This award is an important step to reduce fragmentation for the state's Medicaid program, called the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, said Tom Betlach, director of AHCCCS.
As reported in The Phoenix Business Journal, the new contracts, called AHCCCS Complete Care, will begin Oct. 1, which is when AHCCCS will transition...
Kentucky will be offering a novel way to reactivate your medical coverage: a health or financial literacy course you must pass.
The waivers approved by the Trump administration present opportunity for new ways to think about how to empower individuals to improve their health.
The precise content of the courses is not yet worked...Arizona News
Ducey's budget will use that money to fund his spending priorities in education.
The governor’s proposal, released last week, shows $79 million in “efficiency savings” or cuts to agency budgets for things like employee vacancies and lower utility bills. A lot of money is being moved around, differing sources and differing...Arizona News
Trump administration to permit requirement to work if states seek it.
The Arizona Daily Star reports Arizona is one of 10 states that have submitted applications to add work requirements for the government health insurance program for low-income people.
The state’s Medicaid program, called the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment...
Early in December Arizona indicated intent to file a waiver, it has now been submitted to CMS.
The Section 1115 waiver requests CMS to permit work requirements and a five-year lifetime limit to Arizona's Medicaid program. If CMS approves the waiver, residents of Arizona who qualify for Medicaid and are between the ages of 19 and 55...
Commercial real estate developers, construction industry and financing institutions all have a stake in the outcome.
When the Affordable Care Act was initially enacted, many Arizonans who had not had health insurance received access to care through insurance rather than in emergency rooms for the first time in their lives.
Due to...Arizona Comings & Goings
Snyder brings 20 years of public and private sector health care experience to her new role.
She has been serving as the Medicaid director for the state of Texas in the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, overseeing a $29 billion program serving 4.7 million people. At AHCCCS she will oversee daily administrative and program...Arizona News
Governor Doug Ducey's proposal, to be submitted later this month, will be scaled back from the one federal officials rejected last year.
The governor is offering new exceptions and a limit on how much time someone needs to spend on a job or in training each week to keep receiving benefits.
Something else is different: The people...
Congress failed to authorize funding for 24,000 children of Arizona’s working poor by October 1.
Arizona Medicaid officials are preparing to implement a contingency plan. Use other cash Arizona gets from the federal government for its separate traditional Medicaid plan to pay the premiums for children in the KidsCare...
Free family fun festival to make it easy to enroll in health insurance before December deadlines.
The deadline for enrolling in 2018 marketplace coverage created by the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) is at midnight Dec. 15. The Arizona Daily Star reports enrollment assisters at Saturday’s event can help you learn...Arizona News
Currently, only people younger than 21 on AHCCCS are covered for chiropractic care.
Wayne Bennett, a Prescott chiropractor, said one of the most frustrating parts of his job is encountering AHCCCS patients with chronic pain who can't access chiropractic care because they can't afford it.
The Arizona Capitol Times reports that...Arizona Comings & Goings
Jamie Snyder, former associate commission for the Texas Medicaid program has been named as Kohler's replacement at AHCCCS and will start on December 4, 2017.Arizona Comings & Goings
This afternoon at the State Medicaid Advisory Committee’s (SMAC) quarterly meeting, AHCCCS Director Tom Betlach briefly announced the resignation of Beth Kohler, Deputy Director of Arizona's Medicaid program.
“I think you all know that unfortunately Beth is leaving us,” said Betlach, speaking solemnly of her departure....Arizona News
Supporters say the need is great and these caregivers could help meet it.
A law "sunrise" is required to create new licensed occupations. Last year's session of the Arizona legislature considered licensure for dental therapists and killed the bill in committee. Supporters aim to try again in the coming session.
The Arizona Dental...
How much do Medicaid beneficiaries really like the care they are receiving?
The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) develops and conducts Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) surveys to better understand Medicaid beneficiaries’ experiences with providers. These CMS surveys are not measuring...
The picture is developing of what the impacts are likely to be.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce predicted in a letter to U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake that the Senate bill would harm the state's economy and "blow a hole" in the state budget.
Hospital and health leaders are particularly worried about the proposed reductions...
