The Department of Administration, Division of Retirement and Benefits (Division) has proposed changes to regulations in Title 2 of the Alaska Administrative Code, pertaining to the AlaskaCare retiree Dental-Vision-Audio (DVA) and major medical (medical) insurance plans. These changes articulate the process that the Division will use to make changes to the benefits provided by the DVA plan and medical plans, and to amend the description of DVA and major medical insurance coverage published in the plan booklet.

The proposed regulatory changes include the following:

1. 2 AAC 39.280 will be amended to include new language and new subsections that describe the process for proposing changes to the benefits provided by the retiree DVA insurance coverage and the process for amending the description of DVA insurance coverage published in the plan booklet. The intent is to outline the considerations the Plan Administrator may evaluate when developing a proposed change or plan amendment and describe the public notice process and opportunity to comment on proposed changes.
2. 2 AAC 39.290 will be amended to further define the term “administrator” and to define the terms “dental-vision-audio insurance coverage” and “plan booklet.”
3. 2 AAC 39.390 will be amended to include new language and new subsections that describe the process for proposing changes the benefits provided by the retiree major medical insurance coverage and the process for amending the description of major medical insurance coverage published in the plan booklet. The intent is to outline the considerations the Plan Administrator may evaluate when developing a proposed change or plan amendment and describe the public notice process and opportunity to comment on proposed changes.
4. 2 AAC 39.399 will be amended to further define the term “administrator” and to define the terms “major medical insurance coverage” and “plan booklet.”

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes by submitting written comments to the Division of Retirement and Benefits at P.O. Box 110203, Juneau, AK 99811-0203, by fax at (907) 465-3086, and by electronic mail at doa.drb.alaskacare.retiree.plan@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. Alaska Time on February 28, 2023.

A public teleconference will be held on January 26, 2023, at 2 p.m. Alaska Time. To participate, join the conference call at (907) 202-7104, Access code: 231 346 231#.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact teri.rasmussen@alaska.gov or (907) 465-4460 no later than January 13, 2023, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting AlaskaCare, Division of Retirement and Benefits at P.O. Box 110203, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0203, or by visiting AlaskaCare.gov.

After the public comment period ends, the Division of Retirement and Benefits 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. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory authority: AS 14.25.004; AS 14.25.005; AS 22.25.027; AS 39.35.004; AS 39.35.005.

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 14.25.168; AS 22.25.090; AS 39.30.090; AS 39.35.535.

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Division of Retirement and Benefits keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all the Division of Retirement and Benefits notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division of Retirement and Benefits at P.O. Box 110203, Juneau, AK 99811-0203, giving your name, and either your email address or mailing address, as you prefer, for receiving notices.