Alaska Island Community Services announced it has become a preferred provider for Premera Blue Cross for medical, dental and behavioral health services.

“It’s new in the community,” explained Carly Allen, chief operating officer for AICS.

After an extensive application process, the transition took effect for AICS’ medical services on Dec. 29, behavioral health on Jan. 6 and its dental services on Jan. 22. Allen explained that getting to this point has been a couple of years in the making.

“It was under review for a very long time,” said Terri Wagner, CHC operations manager for A...