SDS News Archive

• Our Reports, Publications, Information page includes waitlist reports, Alaska State policy and economic reports, etc.
• Keeping Elders in the Village
  Working Together: Tanana Chiefs Conference in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Health delivers home and community-based services in remote villages.

HCBS Settings Information

• Revised HCBS Transition Plan (March 24, 2016)
• Revised HCBS Transition Plan Version 3 for Public Comment (February 10, 2016)
• Revised HCBS Transition Plan (October 16, 2015)
• HCBS Transition Plan (March 17, 2015)
• HCBS Settings Checklist and Exploratory Questions
• HCBS Settings Survey
• HCBS Settings FAQs
• HCBS Settings FAQs II
• October 27, 2014 Webinar Slides

Conflict-Free Case Management (CFCM)

• Webinar Presentation - CFCM New Directions
• Evening Community Forums
• Presentation Slides
• CFCM Easy Read
• CFCM Summary
• Juneau CFCM Flyer
• Fairbanks CFCM Flyer
• Conflict-Free Case Management System Design report prepared for the Community Care Coalition by Agnew:Beck Consulting and HCBS Strategies, with support from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. February 18, 2015

Enhanced Care Coordination

• Request to Participate

From our Headlines

2019

• 10/11 2YH-Home Accessibility/Enabling Technology Pilot Project. Travis Noah shares technology in his home that allows him to live more independently.
• 9/13 Alaska State Plan for Senior Services, FFY2020-FFY2023 posted.
• 5/16 PUBLIC COMMENT: Alaska State Plan for Senior Services, FY2020-FY2023 is open for public comment from May 15 through May 25.
• 2/28 Alaska's Federal Fiscal Year 2019 Grant Application under Part C posted.
  This grant application for the Infant Learning Program (ILP) is open public participation. If you would like to comment on any aspect of this application please
  Email: SDSInfantLearning@alaska.gov
  Write to:
  Seniors and Disabilities Services-ILP,
  550 West 8th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
  Attn: Shilan Wooten or Kim Mix
  Call: 800-478-9996 or 907-269-3666 and ask for Shilan or Kim
  ILP will take comments from March 1 to May 1, 2019.

2018

• 8/31 NASUAD Announces New Board of Directors. Congratulations to the new President, Duane Mayes, Director of the Alaska Division of Seniors and Disablilities Services who will lead the 2018-2019 NASUAD Board.
• 8/22 Alaska HCBS Settings Transition Plan receives final approval from CMS.
  • Final Approved Alaska Settings Transition plan
  • Final Approval Letter from CMS
• 4/9 SDS seeks public comment on Alaska HCBS Settings Transition Plan version 4. The Department of Health, Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) is seeking public comment on a revised Transition Plan for Home and Community-Based Services Settings required by federal regulation at 42 CFR §441.301(c)(6). The deadline for public comment is 5 pm, Friday, May 11, 2018.
  The Settings Transition Plan describes how the state and providers will comply with the rule that all service settings exhibit home and community-based characteristics. The purpose of these changes is to make sure that states use home and community-based services waiver funding for programs that truly work to integrate people with disabilities and frail elders into the community at every opportunity.
  For convenience in downloading, the plan is divided into two sections: Alaska HCBS Settings Transition Plan Parts 1-4 and Alaska HCBS Settings Transition Plan Appendices
• 2/28 Alaska’s Federal Fiscal Year 2018 Grant Application Under Part C posted.This grant application for the Infant Learning Program (ILP) is open public participation.
  If you would like to comment on any aspect of this application please send:
  Emails to: SDSInfantLearning@alaska.gov.
  Written letters to: 550 West 8th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Attn: Jolene Goliver or Theresa Rosso
  or call: 907-269-8442 or 907-375-8298.
  We will take comments from February 28th to April 30th, 2018.

2017

• 10/31 Governor Walker has recognized November 2017 as Alzheimer's Disease Awareness and Family Caregivers Month.
• 10/4 & 6/17 SDS will hold a public forum and webinar to explain how Medicaid reform will affect state long-term supports & services.
• 9/1/17 SDS announces creation of new waiver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• 8/30/17 Are you disabled and would like to start your own business? Microenterprise Grants are available for qualifying people with disability and their families. Find out more.
• 8/2/17 “Protect Vulnerable Adults/ Long-Term Care,” SB 83, a Governor’s bill, was passed signed into law on August 2nd in Anchorage. This legislation brings Alaska’s statutes of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman into alignment with federal changes from the Administration on Community Living.
• 4/21/17 Congratulations to our own Clarke Brown!
  Ten Alaskans Awarded as Top Volunteers
• 3/28/17 Alaska Brain Injury Network relocation and Work Plan for those with Traumatic Brain Injury
• 3/9/17 Assisted Living Home Owner, Three Managers and Corporation Indicted for Defrauding the Alaska Medicaid Program
• 3/3/17 FAQs about SDS Medicaid Reform: Community Developmental Disabilities Grant and 1915(c) “limited supports” waiver - 3/2/2017
• 2/17 Alaska’s Federal Fiscal Year 2017 Grant Application Under Part C posted. This grant application for the Infant Learning Program (ILP) is open public participation.
  If you would like to comment on any aspect of this application please send: Emails to: SDSInfantLearning@alaska.gov.
  Written letters to: 550 West 8th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Attn: Shilan Wooten or Theresa Rosso
  or call: 907-269-8442 or 907-375-8298.
  We will take comments from February 17th to April 15th, 2017.
• 1/18-19 Care Coordination Conference held Jan. 18-19 Read more.

2016

• 8/18 SDS Update News. Congratulations to Maureen Harwood and Caitlin Rogers on their new promotions with SDS!
• 8/5 Senior & Disabilities Services receives the Denali Peak Runner Up Performance Award for excellent service to the State of Alaska.
  "These professionals keep stepping it up agreeing to do more in these 'very' fiscally challenging times and never complain.
  As the Director for SDS, I am humbled by their resolve and determination," said Duane Mayes.
  From left to right: Laura Baldwin, Darcie Shaffer, Tammy Smith, Director Duane Mayes, Sarah Bumpus, and Victoria Cobo.
• 5/10 C Care Services, LLC owner sentenced to 12 months in jail for fraudulently billing Medicaid.
• 3/24 Transition Plan for Home and Community-based Services Settings - Version 3

2015

• VIDEO: Director Duane Mayes gives a presentation on the 1915i and 1915k options for Alaska.
• 12/11 Home health care service owner of Good Faith Services gets 3 years for Medicaid fraud
• 10/26 It's time to compare and choose 2016 Medicare Part D plans during open enrollment
• 9/29 Community-based settings transition plan - webinar slides - draft for comments
• 8/19 The Alaska State Plan for Senior Services, FY2016–FY2019 is now available online!
• 6/18 Fraud Charges Brought Against 40 Individuals by the Alaska Department of Law and U.S. Attorney’s Office
• 6/2 SDS Issues Policy Memo Prohibiting Recipient Solicitation
• 5/6 Good Faith PCA and Two Recipients Receive Jail Time for Fraudulently Billing Medicaid
• 4/8 HCBS Provider Sentenced for Medical Assistance Fraud
• 1/26 State of Alaska CMS Regulation Transition Plan

2014

• 12/2 $1.2 Million Dollars in Restitution Ordered in Medicaid Case against Good Faith Services
• 12/2 Anchorage Psychiatrist Enters Guilty Plea for Fraudulently Billing Medicaid Approximately $1.2 Million Dollars and Tampering with Physical Evidence
• 9/25 DHSS thanks Fairbanks Police Crisis Intervention Team for help, advocacy
• 9/19 Southeast Senior Services honored for proactive support of vulnerable adults
• 9/18 Medicaid fraud conviction nets 2 month sentence
• 9/5/ DHSS thanks Anchorage Police Crisis Intervention Team for advocacy
• 8/6 Governor Parnell Extends Benefits to Seniors
• 6/15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
• 6/6 Myers and Stauffer was contracted by DHSS to perform research on reimbursement methodologies and recommend revisions to incorporate acuity adjustment strategies into the rate setting process for certain home and community based services. Details of their proposals are included in the attached final report.
• 6/5 The Department of Health and Social Services has determined that a credible allegation of fraud exists against Mat-Su Activity and Respite Center (MARC) a waiver service provider. Therefore, the Department of Health and Social Services has suspended Medicaid payments to MARC, as of 6/5/14.
• 6/3 DHSS has determined that a credible allegation of fraud exists against A Loving Care PCA (ALCPCA), a personal care and waiver service provider and suspended Medicaid payments to the agency.
• 5/30 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver Services – Notice of Proposed Change to Regulations
• 4/3 SDS E-Alert - Statewide Moratorium on Enrollment of New Personal Care Assistance Agencies
• 4/2 CMS 1915(c) Medicaid Waiver Changes; CMS Information; SDS CMS Regulation Presentation
• 3/18 FAQs for Enterprise Webinar Series
• 2/27 Automated Service Plan Project Underway!
• 2/25 Tanana Chiefs Conference in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Health delivers home and community-based services in remote villages.
  View the video: Keeping Elders in the Village (YouTube video)

2013

• 12/18 Enterprise Weekly Status Report
• 12/10 Enterprise Service Authorizations Update
• 11/25 Good Faith Services suspended from Medicaid due to credible allegation of fraud
• 10/17 Charges filed against a PCA worker for fraudulently billing Medicaid $94,000.
• 10/15 The window to sign up for Medicare prescription plans is now open!
• 9/20 Alaska's Adult Protective Services unit presents its Community Commitment Award to Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska
• 8/7 SDS Director Duane Mayes talks with KTUU Ch 2 about Alaska’s rapidly growing senior population – the fastest in the nation – and what we’ll need to build to support them.
• 7/11 Governor Parnell signs Silver Alert Legislation.
• 7/9 Twenty-nine Anchorage based personal care attendants and Medicaid recipients charge for medical assistance fraud.
• 7/2 FAQs have been added to the information provided under the new regulation links.
  Check back as more FAQs become available.
• 6/3 Amendments to regulations at 7 AAC 130.200 – 130.319 governing Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waiver Services were published by the Lieutenant Governor on May 29, 2013 and will become effective July 1, 2013.
  The regulation package includes new standards for operation of home and a community-based service agencies set out in the Conditions of Participation, and introduces two newly realigned waivers. Overall, the regulations and Conditions of Participation set rules for participant eligibility, the process of participant enrollment in waiver programs, home and community-based service provider certification, participant safeguards, and the provision of home and community-based services.
• 5/13 Personal Care Attendant Convicted for Fraudulently Billing Medicaid
• 4/29 Congratulations to the 5 Award Winners of the 2013 Alaska Alliance for Direct Service Careers Outstanding Direct Service Professionals of the Year Awards! Read more.
• 4/10 SDS was recently approved as educators/providers of Social Work CEUs per the AK Social Work Board of Examiners. Successful completion of SDS’ Basic Care Coordination face-to-face training will now garner 17 contact hours for those needing continuing education as part of their occupational license. Contact the training team for more information on this and all trainings: Kara.Thrasher-Livingston@alaska.gov.
• 2/13 Anchorage personal care attendants indicted for fraudulently billing Medicaid
• 1/17 Community gathering and public testimony will be held on Wednesday, January 23 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Centennial Hall Convention Center in Juneau. Hosted by The Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education. Let your voice be heard!

2012

• 11/21 Adult Protective Services awarded $1 million grant to test case management model.
• 11/1 HCBS Strategies report: Proposed Plan for Implementing Community First Choice in Alaska.
• 9/12 Gov. Parnell has declared proclamation for Senior Fall Prevention Week.
• 9/1 Gov. Parnell has declared September Vulnerable Adult Awareness Month.
• 8/27 Vulnerable among us need your help
  Adult Protective Services manager Brenda Mahlatini asks Alaskans to watch out for their vulnerable neighbors with a Compass piece in the Anchorage Daily News.
• 8/27 YouSendIt Encryption Email Service is no longer in use by SDS. Go here for more information regarding the new Direct Secure Messaging (DSM) service.
• 3/26 Governor Sean Parnell Welcomes Passage of Senate Bill 86 Protecting Vulnerable Adults.
• 3/8 State Settles Baker Lawsuit
  The Baker v. DHSS lawsuit (3AN-06-10871 CI) dealing with PCA recipient terminations and service reductions was settled on February 27, 2012. Here is the signed order and decision. The decision includes PCA reduction and termination notices in the exhibits. The effective date of the order is for assessments that were conducted on or after January 1, 2012. Assessments conducted before January 1, 2012 that would result in a reduction in PCA services will result in continued benefits as usual until the client’s next assessment.

2011

• 1/26 Complex Behavior Collaborative starting up
  The Division of Behavioral Health is starting a pilot project to improve services to clients with complex and challenging behaviors and complicating medical issues. For more information, visit http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dbh/tr/complexbehavior.htm
• Congratulations to Patrick Reinhart of the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education! He won the national Earl Walden Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Advocacy. The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living credited him with advancing rural independent living, in Alaska and nationwide. http://hss.state.ak.us/press/2011/GCDSEaward_pr_11152011.pdf
• CMS Review: The week of June 6, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) completed a focused on-site review to assess Alaska's progress in implementation of the Medicaid waiver Corrective Action Plan (CAP). CMS concluded that Alaska has met all the requirements related to the development and implementation of the CAP.
  Please follow this link to read the official CMS communication.
  Follow this link for more information regarding the CMS Review.
• Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority DD Mini-Grant Information: (Aug. 11, 2011)
  The Alaska Mental Health Authority Mini-Grants for individuals with developmental disabilities and children receiving Infant Learning Program Services are now available through the Stone Soup Group.
  For more information contact your local Short Term Assistance and Referral (STAR) Program or the Stone Soup Group.
• Nursing Oversight and Care Management Prior Authorization Update (Aug. 10, 2011)
• 2012 Council Vice President: Ric Nelson assists with "you know me.." campaign.
• FAQs on Regulatory Changes Effecting Waiver Service Providers- March 2011
• Provider Rates History
• Senior & Disability Services submits Quality Assurance
  Report to Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Click for information
• Superior Courts Decision in McGrew vs. DHSS, DSDS (PDF 315kb)
• The U.S Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Disability launches a Federal-State interactive website, www.hhs.gov/od (click for link)
• DHSS is helping providers prepare for Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM), the upcoming federal review of national Medicaid billing systems and provider recordkeeping
• Senior Benefits Program Information
• ACOA develops new State Plan for Senior Services
• Alaska Long Term Care and Cost Study (PDF 4,465kb)

CMS Review

• SDS met a major benchmark, set with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS): staff completed past-due Medicaid waiver participant re-assessments by Oct. 15. Medicaid waiver programs are still accepting new applicants. Please follow this link for more information.
• Please follow this link for more information on the Corrective Action Plan (CAP)

Publications, Reports and Studies Links

• Alaskan Seniors: Living Longer, Growing Stronger
  The Alaska Commission on Aging's Monthly Newsletter
• Issues Affecting the Well-Being of Alaska Seniors (note: The Appendixes first posted had an error in Appendix D, those errors have been fixed below)
  • 2007 Report
  • (includes corrected Appendix D)
  • Corrected Appendix D (click here to download the corrected Appendix D only)
  • McDowell Issues Affecting the Economic Well-Being of Alaska Seniors
    2000 Report
• Alaska Prescription Drug Task Force Recommendations, 2002 report
• Alaska Economic Trends, December 2001: Seniors in Alaska

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