NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PAYMENT RATES FOR AUTISM SERVICES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on Medicaid payment rates for behavioral health services, specifically, autism services. |
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid behavioral health services payment rates for autism services, including the following:
- 7 AAC 145.580. Medicaid Payment Rates; Behavioral health services payment rates, is proposed to include the following changes.
- Revise language to include the annual inflation rate increase for autism services.
- 7 AAC 160. Medicaid Program; General Provisions, specifically, 7 AAC 160.900. Requirements adopted by reference, is proposed to include the following changes.
- Amend a department document adopted by reference, the Medicaid Procedure Codes and Rates - Autism Services rate chart, to include the updated version. The updated version includes telehealth modifiers to ensure that providers of autism services may deliver those services through telehealth.
You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to Ms. Heather Phelps, State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 934, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on October 20, 2023.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on October 13, 2023, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., by calling 1-800-315-6338, and using the participant access code number 26776. Please note that in-person attendance will not be provided at the hearing site. Please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone. If you call to provide oral testimony, you should be on the line before the hearing begins at 11 a.m. The Department of Health will give priority to those who call in before 12:30 p.m. The Department of Health may, before the hearing begins, limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony. The time limit may be necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Heather Phelps, by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , or at the State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 934, Anchorage, AK 99503. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Ms. Heather Phelps by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 269-3616 not later than October 5, 2023, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Ms. Heather Phelps by e-mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 269-3616.
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and may be viewed at the agency's office at the State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 934, Anchorage, AK 99503.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.
Statutory authority: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.085.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.085.
Fiscal information: It is estimated that the proposed regulation changes will require increased appropriations as follows: FY2025, $102.6; FY2026, $117.2; FY2027, $133.3.
The Division of Behavioral Health/Department of Health (DOH) keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all the Division of Behavioral Health/DOH notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division of Behavioral Health/DOH at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.
DATE: August 30, 2023.
/s/Heidi Hedberg
Commissioner,
Department of Health
State of Alaska.