SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS & SUPPLIES (DMEPOS) FEE SCHEDULES – MEDICAID COVERAGE & PAYMENT IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics and Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS), Medicaid coverage and payment, including the following:

• Update the Alaska Medicaid Program Rules and Fee Schedules for Durable Medical Equipment and Prosthetics and Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) providers and those providers dispensing such items.

This is a SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE adding to the NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES that was issued on December 19, 2016, concerning these proposed regulation revisions contained in the Department of Law file number JU2016200858. This SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE is being issued because the Department of Health & Social Services made changes to the last publicly noticed draft of the proposed regulations. The Department of Health & Social Services made the changes in response to the public comments that it received about the draft.

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 Tracy Stephens, Department of Health & Social Services , Division of Health Care Services, at 4501 Business Park Blvd., Building L, Attention: Tracy Stephens, Anchorage, AK 99503-7167.  Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 561-1684 and by electronic mail at tracy.stephens@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on December 4, 2017.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Tracy Stephens at tracy.stephens@alaska.gov or at 4501 Business Park Blvd., Building L, Anchorage, AK 99503-7167. 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 the Alaska Online Public Notice System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/  and the agency website at http://dhss.alaska.gov/dhcs/Pages/default.aspx.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Tracy Stephens at tracy.stephens@alaska.gov or at (907) 334-2436 not later than November 27, 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 Tracy Stephens at tracy.stephens@alaska.gov  or at (907) 334-2436.

A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference may be viewed at the agency's office at 4601 Business Park Blvd., Building K Anchorage, AK 99503.

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 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.05.015; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040.

Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.05.015; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040.

Fiscal Information: It is estimated that the proposed regulation changes will require increased appropriations as follows: FY18, $200,000; FY19, $400,000; FY20, $400,000.

DATE: October 17, 2017
/s/Jon Sherwood
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services