1. (a) The department will pay for a personal emergency response system that

   1. (1) is supported by a prescription or other written documentation required by the department's Specialized Medical Equipment Fee Schedule, adopted by reference in 7 AAC 160.900.

      1. (A) from an individual qualified to practice under AS 08 or 7 AAC 105.200(c) as

         1. (i) a physician, including an osteopath;
         2. (ii) a physician assistant;
         3. (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse;
         4. (iv) an occupational therapist; or
         5. (v) a physical therapist; and
      2. (B) stating that the specific item requested is appropriate for the recipient and consistent with the support plan;
   2. (2) is supported by a written cost estimate;
   3. (3) is approved under 7 AAC 127.039 as part of the recipient's support plan; and
   4. (4) receives prior authorization.

2. (b) The department will consider an item to be a personal emergency response system if that system

   1. (1) includes a device, control, or appliance that, for a system use fee, communicates directly with emergency response personnel for calls for assistance in an emergency; and
   2. (2) is identified in the department's Specialized Medical Equipment Fee Schedule, adopted by reference in 7 AAC 160.900.

3. (c) The department will pay under this section subject to the following:

   1. (1) the unit cost of equipment is determined by including the cost of

      1. (A) training in the proper use of the equipment; and
      2. (B) routine fitting of and maintenance on the equipment necessary to meet applicable standards of manufacture, design, and installation;
   2. (2) personal emergency response system equipment may be rented if the department determines that renting the equipment is more cost-effective than purchasing it;
   3. (3) once purchased, personal emergency response equipment becomes the property of the recipient.

4. (d) The department will not

   1. (1) give prior authorization to replace personal emergency response system equipment before the expiration of the time period identified in the department's Specialized Medical Equipment Fee Schedule, adopted by reference in 7 AAC 160.900, unless the department determines that replacement is more cost-effective than repairing that equipment; or
   2. (2) pay for a personal emergency response system as a Community First Choice service, if the same or comparable system is covered under 7 AAC 120.200 - 7 AAC 120.399.
5. (e) A recipient may request a hearing under 7 AAC 49 for a decision by the department not to authorize a personal emergency response system for the recipient.

(Eff. 10/1/2018, Register 227; am 6/2/2019, Register 230)

Authority: AS 47.05.010, AS 47.07.030, AS 47.07.036, AS 47.07.040