Shelby Beck of Craig City School District and Tom Klaaymeyer of Anchorage School District will take on seats C and F, respectively, for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2024.
Dan Polta of Denali Borough School District will fill Seat D for the remaining duration of its term, which concludes on December 31, 2025.
Thank you to those who submitted nominations! Please join us in congratulating our newest Trustees!
In 1976, Rhonda Prowell-Kitter embarked on a journey to the great Alaskan frontier when her father was transferred with the Air Force from Eglin AFB, Florida to Elmendorf AFB. Anchorage quickly became her home, where she embraced the local school district and pursued her education at UAA. Her path eventually led her to the world of finance and accounting, laying the foundation for her rewarding career at PEHT.
Rhonda joined PEHT in 1998 as a consultant with a specific role — “Plan Accountant.” Over time, she ascended the ranks to become the Chief Financial Officer and Plan Administrator. Her mission? Simplifying the complex realms of insurance and healthcare for PEHT members along with trustees who are deeply committed to public education employees.
Navigating the intricate landscape of insurance can be a daunting experience, often leaving individuals scared and frustrated. Rhonda and her dedicated team at PEHT step in to guide, support and collaborate with providers, ensuring members receive the care they need. PEHT, being a self-insured insurance provider, places its primary focus on its members. Rhonda’s passion is evident in her unwavering commitment to educating members about their benefits and prioritizing the best reimbursements for them.
At PEHT, Rhonda firmly believes that members are not mere statistics or dollar signs. Every member is a unique individual with their own needs and challenges. This perspective sets PEHT apart from many other insurance companies. And for Rhonda, the best days are those when she is able to assist a member who is worried about a claim, or a recent diagnosis. PEHT members are often very thankful, and the office receives heartfelt cards, freshly baked goodies, or expressions of gratitude.
Dealing with the intricacies of politics and bureaucracy is no easy feat, but Rhonda and her team remain steadfast in their mission. They are dedicated to supporting everyone in the public education system, from the great custodians to the skilled bus drivers to the amazing teachers and school nurses to the administrators (and everyone in between)!
Beyond her professional life, Rhonda’s personal life shines just as brightly. She and her wife, Jen, have built a loving and expanding family. Recently, they adopted their 5-year-old grandson, Dayton, who has added immeasurable joy to their lives. Rhonda takes great pride in teaching Dayton life skills, from swimming to skiing, ensuring he grows up to be dynamic and confident. Family time is paramount to Rhonda. Rhonda’s son Mitch and his husband Shalem along with their son Porter add to the richness of Rhonda’s life. Their home is filled with warmth, laughter and a sense of unity that reflects Rhonda’s dedication to both her work and her loved ones.
“As much as she would like to think differently, at some point during the past 25 years, Rhonda Prowell-Kitter became the face of the Public Education Health Trust.
Ms. Prowell-Kitter has dedicated herself to the operation of the Trust and has insisted on a personalized and compassionate “servant-like” attitude from her staff and vendors. The impact of this attitude is felt on a daily basis by each participant who reaches out to the Trust office.
While PEHT is a member-driven and member-governed organization, Ms. Prowell-Kitter has provided important guidance and information to both new trustees as they learn their roles, as well as to experienced trustees who ask deeper questions in a quest to keep up with the very dynamic world of health benefits.
For the past 25 years, Ms. Prowell-Kitter has maintained laser focus on the goal of the Trust — to “maximize member benefits at the least cost.” She has saved the Trust (and thereby school districts) millions of dollars through her tireless efforts negotiating private contracts with providers and pushing back during vendor negotiations, reminding them that PEHT serves public educators and school district personnel. Among her many cost-saving initiatives includes negotiating a contract with Providence Hospital to open a series of express care clinics in Anchorage that charge members a flat copayment of $25. Members also now enjoy access to telemedicine via Teladoc, a service Ms. Prowell-Kitter brought to the attention of the trustees that has saved the Trust millions of dollars since its adoption. As an industry leader, PEHT was also the first health insurance in the state to offer access to telehealth!
Simply stated, Rhonda has earned her status as the face of the trust. It is a warm, welcoming, caring and trusting face that we are proud to stand behind and support. Thank you, Rhonda, for your 25 years of exemplary service both to the Public Education Health Trust and to the employees of public schools across the state.”
“Congratulations, Rhonda, on 25 amazing years. Professional and compassionate, your partnership has been a true joy. At EBMS, we have a mantra to “put the member first, and everything will work out,” and there is no one that exemplifies that more than you. The Trust and its members are lucky to have you, and I am thankful for the opportunity to work with you. Here’s to another 25!”
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Rhonda over the past few years and have a lot of respect for her. She is always very clear and concise in her communications, which always results in a clear understanding. As a fellow Financial Officer, I truly appreciate the way Rhonda approaches her responsibilities to the plan from that perspective and is able to balance that with a member-centric focus from a service standpoint.”
“I have worked with Rhonda on and off for most of my 23 years with EBMS, and I can say with confidence I have had no better partner and client. Successfully managing all financial aspects of a health plan is a gargantuan task. Ensuring that the experience of plan members as they navigate the difficult, confusing and often frightening journey through the healthcare and benefits worlds can be even more of a challenge. Rhonda has done a phenomenal job in handling both of these challenges with a level of commitment that is not often seen. Congratulations on 25 years!”
We hope you never need medical attention when you are on the road for vacation or traveling on a business trip. But, when you are traveling and require medical attention, remember that you can find options for in-network providers so that your expenses don’t pile up.
Through our partnership with Aetna, PEHT members can search for in-network options in an online directory found at aetna.com/asa. You will find a list of in-network providers who can meet your medical-care needs when you are out of town.
Services Include:
Welcoming a new member into the family is an exciting and transformative experience. It’s a time filled with joy, love and new beginnings. It can also be a period of challenges, especially for new mothers navigating the intricacies of breastfeeding. Jennifer Aist Lactation Services, LLC is committed to easing your way.
To schedule your appointment, just call or message (907) 602-2974.
In broad terms, when your body is stressed, it focuses on dealing with that. The result is that the hormones released because of stress suppress your immune system.1</sup This can make you more susceptible to illness.
You can keep yourself healthy by doing two things — reducing stress and taking steps to help boost your immune system. The good news is there are many actions that do both.
Here are some ways to improve your overall health and hopefully keep sickness away.
Adopting these healthy habits can help reduce your stress levels, paying off far beyond cold and flu season.
Teladoc Health virtual visits are offered to you and your covered dependents through your plan benefits.
To sign up or learn more, go to Teladoc.com.
1 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/stress
2 https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress
3 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/202212/8-essential-tips-combat-stress
PAMC is an award-winning trauma center, named the best hospital in Anchorage by the U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 Best Hospitals rankings. We are nationally recognized for our surgery services, including back surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics and adult cardiac surgery program, which recently earned the highest rating possible from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and places PAMC among the most elite hospitals for cardiac surgery in the nation.
Our surgeons perform a range of traditional and minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions, including:
From the moment your procedure is scheduled through recovery, we want every interaction with us to be easy and leave you feeling confident. Our excellent nurses, anesthesiologists and surgeons work collaboratively to deliver whole-person, comprehensive care.
Whether you require a same-day outpatient procedure or a multispecialty operation, talk with your provider about choosing PAMC for your surgical needs.
For more information, visit providence.org/alaska.
In addition to Humalog, Humulin, Lantus, Lyumjev, and Toujeo, your plan will now add (8) insulin products: Admelog, Apidra, Basaglar, Fiasp, Insulin Lispro, Novolin, Novolog and Rezvoglar. All of the above insulin products will move to a Tier 1 copay. This means most members will pay $35 a month or less for insulin.
To the right is a partial list of the medications that will no longer be covered starting January 1, 2024. When there are similar medications available for the same condition, higher-cost options are not always covered. Talk to your doctor about how these changes might impact you. See the chart for some other options that may work for you.
| Drug Category | Drugs No Longer Covered | Med Alternative |
| Attention Deficit Disorder | Adderall XR | Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine er cap |
| Attention Deficit Disorder | Vyvanse | lisdexamfetamine, amphetamine-dextroamphetamine IR/ER, dexmethylphenidate ER/IR, dextroamphetamine IR/SR, methylphenidate ER/IR |
| Hormonal: Men’s Health | Xyosted | testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate |
| Inflammatory Bowel | Pentasa | mesalamine dr cap 400mg, mesalamine dr tab 800mg, 1.2gm, APRISO CAP |
| Inflammatory Bowel | Lialda | mesalamine dr tab 1.2gm, APRISO CAP |
| Respiratory/Asthma or Other Lung Conditions |
Advair Diskus | Advair HFA, Breo Ellipta INH, Symbicort AER |
| Respiratory/Asthma or Other Lung Conditions |
Flovent Diskus | Annuity Ellipta, Qvar Redihaler AER |
| Respiratory/Asthma or Other Lung Conditions |
Flovent HFA | Annuity Ellipta, Qvar Redihaler AER |
| Respiratory/Asthma or Other Lung Conditions |
Pulmicort Fexhaler | Annuity Ellipta, Qvar Redihaler AER |
Millions of people get influenza (flu) every year. While it may be common, seasonal flu is a potentially serious disease. The flu can make long-lasting health problems worse. Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for people with certain chronic health conditions. Flu vaccines have been associated with reduced hospitalizations for those who are chronically I'll.
Flu shots can be obtained on a walk-in basis. Show our member ID card before getting your flu shot. Your flu shot is covered at $0 when you use a network pharmacy.
Here is a list of major retail chain pharmacies in our network. This is not a complete list. Sign in to optumrx.com for more information or call the number on the back of your member ID card.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR TO USE REAL-TIME BENEFITS CHECK (PRECHECK MYSCRIPT®). This tool helps doctors check medication coverage and costs before they write a prescription. This makes it easy to compare drug prices, view drug alternatives and helps to:
CHOOSE A NETWORK PHARMACY. If you have prescription coverage, look for pharmacies that are within your insurance provider’s network. Otherwise, you might have to pay the full retail price for your prescriptions. Visit optumrx.com > Member tools > pharmacy locator.
CHECK INTO HOME DELIVERY OPTIONS. You’ll save time on trips to the pharmacy — and you may save money too. In many cases you can order up to a 3-month supply. Visit optumrx.com to enroll.