08.08.2019

Regulations affecting Medicaid Rates for SFY20

The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to make permanent regulation changes made by emergency regulation on Medicaid cost containment.

On June 28, 2019, the Department of Health & Social Services adopted, as an emergency regulation, changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with Medicaid cost containment measures related to rates for Medicaid services, including the following:

  • 7 AAC 150. Prospective Payment System; Other Payment, is proposed to be changed as follows: Apply inflationary freeze and rate reductions on select Medicaid reimbursement rates.  Public Notice can be found here:  https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=194742
  • 7 AAC 145. Medicaid Payment Rates, is proposed to be changed as follows: (1) freeze inflation for non-primary care professional services, home and community-based waiver and personal care services, community behavioral health services, and targeted case management services; and (2) reduce reimbursement rates for non-primary case professional services, personal care services, community behavioral health services, applied behavioral analysis services, and transportation & accommodation services. Public Notice can be found here: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=194743

The emergency regulation takes effect on July 1, 2019, and will expire October 28, 2019. The Department of Health & Social Services intends to make the emergency regulation permanent.

You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to Ms. Jamie Walker, Office of Rate Review, at 3601 C Street, Suite 978, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by electronic mail at jamie.walker@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on August 8, 2019.