NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID PHARMACIST REIMBURSEMENT, COVERED SERVICES DURING DECLARED PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to change regulations on Medicaid pharmacist reimbursement, covered services during declared public health emergency. |
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid pharmacist reimbursement, covered services during declared public health emergency, including the following:
- 7 AAC 105. Medicaid Provider and Recipient Participation, is proposed to be changed by adding a new section 7 AAC 105.140. Covered services during declared public health emergency, that proposes to
- Reimburse a pharmacist that provides professional services, within defined state scope of practice authority, or under statewide standing order.
- Allow
- extended day supply and reimburse professional dispensing;
- increased drug acquisition cost if there is a drug shortage;
- a mandatory waiver of copay for services related to the public health emergency;
- §necessary infection control processes related to the return of unit dose of unused medication from a long-term care facility to a to pharmacy.
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 Erin Narus, at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, 4501 Business Park Blvd., Building L, Attention: Erin Narus, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by electronic mail at erin.narus@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on September 15, 2020.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Erin Narus by e-mail at erin.narus@alaska.gov or at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, 4501 Business Park Blvd., Building L, Attention: Erin Narus, 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 Erin Narus at erin.narus@alaska.gov or at (907) 334-2425 not later than September 4, 2020, 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 Erin Narus at erin.narus@alaska.gov or by telephone at (907) 334-2425.
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: It is estimated that the proposed regulation changes will require increased appropriations as follows (in thousands of dollars) FY2021, $100.
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 erin.narus@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
DATE: August 4, 2020.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services,
State of Alaska.