Agency Action: Amendments to the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan and the Alternative Benefit Plan

Pursuant to 42 CFR §§ 440.386 and 447.205, notice is hereby given that the Department of Health (the department) intends to seek approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for amendments to the Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP) authorized under § 1937 of the Social Security Act for individuals 19 to 64 years of age who are eligible pursuant to § 1902(a) (10)(A)((i)(VIII) of the Social Security Act – the expansion population – and the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan (the state plan).

Subject of Amendments: Implementation of Section 9811 of the American Rescue Plan Act

Section 9811 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) requires that states amend traditional Medicaid and Alternative Benefit Plans by adding three new sections to be effective retroactive to March 11, 2021, through the last day of the first quarter beginning one year after the last day of the federal PHE –

**Please see attached document for amendment details.

EPSDT and ARRA/Tribal Consultation:

The proposed amendments will not affect how Alaska Medicaid provides or reimburses Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services. The department follows the tribal consultation process established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and set forth in its approved state plan.

Public Comments:

The department is holding a public comment period relative to these amendments until 5 PM on August 25, 2022. Individuals may submit written comments via email to courtney.king@alaska.gov. Please submit electronic comments as an attached word document or text within the email body with the phrase “ARPA Section 9811” in the subject line. All submissions must include the sender’s full name and email address.

If you are a person with a disability needing a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Courtney O’Byrne King at courtney.king@alaska.gov or (907)334-2653 not later than August 1, 2022, to ensure the provision of any necessary accommodations.

Individuals unable to submit comments by email should submit written comments by the close of the comment period to:

Courtney O’Byrne King
c/o DoH – Commissioner’s Office
3601 C Street, Suite 902
Anchorage, AK 99503