Page 15 State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies A Comprehensive Scan of the 50 States and District of Columbia

Center for Connected Health Policy

Alaska

Medicaid Program: Alaska Medicaid

Program Administrator: Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance

Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
th
2900 12 Ave. N., Ste. 30W
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
www.nrtrc.org

STATE LAW/REGULATIONS MEDICAID PROGRAM

Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the practice of health care “Alaska Medicaid will pay for telemedicine services
delivery, evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, or delivered in the following manner:
treatment, using the transfer of medical data through • Interactive method: Provider and patient interact
audio, video, or data communications that are engaged in ‘real time’ using video/camera and/or
in over two or more locations between providers who dedicated audio conference equipment.
are physically separated from the patient or from each • Store-and-forward method: The provider sends
other.” digital images, sounds, or previously recorded
video to a consulting provider at a different
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 12.449 (2012). location. The consulting provider reviews the
information and reports back his or her analysis.
• Self-monitoring method: The patient is
monitored in his or her home via a telemedicine
application, with the provider indirectly involved
from another location.”

Source: State of AK Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., Alaska
Medical Assistance Provider Billing Manuals for Community
Behavioral Health Services, Early and Periodic Screening,
Diagnosis, and Treatment, Hospice Care, Inpatient Psychiatric
Services, Independent Laboratory Services, Appendices.
(Accessed Jan. 2014).
Live Video Reimbursement
(See Medicaid column) Alaska’s Medicaid program will reimburse for services
“provided through the use of camera, video, or
dedicated audio conference equipment on a real-time
basis”

Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.625(a) (2012).

Alaska Medicaid will pay for a covered medical service
furnished through telemedicine application if the service
is:
• Covered under traditional, non-telemedicine
methods;
• Provided by a treating, consulting, presenting or
referring provider;
• Appropriate for provision via telemedicine

Eligible services:

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