Written Comment Deadline: Medicaid Coverage for School-Based Services

The Alaska Department of Health has issued a supplemental notice regarding proposed changes to Medicaid coverage for school-based services under Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code. These changes are designed to implement HB344 (2024), which aligns state law with federal standards by allowing Medicaid coverage for school-based services without requiring an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a documented disability. The proposal mandates that services be provided under a treatment plan identifying them as medically necessary, unless an IEP exists or the service is a screening, assessment, or medication service. This supplemental notice updates information from an original notice issued on September 15, 2026, specifically regarding the oral public hearing, the written comment deadline, and contact information for the Division of Health Care Services. The department is also updating nomenclature and billing requirements, and incorporating the State Fiscal Year 2027 Fee Schedule for School-Based Services by reference. Interested parties may submit written comments until 5:00 p.m. on November 6, 2026. An oral public hearing is scheduled for October 26, 2026, via Zoom. The department does not expect these changes to require an increased appropriation. The proposal is signed by Commissioner Heidi Hedberg.