Alaska Division of Insurance Seeking Public Input on Essential Health Benefits
The Alaska Division of Insurance (AKDOI) is seeking public input on revisions to Alaska’s essential health benefits (EHB) plan.
The essential health benefits plan for Alaska is the benchmark set of health care services that is required in all individual and small group health insurance plans. Since 2017, Alaska’s EHB benchmark plan has been Premera’s HeritageSelect Envoy small group plan.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave states three options to define their EHB benchmark plan moving forward:
Option 1: Select another state’s entire EHB benchmark,
Option 2: Replace a category of benefits in the current benchmark with the same category of benefits used in another state's EHB plan, or
Option 3: Select a set of benefits to become the Alaska’s EHB plan.
States that want to make changes are required by federal law (ecfr.gov) to have an actuarial analysis of the benefits, a public comment on the proposed changes, and then apply to CMS for approval.
Alaska is considering updating its EHB benchmark plan under Option 3 to reflect changes in the insurance market. The AKDOI seeks comment on the following possible coverage revisions:
- Add coverage for hearing tests and hearing aids.
- Expand the number of covered acupuncture and chiropractic services.
- Add coverage for massage therapy.
- Add coverage for Temporomandibular Joint services.
- Expand the number of covered nutritional counseling services.
- Add requirement for coverage of weight loss drugs.
Relevant documents will be added to the online public notice as well as the Division’s website at https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/ins/EssentialHealthBenefits.aspx
The AKDOI will hold a hearing to hear public comment on March 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. AKDT.
Where:
| Alaska Division of Insurance 9th Floor State Office Building, Conf. Room B 333 Willoughby Ave Juneau, AK | Alaska Division of Insurance Atwood Building, 15th floor 550 West 7th Ave., Ste. 1560 Anchorage, Alaska |
The meeting will also be available virtually.
Teleconference Number: (907) 202-7104
Phone Conference ID: 887 669 514#
Videoconference link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YjIyMDEyM2MtYmE3OC00N2U1LWIxY2YtNmY4N2MxOGJiM2Nm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2220030bf6-7ad9-42f7-9273-59ea83fcfa38%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22fa276750-9d20-4865-a66c-70b1f469aac7%22%7d
Meeting ID: 224 889 698 949
Passcode: JCYKyH
Written comments can be submitted by email to Sarah Bailey at sarah.bailey@alaska.gov or mail to the Alaska Division of Insurance, PO BOX 110805, Juneau, AK, 99811 or by fax at (907) 465-3422. All public comments must be received by April 8, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.