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Alaska Medicaid State Plan Extension of PHE Pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fee

Agency Action: Amendment to the Medicaid State Plan
The Department of Health (the department) hereby gives notice that it intends to seek approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a state plan amendment (SPA), with a May 12, 2023, effective date.

Subject of Amendment(s):
The department intends to submit a state plan amendment (SPA) to extend the pharmacy professional dispensing fees approved during the federal public health emergency (PHE) for one year after the end of the PHE for the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan.
The department received Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) approval in 2020 (via dSPA 20-0003) to increase pharmacy professional dispensing fees during the PHE. The department extended this flexibility through September 30, 2023, via SPA AK 22-015. The department proposes to supersede SPA AK-22-015 to extend the current professional dispensing fees for one year after the end of the PHE, through May 11, 2024. This request provides the department time to enact regulations revising the pharmacy dispensing fees.
The proposed SPA does not include the dSPA 20-0003 flexibility to reimburse a professional dispensing fee every 14-days per individual medication strength. After May 11, 2023, the state will revert to the SPA 19-0006, Attachment 4.19-B, page 8 (K) policy of reimbursing a professional dispensing fee no more than once every 22 days per individual medication strength.

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 followed 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 May 17, 2023. Individuals may submit written comments via email to emily.beaulieu@alaska.gov. Please submit electronic comments as an attached word document or text within the email body with the phrase “dSPA extension of pharmacy professional dispensing fees” in the subject line. All submissions must include the sender’s full name and email address.

If you are a person with a disability who requires a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Emily Beaulieu at Emily.beaulieu@alaska.gov or (907)538-7665 not later than April 19, 2023, 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:

DOH Commissioner’s Office
c/o Emily Beaulieu
3601 C Street, Suite 902
Anchorage, AK 99503

Attachments, History, Details

Attachments

None

Revision History

Created 4/6/2023 9:01:23 AM by plpeterson
Modified 4/26/2023 3:07:50 PM by plpeterson
Modified 4/26/2023 3:36:54 PM by plpeterson

Details

Department: Health
Category: Public Notices
Sub-Category:
Location(s): Statewide
Project/Regulation #:
 
Publish Date: 4/6/2023
Archive Date: 5/18/2023
 
Events/Deadlines: