1. (a) If an individual seeking a public health service is unable to pay the fee established for the service under 7 AAC 80.010 - 7 AAC 80.090, the department will determine whether the established fee is reduced under this section.

2. (b) To determine whether the established fee will be reduced, the department will compare the individual's monthly family income to federal poverty guidelines. If the individual's monthly family income is

   1. (1) less than 115 percent of the poverty level determined under the federal poverty guidelines, the fee is reduced to zero;
   2. (2) at least 115 percent but less than 130 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 10 percent of the established fee;
   3. (3) at least 130 percent but less than 145 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 20 percent of the established fee;
   4. (4) at least 145 percent but less than 160 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 30 percent of the established fee;
   5. (5) at least 160 percent but less than 175 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 40 percent of the established fee;
   6. (6) at least 175 percent but less than 190 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 50 percent of the established fee;
   7. (7) at least 190 percent but less than 205 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 60 percent of the established fee;
   8. (8) at least 205 percent but less than 220 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 70 percent of the established fee;
   9. (9) at least 220 percent but less than 235 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 80 percent of the established fee;
   10. (10) at least 235 percent but less than 250 percent of the poverty level, the fee is reduced to 90 percent of the established fee;
   11. (11) 250 percent or more of the poverty level, the fee is the full amount of the established fee.

3. (c) In determining an individual's monthly family income for purposes of this section, the department will

   1. (1) not count

      1. (A) a payment received by a member of the family as an Alaska permanent fund dividend under AS 43.23;
      2. (B) a non-taxable payment made to a member of the family under 43 U.S.C. 1601 - 43 U.S.C. 1629e (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act);

   2. (2) count all other family income, before deductions,

      1. (A) for the calendar month that includes the date of the public health service that was provided or the date of the individual's application for the public health service;
      2. (B) whether earned or unearned, from any source.
4. (d) In this section, "federal poverty guidelines" means the United States Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines for Alaska, 63 Fed. Reg. 9236 (February 24, 1998), as amended from time to time, which are adopted by reference in this subsection.

(Eff. 8/19/98, Register 147)