NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC
PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on the prospective payment system by adding a certified community behavioral health clinic. |
Summary of proposed changes: The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with a certified community behavioral health clinic prospective payment system. The proposed changes include the following:
- 7 AAC 150. Prospective Payment System; Other Payment, is proposed to be changed as follows:
- Add a new section, 7 AAC 150.195. Methodology and criteria for payment to a certified behavioral health clinic demonstration program, a new section, to
- pay a certified community behavioral health clinic approved by the state to participate in the demonstration program under section 223(d) of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-93) consistent with Certified Clinic PPS-3 Methodology as described in Section 223 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration Prospective Payment System (PPS) Guidance.
- 7 AAC 160.900. Medicaid Program; General Provisions. Requirements adopted by reference, is proposed to be changed as follows:
- adopt by reference relevant sections of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Section 223 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration Prospective Payment System (PPS) Guidance.
Written comments: You may comment on the 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, Alaska 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov.
Written comment deadline: The written comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on October 30, 2026.
Oral hearing: You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action by telephone or online at the hearing to be held on October 23, 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: 1-888-788-0099 (US Toll-free); Meeting ID: 861 2683 1533;and Passcode: 200285
- 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 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 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 1:15 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.
Questions: 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, Alaska 99503. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health may aggregate its responses to substantially similar questions and will make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.
Public nature of comments and questions: Public comments and questions, once submitted, are public records and subject to disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. See AS 40.25.100 - 40.25.295. Do NOT include in your comments or questions any information that you do not want made public.
Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation in order 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 October 16, 2026, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
Obtaining copies of proposed regulations: A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Mr. William Hurr, by electronic mail at doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov, or by telephone at (907) 269-6549.
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available through the Internet link at the Medicaid.gov website for CCBHC Prospective Payment System & Quality Bonus Payments (QBPs):
https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/financial-management/downloads/updated-ccbh-pps-guidance-02152024.pdf . A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference may also be viewed at the agency's office at State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 934, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503.
Final version of regulations: 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 47.05.270, AS 47.07.010, AS 47.07.030, AS 47.07.036, AS 47.07.040, AS 47.07.070, AS 47.07.900, AS 47.07.085.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010, AS 47.05.012, AS 47.05.270, AS 47.07.010, AS 47.07.036, AS 47.07.070, AS 47.07.900, AS 47.07.085.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
Final version of regulations: The Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 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 Behavioral Health, notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health to doh.dbh.public.comments@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
How to receive further 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: September 11, 2026.
/s/Heidi Hedberg,
Commissioner,
Department of Health,
State of Alaska.