Notice of Proposed Revisions and Opportunity for Public Comment

Alaska State Plan for Senior Services, FY2016-2019 Funding Formula Webinar Thursday, May 19th

The comment must be received not later than 5 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016

The Department of Health and Social Services proposes to adopt changes to the funding formula of the Alaska State Plan for Senior Services, FY2016-2019. The draft Funding Formula, Appendix B is attached.

The Alaska Commission on Aging and Senior and Disabilities Services will host a webinar to discuss the proposed modifications, conduct a question and answer session, and take public comment on Thursday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To register for the webinar, please go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1395628075825469699. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

In brief, the recommendations to amend the funding formula include:

• Modernize the definition of “rural” to include a “remote” classification.

• Subdivide Alaska’s Region V into two subsets to include the Matanuska-Susitna as Region V(a) and Kenai/Valdez/Cordova as Region V(b)

• Implement a “base funding allocation” using federal Older American Act funds appropriated for Alaska to replace the hold harmless provision.

• Adjust weights for the funding formula factors to target funding for seniors who are frail and living in poverty.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes to the funding formula by submitting written comments to Denise Daniello at P.O. Box 110693, Juneau AK, 99811. Additionally, the Department of Health and Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at 907-465-1398 and by electronic email to denise.daniello@alaska.gov. All comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016.