NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES STATE PLAN SERVICE AUTHORIZATION IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on Medicaid behavioral health services state plan service authorization requirements and limitations. |
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid service authorization requirements and limitations for behavioral health state plan services. The proposed changes update state fiscal year limitations and service authorization requirements for services covered by the Alaska Medicaid state plan, including the following:
- 7 AAC 135.040 is proposed to be changed to remove language requiring certain prior authorization requirements and update behavioral health provider or physician clinic services subject to limitations and the relevant limitations.
- 7 AAC 135.160(b)(2) is proposed to be changed to remove the state fiscal year requirement for the total hours a provider may provide short-term crisis intervention services to a recipient.
- 7 AAC 135.210(c) is proposed to be changed to remove references to limitations under 7 AAC 135.040 to conform to amendments proposed to that section.
- 7 AAC 135.300 is proposed to be changed to remove certain prior authorization requirements for payment for autism services.
- 7 AAC 135.350 is proposed to be changed to update coverage for an initial behavior identification assessment for a new or returning recipient, remove the timing limitation for reassessments, and remove prior authorization requirements for related additional recipient services.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to Mr. William Hurr, State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 934, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on May 8, 2025.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action by telephone or online at the hearing to be held on May 2, 2025, as a telephone and internet-accessible Zoom meeting. You may join the Zoom meeting by using the Zoom website link or by calling the Zoom Call-in toll-free telephone number and using the Meeting ID and Passcode, as follows:
Meeting ID: 886 9391 0823; and Passcode: 200550.
There will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments either by using the Zoom Call-in telephone number or Zoom website link. The hearing is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.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 10:30 a.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 Mr. William Hurr, by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , or at the State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 934, 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 Mr. William Hurr by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 269-6549 not later than April 28, 2025, 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 Mr. William Hurr by e-mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 269-6549.
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.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.07.030.
Fiscal information (in thousands of dollars): The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Division of Behavioral Health/Department of Health (DOH) 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 Behavioral Health/DOH notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division of Behavioral Health/DOH at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
DATE: March 28, 2025.
/s/Heidi Hedberg
Commissioner,
Department of Health
State of Alaska.