NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON TRIBAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY HEALTH AIDES & PRACTITIONERS, & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AIDES & PRACTITIONERS,
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to change regulations on the definition of community and behavioral health aides and practitioners, and the encounter rate for certified health aide services. |
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with community and behavioral health aides and practitioners, including the following:
- 7 AAC 155.020 is proposed to be changed as follows:
- Defines certified health providers to include community health aides and practitioners, and behavioral health aides and practitioners; and
- Establishes the encounter rate for reimbursement of certified health provider services.
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 Donna Steward, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of the Commissioner, 3601 C Street, Suite 902, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Social & Health Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 269-0060 and by electronic mail at donna.steward@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on September 7, 2017.
Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on August 17, 2017, at the Atwood Building, Room 102 (Ted Stevens Room), 550 W 7th St., Anchorage, AK 99501. The hearing will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 12:30 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to comment during the oral public hearing, you can call the teleconference number 1-800-701-9749 (Toll Free).
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Donna Steward, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of the Commissioner, 3601 C Street, Suite 902, Anchorage, AK 99503. 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.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Donna Steward at donna.steward@alaska.gov or at (907) 754-3447 not later than August 7, 2017, 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 Donna Steward, Department of Health and Social Services, at either donna.steward@alaska.gov or (907) 754-3447.
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 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: July 25, 2017.
/s/Jon Sherwood
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services