NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF EMERGENCY REGULATION ON MEDICAID COST CONTAINMENT MEASURES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to make permanent regulation changes made by emergency regulation on Medicaid cost containment.
On June 28, 2019, the Department of Health & Social Services adopted, as an emergency regulation, changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with Medicaid cost containment measures related to rates for Medicaid services, including the following:
- 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates, is proposed to be changed as follows: (1) freeze inflation for non-primary care professional services, home and community-based waiver and personal care services, community behavioral health services, and targeted case management services; and (2) reduce reimbursement rates for non-primary case professional services, personal care services, community behavioral health services, applied behavioral analysis services, and transportation & accommodation services.
The emergency regulation takes effect on July 1, 2019, and will expire October 28, 2019. The Department of Health & Social Services intends to make the emergency regulation permanent.
You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to Ms. Jamie Walker, Office of Rate Review, at 3601 C Street, Suite 978, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by electronic mail at jamie.walker@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on August 8, 2019.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Jamie Walker, by electronic mail at jamie.walker@alaska.gov or at the State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Rate Review, at 3601 C Street, Suite 978, 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. The Department of Health & Social Services may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Ms. Katherine McDonald at katherine.mcdonald@alaska.gov not later than July 11, 2019, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.
A copy of the emergency regulation is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx and by contacting Ms. Jamie Walker at jamie.walker@alaska.gov or at (907) 334-2447.
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and may be viewed at the agency's office at State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Rate Review, 3601 C Street, Suite 978, Anchorage, AK 99503.
The language of the permanent regulations may be different from that of the original emergency regulation and may include other provisions dealing with the same subject. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Statutory authority: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.020; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.036; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.070; AS 47.20.060; AS 47.20.070; AS 47.20.110.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.020; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.036; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.070; AS 47.20.060; AS 47.20.070; AS 47.20.110.
Fiscal information: The regulations are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: June 28, 2019.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services.