Anchorage, Alaska — One of the largest post-acute care operators in the country just planted a deeper flag in the Last Frontier — and it’s already planning to build there.
PACS Group announced last week that it has acquired Ridgeway Senior Living, a post-acute care facility in Anchorage, Alaska. The deal brings the company’s Alaska footprint to four buildings and its total national portfolio to 325 communities across 17 states, with nearly 36,000 beds.
What makes the move notable isn’t just the acquisition — it’s what comes next.
A New Facility on the Horizon
PACS also acquired land adjacent to the Ridgeway building and has announced plans to construct a 150-bed skilled nursing facility on the site. The new building is expected to be completed by 2028.
“The campus will provide a full continuum of care and become a valuable community asset,” said Jason Murray, the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our growth strategy is rooted in ensuring that a market can support our mission of delivering exceptional care at all levels of acuity.”
It’s a significant statement from one of the sector’s fastest-growing operators at a time when PACS has been investing heavily in compliance and technology infrastructure following a federal investigation into its business practices.
Strategic Growth, Carefully Timed
Chief Operating Officer Josh Jergensen said the Alaska expansion reflects a deliberate, outcomes-focused approach to growth.
“As we continue to grow, it’s with an eye on doing so strategically, ensuring that we can continue to deliver exceptional outcomes in helping residents at a vulnerable time in their lives,” he said.
Alaska presents a unique challenge for skilled nursing operators. The state’s remote geography, thin workforce pipeline, and higher cost of living make it one of the harder markets in the country to staff and run efficiently. That PACS is doubling down there — and committing to new construction — signals real confidence in the market.
The move also comes as PACS continues to absorb major investments in technology and administrative infrastructure, with the company previously committing $100 million toward those efforts.
What It Means for the Sector
The Ridgeway acquisition is a reminder that growth hasn’t stopped in skilled nursing, even as operators navigate tighter payer scrutiny, Medicaid uncertainty, and ongoing staffing pressure. Larger platforms with operational scale and centralized support systems are increasingly able to absorb expansion risk that smaller, independent operators can’t.
With 325 buildings, nearly 36,000 beds, and a new facility on the drawing board for Alaska, PACS isn’t slowing down. For the broader industry, that’s worth watching.
