NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE MEDICAID PAYMENT RATES, FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) PRODUCTIVITY STANDARDS & RATE SETTING, IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to change regulations on Medicaid payment rates, related to the productivity standards that are currently applied to federally qualified health centers (FQHC) cost based rate calculations. The productivity standards are proposed to be removed to align Alaska’s cost based rate methodology with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) rate methodology for FQHC facilities. |
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the Medicaid Payment Rates, including the following:
- 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates, is proposed to be changed as follows:
- 7 AAC 145.710. Calculating total health clinic visits, is proposed to be repealed and readopted to
- Remove the productivity standards that are currently applied to FQHC cost based rate calculations.
- Align Alaska’s cost based rate methodology with CMS’ rate methodology for FQHC facilities.
- 7 AAC 145.739. Definitions.
- Add a definition for the adjusted Medicare cost report.
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 the State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Rate Review, 3601 C Street, Suite 978, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by electronic mail at marcey.bish@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on December 28, 2020.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Marcey Bish by e-mail at marcey.bish@alaska.gov or mail at State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Rate Review, 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 and at http://dhss.alaska.gov/Commissioner/Pages/RateReview/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. Marcey Bish by electronic mail at marcey.bish@alaska.gov or phone at (907) 444-9318 not later than December 15, 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 Ms. Marcey Bish at marcey.bish@alaska.gov or by phone at (907) 444-9318.
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; AS 47.07.070; AS 47.07.073; AS 47.07.74.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.070; AS 47.07.073; AS 47.07.74.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: November 10, 2020.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services,
State of Alaska.