SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID COVERAGE OF PERSONAL CARE SERVICES
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to change regulations on Medicaid coverage of personal care services.
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid coverage, personal care services. The proposed changes affect many aspects of the personal care services program for both recipients and providers. Medicaid recipients, service providers, and interested members of the public are encouraged to review and comment on proposed changes. The proposed changes affect 7 AAC 125.010-.199 and 7 AAC 160.900.
This is a SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE adding to the NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES that was issued on June 27, 2016, concerning these proposed regulation revisions contained in the Department of Law file number JU2016200250. This SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE is being issued because the Department of Health & Social Services has had to change the location of the public hearing.
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 Jetta Whittaker at 240 Main St., Juneau, AK 99801. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-4716 and by electronic mail at jetta.whittaker@alaska.gov . Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/default.aspx , by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on August 22, 2016.
Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on July 22, 2016, at the Atwood Building, Rooms 102 & 104, 550 W 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The hearing will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 12:00 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. For those outside of Anchorage, this meeting will also be livestreamed at http://vcap2.gcimbs.net/tcs/?a=9726#page:recordingList&pageNumber:1&category:C2CF9CE6-BB9C-4A6F-9836-DAB94AA79E40 . If you do not have internet access or you want to provide public comment, you can participate by calling 1- (800) 954-0593 (toll-free). For budgetary reasons, the State encourages those who have internet access to observe via the livestream option, and only use the phone line to provide comment. Depending on the number of people who want to comment, the moderator of the hearing may institute time limits on individual comments.
Please note: Livestream users will need to use Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari, and may be prompted to update Adobe Flash Player/Microsoft Silverlight in order to view this meeting. A test recording is available to verify the proper version of Adobe Flash Player/Microsoft Silverlight. Please follow the link below to view the available recording in advance of the hearing: http://vcap2.gcimbs.net/tcs/?a=9726#page:recordingList&pageNumber:1&category:C2CF9CE6-BB9C-4A6F-9836-DAB94AA79E40 , and download additional viewing software in advance of the hearing if an error message is received.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process or in the hearing on July 22, 2016, please contact Jetta Whittaker at jetta.whittaker@alaska.gov , or at telephone number (907) 465-1605, or by fax at (907) 465-4716, or via Alaska Relay at 711 or (800) 770-8973 (TTY) not later than July 12, 2016, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Jetta Whittaker at jetta.whittaker@alaska.gov or at 240 Main St., 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 responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and the agency website at http://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/default.aspx.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Jetta Whittaker at jetta.whittaker@alaska.gov or at telephone number (907) 465-1605.
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 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 47.05.017; AS 47.05.300; AS 47.05.310; AS 47.05.320; AS 47.05.330; AS 47.05.340; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.017; AS 47.05.300; AS 47.05.310; AS 47.05.320; AS 47.05.330; AS 47.05.340; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: 07/15/2016
/s/Jon Sherwood
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services