MedicaidCoverageMedium impact
January Town Hall FAQ
Alaska Medicaid·AK · Psychiatry, Pharmacy, Family Medicine +1 more·Program Update
Effective date
Jan 21, 2026
We identified it
Jun 21, 2026
Summary
Alaska Medicaid released an FAQ addressing common billing and enrollment issues including claims processing for behavioral health services, telehealth billing for pharmacists, and service authorization procedures. Key clarifications include that psychiatric evaluations (CPT 90791) are now restricted to providers with prescribing privileges only, and pharmacists can bill E&M codes for telehealth services.
Action Required
Immediately: Billing teams must stop allowing LCSWs and LPCs to bill CPT 90791 (psychiatric assessments) as this is now restricted to providers with prescribing privileges only. Update billing system edits to prevent these denials. For pharmacists providing telehealth services, ensure they use appropriate E&M codes with telehealth modifiers or online digital E&M codes 99421-99423 when applicable.