NOTICEOF PROPOSED CHANGES ON GENERAL RELIEF ASSISTED LIVING HOME CARE IN THEREGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

The Department of Health & SocialServices proposes to adopt regulation changes in 7 AAC 47of the

Alaska Administrative Code, dealingwith General Relief Assisted Living Home Care toadd a section titled

“Program adjustments subject toappropriations” including the following:

• 7 AAC 47 is proposed to be changed as follows: 7 AAC 47 is amended by adding a new section to read:

   

  7 AAC 47.465 Program adjustments subject to appropriations  

a. When statefunding is not adequate to meet the projected service needs, the departmentshall limit the number of people accepted to the program to avoid having toclose it altogether before the end of a fiscal year. When the department mustlimit the number of participants it shall establish a General Relief waitlistfor persons who would be eligible to receive general relief funded serviceunder 7 AAC  47.300 – 7 AAC 47.525 ifadequate state funding were available.

b. Persons foundeligible for service will be selected from the waitlist based upon thefollowing priorities in order of preference:

1. Adults who have been determined to be vulnerable and identified in need of a protective placement by Adult Protective Services pursuant to AS 47.24.017(d).

2. Individuals who will be discharging directly from an institution for mental disease, a facility operated by the Department of Corrections, a hospital, or a long term care facility.

3. Based upon the date of the letter approving a complete application.

    c. When anapplicant is selected from the waitlist, the applicant will have 10 days toconfirm whether that applicant still wants to receive services. If theapplicant has been on the waitlist for more than 60 days prior to the GeneralRelief benefit start date, the applicant may be required to submit a new reportdescribed in 7 AAC 47.390(b) and income and resource information described in 7AAC 47.340-380.

You may comment on the proposedregulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons ofcomplying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to KeldaBarstad, 550 W. 8^th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501.  Additionally, the Department of Health & SocialServices will accept comments by facsimile at 907-269-3648 and by electronice-mail at kelda.barstad@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on February 10, 2016.

You may submit writtenquestions relevant to the proposed action to Kelda Barstad, by e-mail at kelda.barstad@alaska.gov or at 550W. 8^th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501. The questions must be received atleast 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department ofHealth & Social Services will aggregate its response to substantiallysimilar questions and make the questions and responses available on the AlaskaOnline Public Notice System and agency website: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/aps/apsrelief.aspx.

If you are a person with adisability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in thisprocess, please contact Kelda Barstad, by telephone at (907) 269-3666, ore-mail at kelda.barstad@alaska.govnot later than January 19, 2016, to ensure that any necessary accommodation canbe provided.