NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON GENERAL RELIEF ASSISTED LIVING HOME PROGRAM IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on the general relief assisted living home program. |
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the general relief assisted living home program. The proposed changes are related to HB 281, and include the following:***
***Please Note: Details related to HB 281: H.B. 281, 2021 -2022 Leg., 32nd Sess. (AK 2022): Details related to HB 281: Short Title: “APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP ”; Title: "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; making capital appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and reappropriations; and providing for an effective date.” (HB 281; 32nd Legislature). The HB 281 bill was signed into law. The related details may be accessed on the Alaska State Legislature’s website at https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/32?Root=HB%20281#tab1_4 ; the PDF version of HB 281 may be accessed at https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/32/Bills/HB0281Z.PDF and https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/32/Vetoes/HB281.pdf .***
- 7 AAC 47. General Relief, is proposed to be changed as follows:
- Update the eligibility criteria, income, income exclusions and disregards, assisted living home agreements, payment by the individual, payment by the department, daily reimbursement rates, and application review period.
- 7 AAC 47.472.Augmented rates; restricted, is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to streamline payments rates and include rates in 7 AAC 47.471. Augmented rates.
- 7 AAC 47.367. Definitions for terms used in 7 AAC 47.340 - 7 AAC 47.365, is proposed to be repealed, and a new definition section, 7 AAC 47.535. Definitions, is proposed to be added. The intended effect of this repeal is to move the definitions section to the end of 7 AAC 47, and to update the definitions.
- 7 AAC 47.380. Alternative financial assistance, is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to prevent delays for those in immediate need of general relief assisted living home services.
You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Senior & Disabilities Services, Attention: Jordyn Grant, 1835 Bragaw St., Anchorage, AK 99508. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by electronic mail at jordyn.grant@alaska.gov
and by facsimile at (907) 269-3689. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on January 26, 2024.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action by telephone at the hearing to be held on January 8, 2024, on Zoom. You may join the online Zoom meeting by using the Zoom website link, or by calling the toll-free telephone number, using the meeting ID, and passcode.
- The details for the Zoom meeting are as follows:
Meeting ID: 881 8990 6664; and Passcode: 149095.
There will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone only. The hearing is scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended to accommodate those on the line before 12:30 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, Department of Health may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Jordyn Grant, by electronic mail at jordyn.grant@alaska.gov , or at the State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Senior & Disabilities Services, Attention: Jordyn Grant, 1835 Bragaw St., Anchorage, AK 99508. 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 Jordyn Grant by electronic mail at jordyn.grant@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 538-9240 not later than January 3, 2024, 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 Jordyn Grant by electronic mail at jordyn.grant@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 538-9240.
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available through the electronic link, https://doa.alaska.gov/dop/gds/home.html , or by contacting Jordyn Grant by electronic mail at jordyn.grant@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 538-9240.
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 47.05.340; AS 47.24.011; AS 47.24.017; AS 47.25.120; AS 47.25.130; AS 47.25.150; AS 47.25.160; AS 47.25.170; AS 47.25.195; AS 47.25.200; AS 47.25.230; AS 47.25.240; AS 47.32.010; AS 47.32.030; AS 47.33.360.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.340; AS 47.24.011; AS 47.24.017; AS 47.25.120; AS 47.25.130; AS 47.25.150; AS 47.25.160; AS 47.25.170; AS 47.25.195; AS 47.25.200; AS 47.25.230; AS 47.25.240; AS 47.32.010; AS 47.32.030; AS 47.33.360.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Department of Health, Division of Senior & Disabilities 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 Senior & Disabilities 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 Senior & Disabilities Services jordyn.grant@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
Individuals can also signup to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.
DATE: December 6, 2023.
/s/Heidi Hedberg
Commissioner,
Department of Health
State of Alaska.