadership in advocating for these organizations.  

“I appreciate AHA's focus on the challenges of rural health care,” Hultberg said. “It's a willingness to look at new solutions to the problem of access to care in rural America.”

Related News Articles

Headline
Achieving operational and survey readiness on day one is an issue that many health care facilities professionals continue to grapple with, according to…
Chairperson's File
Public
This is an incredibly dynamic and transformative time for health care. One resource I have found incredibly helpful in speaking with many of you and engaging…
Headline
Health delivery organizations are encouraged to apply by 1 p.m. ET May 6 for the AHA’s 2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize, honoring organizations that demonstrate…
Headline
Hospitals and health systems are urged to nominate candidates as soon as possible for the AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship so they can apply by the March…
Headline
In this conversation, Mindy Estes, M.D., former CEO of Saint Luke's Health System and former AHA board chair, and Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health and AHA…
Headline
The Hospital Capacity Management Consortium, a professional membership group for hospital capacity management leaders, is now part of the AHA. The HCMC was…