NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID COVERAGE & PAYMENT FOR FQHC LMFT & LPC SERVICES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on Medicaid coverage and payment for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) licensed marital and family therapist (LMFT) and licensed professional counselor (LPC) services. |
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid coverage and payment for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) licensed marital and family therapist (LMFT) and licensed professional counselor (LPC) services, including the following:
- 7 AAC 135. Medicaid Coverage; Behavioral Health Services; 7 AAC 140. Medicaid Coverage; Facility and Facility-Based Services; and 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates, are proposed to be changed as follows:
- Allow an FQHC to bill for services provided by an LMFT and an LPC.
- Establish payment requirements for an FQHC that bills for services provided by an LMFT and an LPC.
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 by electronic mail at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or mail at the Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services, 4601 Business Park Blvd., Bldg. K, Attention: Susan Miller Dunkin, Anchorage, AK 99503. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on September 27, 2022.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Susan Miller Dunkin by electronic mail at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or mail 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 September 19, 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 47.07.030; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.070; AS 47.07.073; AS 47.07.074.
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 47.07.074.
Fiscal information (in thousands of dollars): It is estimated that the proposed regulation changes will require increased appropriations as follows: FY2023, $245.7; FY2024, $245.7; FY2024, $245.7.
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: August 15, 2022.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health
State of Alaska.