SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID DENTAL SERVICES COVERAGE AND 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 Medicaid Dental Services Coverage and Payment, including the following:

• 7 AAC 110. Medicaid Coverage; Professional Services;
• 7 AAC 140. Medicaid Coverage; Facility and Facility-Based Services;
• 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates; and
• 7 AAC 160. Medicaid Program; General Provisions,
  • are proposed to be changed to comply with federal requirements regarding service limits as follows:
    • conform to industry standards;
    • address overuse or misuse of services;
    • update obsolete nomenclature;
    • reduce need for future updates based on appropriation;
    • reorganize child and adult dental to follow a logical and similar flow;
    • increase minimum Handicapping Labiolingual Deviation (HLD) score to align with the majority of state Medicaid programs;
    • allow life endangerment exception for certain otherwise limited services;
    • comply with legislative audit recommendations and findings;
    • update fee schedules and materials adopted by reference.

This is a SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE adding to the NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES that was issued on February 2, 2021, and the SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE that was issued on February 9, 2021, concerning the regulations contained in the Department of Law file number 2021200003. This SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE is being issued by the Department of Health & Social Services to (1) correct the list of statutory citations in the statutory authority and statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific; and (2) include the updated fee schedules.

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 Miller Dunkin at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, 4601 Business Park Blvd.,
Bldg. K, Attention: Susan Miler Dunkin, Anchorage, AK 99503-7167. 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 February 7, 2022.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Susan Miller Dunkin by e-mail at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Health Care Services, 4601 Business Park Blvd., Bldg. K, Attention: Susan Miler Dunkin, 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 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. Susan Miller Dunkin at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or at (907) 269-3638 not later than January 28, 2022, 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 Miller 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.

A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System, and two of the materials are also available through these electronic links: https://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies--recommendations/; https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_guidelines/bp_periodicity.pdf.

Statutory authority: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.067; AS 47.07.070; AS 47.07.073.

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.067; AS 47.07.070; AS 47.07.073.

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: December 22, 2021.

/s/Adam Crum,

Commissioner,

Department of Health & Social Services