Answer: How to locate medical providers who will treat you on a lien (Letter of Protection) in Alaska

Short answer: Many medical providers will agree to treat a personal-injury patient on a lien or by signing a Letter of Protection (LOP), but availability varies. Start by contacting a personal-injury attorney or the Alaska Bar Association referral service, then speak with hospital billing/financial counselors and community clinics. Always get any lien or LOP in writing and understand the terms before you accept treatment.

What “treat on a lien” or “Letter of Protection” means

Treating on a lien generally means the provider agrees to accept payment from any future settlement, judgment, or insurance recovery rather than demanding immediate payment. A Letter of Protection (LOP) is a written promise from you (or your attorney) asking a provider to delay billing until the case resolves. Providers may also file a medical provider lien against a recovery. These arrangements are common in personal-injury matters, but they carry risk for both patient and provider.

Step-by-step: Where to look and what to do

Contact a personal-injury attorney as early as possible. Attorneys frequently maintain lists of local doctors, clinics, chiropractors, and imaging centers that accept LOPs or liens and can refer you to providers used to working with injury cases. If you do not yet have an attorney, use the Alaska Bar Association for a lawyer referral: https://www.alaskabar.org.
Call hospital billing and financial counselors. Large hospitals and health systems in Alaska have billing departments and financial counselors who can explain whether the hospital will accept an LOP, set up a lien, offer a payment plan, or connect you with charity or hardship programs. Examples of health-system information can be found on system sites such as Providence Alaska: https://www.providence.org/locations/alaska and the Alaska Native Medical Center: https://anthc.org/our-work/health-care/alaska-native-medical-center/.
Ask clinics that treat injury patients. Orthopedists, pain specialists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and certain urgent care centers more commonly accept LOPs. Call and ask whether they accept treatment on a lien, what documentation they need, and whether they will bill health insurance first (if applicable).
Use community health centers and nonprofit options if needed. Federally qualified health centers and community clinics may offer sliding-scale fees or delayed billing and can be a resource if providers decline a lien-based arrangement. Alaska Department of Health information is at: https://health.alaska.gov.
Verify provider credentials and standing. Before agreeing to treatment, verify the provider’s license and disciplinary history through Alaska professional licensing: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing.aspx.

What to ask before accepting lien-based treatment

Will you accept a Letter of Protection (LOP)? Will you file a signed medical lien?
Will you bill my health insurance first (if I have insurance)? If so, how does that affect the lien?
What exact services does the LOP cover (visits, imaging, surgery, physical therapy, etc.)?
Do you expect to be paid directly from the settlement, or will you assert a lien against the entire recovery?
What is your fee structure, billing rate, and whether interest, collection fees, or costs get added?
Will you provide a written LOP or lien agreement that I (and my attorney) can review?
What happens if my case does not result in a recovery?

How to protect yourself and help your case

Get agreements in writing. Oral promises are risky. A written LOP or lien agreement should say who signs it, what it covers, and how the provider will be paid.
Keep careful records. Keep treatment records, billing statements, communications, and copies of any signed LOP or lien documents.
Communicate about insurance. If you have health insurance, the provider may need to bill it first; that can create subrogation or reimbursement claims against your recovery. Tell both the provider and your attorney about any insurance.
Involve an attorney for settlement negotiations. A lawyer can negotiate medical bills, resolve provider claims against settlement proceeds, and protect your net recovery from excessive lien demands.

Common obstacles and how to handle them

Some specialists and imaging centers refuse liens because they worry the case will not settle. If so, ask your attorney for referrals to providers who work on contingency or consider advancing limited funds for critical diagnostic testing.
If a provider insists on payment up front, negotiate a reduced upfront deposit or a payment plan tied to case milestones.
Providers may assert large liens. Your attorney can try to negotiate reductions or prioritize payments so you receive fair settlement proceeds.

Alaska-specific resources

Alaska Bar Association (lawyer referral and resources): https://www.alaskabar.org
Alaska Department of Health (community health resources and hospital information): https://health.alaska.gov
Alaska Professional Licensing (verify provider licenses): https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing.aspx

Helpful hints

Begin the search immediately after your injury—early treatment helps both recovery and the evidence in your case.
Bring a copy of any LOP or lien form to the provider so they can review it beforehand.
Ask whether the provider has experience working with personal-injury attorneys and lien arrangements.
Be cautious about signing documents that assign your claim or settlement proceeds without clear limits and independent legal review.
If you cannot afford care and no provider will take a lien, ask about charitable care, Medicaid (if eligible), or sliding-scale clinics.

Next steps

Contact an Alaska personal-injury lawyer or the Alaska Bar Association referral service. Ask for provider referrals, and then call those providers’ billing offices to confirm they accept LOPs or liens. If you proceed without a lawyer, insist on written agreements and verify licensing and billing practices before getting expensive tests or procedures.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Alaska attorney.