Public Health Emergency Behavioral Health & 1115 (DBH)

Department of Health > Public Health Emergency > Behavioral Health & 1115 (DBH)

These flexibilities will end on May 11, 2023 (end of PHE.)

Service Authorizations

On April 2, 2020, CMS approved flexibilities under an 1135 State Plan Amendment which allowed Alaska Medicaid to extend authorizations and modify pre-approval requirements. The suspension of service authorizations will end on May 11, 2023 with the ending of the PHE.

Important dates:

Services provided between July 1, 2022 and May 11, 2023 (SFY2023) will not be counted toward state fiscal year limit caps. No service authorizations will be required for services provided between those dates.
Service authorizations will be required beginning May 12, 2023.
State Fiscal Year limits will be reset May 12, 2023.
State Fiscal Year limits will also reset July 1, 2023 (in the new fiscal year).

Training & Resources:

Previously recorded training on the Optum service authorization process may be accessed here: Service Authorization Training (59 min.)

DBH has also submitted a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) for state plan amendment (SPA) which, if approved, would extend the temporary suspension of prior/service authorization requirements for one year after the end of the federal public health emergency (PHE).

More information:

Communications from the Division of Behavioral Health