2025 Arizona State of Reform Health Policy Conference

Arizona received approval last year for its 1115 waiver enabling the state to provide critical healthcare services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society. Hear from leaders about what this significant effort entails and how it can address the health disparities faced by the reentry population, a group often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems. 

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Arizona play a critical role in providing accessible healthcare to underserved populations. As the demand for behavioral health services grows, FQHCs are increasingly positioned at the intersection of physical and mental health. This panel will examine the evolving role of FQHCs in addressing behavioral health needs, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities in integrating mental health services into primary care settings. 

As the federal government considers significant changes to Medicare Advantage, Arizona’s healthcare sector stands at a crossroads. This panel will explore the potential impact of proposed federal reforms on the state’s Medicare Advantage landscape. Experts will delve into how these changes could affect Arizona’s aging population, the role of private insurers, and the accessibility of care across rural and urban communities. 

This panel will explore the intersection of healthcare and housing in Arizona, focusing on the H20 Initiative, an innovative program aimed at providing sustainable housing solutions for homeless individuals across the state. Panelists will discuss the initiative’s impact, successes, and ongoing challenges in addressing both immediate housing needs and long-term solutions for this vulnerable population. Panelists will also discuss solutions for addressing the disproportionate impact Arizona’s recent extreme heat events have had on the homeless population.  

With the potential for significant changes to federal health policy under the Trump administration, Arizona health leaders are eager to understand how federal health policy might shift in the coming months and how it will impact their state. This panel will explore the key federal policy shifts that could impact Arizona healthcare, particularly focusing on potential changes to Medicaid, the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), and other critical healthcare programs. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, offering innovative solutions that can improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and enhance clinical decision-making. However, with great promise comes significant responsibility. This panel will delve into both the practical applications and risks of AI in Arizona’s healthcare setting, offering a balanced discussion on its future. 

As Arizona’s healthcare sector faces increasing demand and evolving challenges, it is more critical than ever to explore innovative strategies for building and sustaining a skilled workforce. This panel will bring together speakers from various sides of the issue to discuss innovative, on-the-ground approaches being taken to solving the state’s most pressing workforce challenges. Topics will include filling entry-level positions in the healthcare field, strategies for hiring more interns, and more.  

As the landscape of Medicaid continues to evolve, Arizona’s Medicaid program—administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)—faces critical decisions that will shape the future of healthcare access across the state. This panel will provide an in-depth look at recent and upcoming changes to Medicaid in Arizona, examining how AHCCCS is adapting to shifting federal health policies, implementing new rules, and ensuring that vulnerable populations continue to receive essential care.  

As Arizona faces increasingly extreme heat events, the need to strengthen the state’s public health system grows stronger. These public health leaders will explore the growing challenges posed by extreme heat and other public health threats in Arizona, focusing on their disproportionate impact on vulnerable Arizonans. The panel will discuss strategies for building a more resilient public health infrastructure in the face of pressing public health emergencies.  

Hear from some of the leading lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature about healthcare policymaking in Arizona. These legislative leaders will discuss the legislation they supported this session, the key bills that passed, and the health-related issues they’ll continue to prioritize in the future.