This week, the Arizona State Hospital (ASH) gets closer to being led by an independent governing board as the Arizona Senate approved SB 1710, sponsored by Senator Gowan.
As the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA) notes, the bill is widely supported because it resolves the current conflict of interest for the Arizona Department...Arizona News
Things are starting to heat up at the legislature with Republican lawmakers sparring with the Democratic Governor's Office over the budget and nominations to department leadership positions.
A bill introduced by Rep. Steve Kaiser (R-Paradise Valley), would allow the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to contract with a third...Arizona News
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) initiated its process to revalidate registered Arizona Medicaid providers in November 2022 when it mailed its first provider cohort correspondence with a simple request: revalidate in the AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal (APEP) within 90 days. Only 8% of providers complied,...Arizona News
With the Great Unwinding looming at the end of spring, insurers are now speaking up about their role in Medicaid redeterminations and a special enrollment period (SEP) for enrollees who may lose coverage in the process.
In a memo released at the end of January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the...Arizona News
The bill introduction deadline for both chambers of the Arizona State Legislature has passed with 1,625 bills introduced this year. On Tuesday, the Senate Health Committee voted unanimously to move the purview of the Arizona State Hospital out of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and to an independent committee.
The...Arizona News
The Arizona Legislature convened its 56th First Regular Session on January 9, and a slew of bills were introduced that could have lasting impacts across the Arizona healthcare landscape. Throughout the legislative session, the Hertel Report will monitor the progress of bills identified by stakeholders, advocacy organizations, other...Arizona News
The 2022 edition of the MACStats: Medicaid and CHIP Data Book presents the most current data available on Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
According to the report, Arizona's budget for its Medicaid program in 2020 was $40.8 million representing 31% of total federal and state spending; Arizona...
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is reminding enrollees and other members of the public to report any suspicious activity when promised healthcare, residential services or transportation to such services - the agency is concerned that American Indians/Alaskan Natives on tribal lands are especially...
Indigenous community leaders in Arizona are asking for changes in drug and alcohol rehabilitation center regulations following complaints of scammers and human trafficking.
The issue was brought to the attention of the Arizona State Legislature during a hearing by the Ad Hoc Committee for Missing and Murdered Indigenous peoples last...Arizona News
Hobbs chose Carmen Heredia to lead the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Angie Rodgers to lead the Department of Economic Security, Matthew Stewart will oversee the Department of Child Safety, Theresa Cullen, MD will head the Department of Health Services and Joan Serviss was appointed to the Department of...Arizona News
Hospitals are still struggling to overcome a dip in revenue, with the sector expected to end this year in the red. The alleged culprit of hospital struggles is staffing shortages, which in turn causes potential staff to request higher wages, coupled with lower patient volumes than during the pandemic.
Although by early autumn it...National News
What major coverage transitions can we expect after the Public Health Emergency expires and state Medicaid agencies resume normal eligibility determinations and a predicted 18 million in the U.S. lose coverage?
The emergency declaration is expected to expire in April 2023 - people in Medicaid are expected to make the following...Arizona News
This week, Los Angeles-based law firm Manatt published guidance for state Medicaid agencies on working with community-based organizations for addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) for Medicaid program enrollees.
Working With Community Care Hubs to Address Social Drivers of Health: A Playbook for State Medicaid Agencies was...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Arizona’s 1115 Waiver renewal, which focuses on funding for the Targeted Investments (TI 2.0) program and Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) program.
The federal government didn't approve Arizona's Medicaid work requirement known as the AHCCCS Works community...
On October 1, 2022, new ACC-RBHA contracts began with Mercy Care (Central GSA), Arizona Complete Health (South GSA) and Care 1st Health Plan (North GSA) resulting in about 6,100 members transitioning from the Health Choice RBHA to Care1st. Aligning RBHA service areas with ACC and ALTCS contracts also shifted about 1,900 members the Mercy...
Arizona's auditor general reported that the state's Medicaid agency has been too slow in investigating potential fraud and abuse incidents and did not ensure that behavioral health peer specialists met all qualification and training requirements.
According to the performance audit and sunset review, the Arizona Health Care Cost...
Snyder oversees Arizona’s Medicaid and CHIP program, including its $18 billion annual budget to provide acute, behavioral health, and long-term care services and supports to more than 2.3 million Arizona residents. She began her work at AHCCCS in 2017 as the agency's deputy director and was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey in 2019...Arizona News
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded almost $32 million to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and $3 million to various tribes and tribal entities. Maricopa County also received $4.7 million as part of an estimated $80 million national opioid settlement.
AHCCCS pledged...Arizona News
The devices are costly, ranging from $160 to $500 a month out-of-pocket, making continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) unaffordable to many. In Arizona, Medicaid doesn’t help cover the cost.
Many patients with diabetes need to track their blood sugar levels to regulate insulin throughout the day. This can be a hassle with the...Arizona News
New mothers in Arizona covered by Medicaid are getting closer to receiving a year of health benefits after they give birth. Once approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and operationalized, the option for the 12-month extension of postpartum coverage will be available through the Arizona Health Care Cost...
