NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID PREVENTIVE, THERAPY, & VISION SERVICES COVERAGE & PAYMENT IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on Medicaid preventive, therapy, and vision services coverage and payment. |
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid preventive, therapy, and vision services coverage and payment, including the following:
- 7 AAC 105. Medicaid Provider and Recipient Participation; 7 AAC 110. Medicaid Coverage; Professional Services; 7 AAC 115. Medicaid Coverage; Therapies and Related Services; 7 AAC 120. Medicaid Coverage; Prescription Drugs and Medical Supplies; Durable Medical Equipment; Prosthetics and Orthotics; Transportation Services; 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates; and 7 AAC 160. Medicaid Program; General Provisions are proposed to be changed as follows:
- Preventive Services.
- Revise coverage for adult preventive services.
- Exempt member copayment requirement for preventive services.
- Therapy Services.
- Implement service authorization requirements for adult therapy services.
- Allow any physician, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or physician assistant (PA) to sign a therapy treatment plan.
- Vision Services.
- Adopt Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) rates for services that are currently state-determined on a rate-by-rate basis.
- Clarify terminology.
- Revise vision products coverage.
- Update shipping rate.
- Add to or amend pertinent materials adopted by reference.
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, Division of Health Care Services, 4601 Business Park Blvd., Bldg. K, Attention: Susan Miller Dunkin, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by electronic mail at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on September 2, 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, Division of Health Care Services, 4601 Business Park Blvd., Bldg. K, Attention: Susan Miller 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 will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Ms. Susan Miller Dunkin at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or at (907) 310-2769
not later than August 25, 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) 310-2769.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health 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 47.05.012; AS 47.07.020; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.042; AS 47.07.085.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.020; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.042; AS 47.07.085.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Department of Health, 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 the Department of Health, 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, 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: July 19, 2022.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health
State of Alaska.