NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MEDICAID COVERAGE & PAYMENT FOR SPECIALIZED GROUP HOME & FAMILY HOME HABILITATION SERVICES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on Medicaid coverage and payment for home and community-based waiver services. The proposed regulations will allow the Department to certify specialized family home and specialized group home habilitation service providers. |
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Medicaid coverage and payment for home and community-based waiver services. The proposed regulations will allow the Department to certify specialized group home and specialized family home habilitation service providers, and include the following:
- 7 AAC 130. Medicaid Coverage; Home and Community-Based Waiver Services, is proposed to be amended as follows:
- Amend services provided by family members to address legally responsible individuals.
- Correct an inadvertent omission in the regulations.
- Add specialized family home habilitation and specialized group home habilitation services.
- Update information for acuity add-on service and payment.
- Clarify eligibility of specialized services providers to receive payment for respite services.
- 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates, specifically, 7 AAC 145.520. Home and community-based waiver services payment rates, is proposed to be amended as follows:
- Update provision and service codes for specialized services.
- 7 AAC 160. Medicaid Program; General Provisions, specifically, 7 AAC 160.900. Requirements adopted by reference, is proposed to be amended as follows:
- Update a department document adopted by reference, titled the Residential Habilitation Services Conditions of Participation.
- Update a department document adopted by reference, titled the Chart of Waiver Services Rates.
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 June 22, 2026.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action by telephone or online at the hearing to be held on June 12, 2026, 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:
- To attend the meeting and provide oral comments by telephone, please use the Zoom Call-in Toll-free Number:
- Zoom Call-in Toll-free Number: 1-833-928-4608 (US Toll-free); Meeting ID: 844 9764 2780; and Passcode: 371652.
- To attend the meeting and provide oral comments by Zoom website link, please use the Meeting Zoom Link:
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 June 4, 2026, 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 on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.
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 47.05.012; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.036; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.085.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.012; AS 47.07.030; AS 47.07.036; AS 47.07.040; AS 47.07.045; AS 47.07.085.
Fiscal information (in thousands of dollars): 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: May 1, 2026.
/s/ Heidi Hedberg
Commissioner,
Department of Health
State of Alaska.