NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE ALASKA PIONEER HOMES’ RATES
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to change regulations on the monthly rates charged to residents. |
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the rates charged to residents by the Alaska Pioneer Home, including the following:
The proposed change would amend 7 AAC 74.025 by increasing the monthly rates charged to residents of the Alaska Pioneer home. The proposed change to 7 AAC 74.025(a) would increase the monthly rate to the following amounts: $2,549.75 for level I services; $4,622.10 for level II services; and $6,694.45 for level III services. This proposed change is occurring in part to match the increase in the Social Security Administration’s Cost of Living Adjustments since the last increase to the rates for the Alaska Pioneer Homes.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Alaska Pioneer Homes at PO Box 110690, Juneau, AK 99811. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-4108 and by electronic mail at alaskapioneerhomes@alaska.gov. The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 5, 2015.
Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on September 21, 2015. The hearing will be held at the six Pioneer Homes and telephonically. The hearing will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 10:00 a.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Those parties who would like to submit verbal comments at the hearing must be present by 10:00 a.m. and sign up prior to 10am via (1) the Pioneer Home they participating at or (2) via email to alaskapioneerhomes@alaska.gov if choosing to participate from a non-Pioneer Home location. To participate in the public hearing, please, go to one of the six Pioneer Homes or call 1-800-315-6338 and then enter the access code of 54784 when prompted.
- Anchorage Pioneer Home, 923 W 11th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501-4306
- Fairbanks Pioneer Home, 2221 Eagan Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701-5709
- Juneau Pioneer Home, 4675 Glacier Hwy., Juneau, AK 99801-9518
- Ketchikan Pioneer Home, 141 Bryant St., Ketchikan, AK 99901-5534
- Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home, 250 E Fireweed Ave., Palmer, AK 99645-6638
- Sitka Pioneer Home, 120 Katlian St., Sitka, AK 99835-7525
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Jessica Bogard, Alaska Pioneer Homes, Re: Rate Change at alaskapioneerhomes@alaska.gov or Alaska Pioneer Homes Re: Rate Change, 333 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 757, Juneau, AK 99801. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health & Social Services will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and response available on http://dhss.alaska.gov/daph/Pages/default.aspx and the Alaska Online Public Notice System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/default.aspx . The Department of Health & Social Services may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Michael Frawley at (907) 465-1870 no later than September 1, 2015, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Alaska Pioneer Homes, Re: Rate Change, at PO Box 110690 Juneau, AK 99811 and (907) 465-4416.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health & Social Services, 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 regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected
Statutory Authority: AS 47.55.010; AS 47.55.020; AS 47.55.030
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 47.55.020; AS 47.55.030.
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
Date: 08/18/15
/s/Valerie “Nurr’araaluk” Davidson, Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services