Alaska proposes a new payment formula for its 24-hour behavioral health clinics

Alaska is proposing a new way to pay the clinics that provide round-the-clock behavioral health care, setting their rates in advance rather than after the fact, and the public has until the end of October to weigh in.

Two clinics are directly affected: Alaska Behavioral Health in Fairbanks and JAMHI Health & Wellness in Juneau, the state's first providers certified under a federal pilot program. Alaska is one of 10 states in the four-year demonstration, which requires participating clinics to offer 24-hour crisis services and to treat patients regardless of whether they can pay.

The Department of Health, which published the proposal Friday, said the change isn't expected to require more money from the state.

Written comments are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 30, and the department will take spoken comments at a half-hour online hearing on Oct. 23.