NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID VISION SERVICES COVERAGE & PAYMENT 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 and payment for vision services. |
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid coverage and payment for vision services, including the following:
- 7 AAC 110. Medicaid Coverage; Professional Services, and 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates, are proposed to be changed as follows:
- Limit coverage for glasses.
- Clarify contact lenses substitution for glasses.
- Require medical justification for contact lenses.
- Add prior authorization for certain types of lenses.
- Amend list of non-covered services.
- Clarify non-coverage of no-line multifocal lenses.
- Change shipping rates for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
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 Ms. Susan Dunkin at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, 4501 Business Park Blvd., Building L, Attention: Susan Dunkin, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by electronic mail at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on October 14, 2019.
Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on September 23, 2019, at the Frontier Building, in conference rooms 880 and 890, 3601 C Street, Anchorage, AK 99503. The hearing will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 3:30 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 1-800-622-2443 (Toll Free).
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Susan Dunkin by e-mail at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, 4501 Business Park Blvd., Building L, Attention: Susan Dunkin, 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 and agency website at http://www.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 Ms. Jolene Withers at jolene.withers@alaska.gov or at (907) 334-2446 not later than September 16, 2019, 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 Ms. Susan Dunkin at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or by telephone at (907) 269-3638.
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. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
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.
The Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
DATE: August 26, 2019.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services