COVID-19 positivity rates are climbing nationwide and Arizona joined them this week with the worst recorded numbers in the state since the spike in June. Hospitals, schools and Governor Doug Ducey are all unified in stressing the importance of safety precautions at this time. A study shows that deaths from the virus are nearly double for...Arizona News
This week, Governor Doug Ducey announced Arizona will remain open throughout the fall and that no “dramatic changes” will take place despite concern nationally that cases may escalate and the COVID-19 pandemic might accelerate during the winter months. Meanwhile, cities are beginning to rescind mask mandates, much to the chagrin of...Arizona News
The Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule, which was announced in November last year, would have transformed federal supplemental payment programs under Medicaid. This week Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma announced in a tweet that the rule would be removed.
We’ve listened closely to...Arizona News
All COVID-19 metrics are trending down in Arizona.
The Arizona Department of Health Services this week added a note to the ADHS Data Dashboard letting the public know it had enhanced its processes for identifying COVID-19 deaths and as a result, the number of new deaths reported on the dashboard may "increase more than expected". ...Arizona News
This week in Arizona, the state’s universities take precautions to keep students safe despite criticisms that they may not be doing enough. The state also sees lower numbers of COVID-19 infections and conditions in hospitals also seem to be trending down. The Governor and the Arizona Department of Health Services are recommending...Arizona News
On Monday, Arizona reported under 500 new COVID-19 cases and no known deaths, but the data accumulated by the Arizona Department of Health Services is being challenged. Meanwhile, the President visited the state again, a mobile testing van is launched in the valley and prisons are struggling to keep the virus contained.
Inpatient...Arizona News
In a letter to Sonora Quest Laboratories (SQL) last week, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office requested that laboratories halt claims about the turnaround time for test processing. The letter cited the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act, stating that the claims about testing times violated the law.
Assistant Attorney General Joshua...Arizona News
Nursing homes, hospices, and inpatient psych facilities are getting some long overdue attention and can expect to see pay bumps come Oct. 1, albeit slightly less than previously proposed by CMS.
The final rule finalizes a 2.2% increase in overall payments to skilled nursing facilities in fiscal 2021. CMS says this means payments...Arizona News
Arizona continues to see limited space in hospitals and other medical facilities as the coronavirus cases continue to surge for yet another week. As these systems strain under the impact of the pandemic, Mayor Kate Gallego made an erroneous statement to national media overstating exactly how dire the situation in the state is. Meanwhile,...Arizona News
President Trump’s visit to Arizona on Tuesday was eclipsed by the continued acceleration of COVID-19 cases in the state. On Wednesday, Arizona ranked in the top five states for new confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
Although mask mandates are being passed in cities across the state, Governor Doug Ducey’s office has not...Arizona News
With hospitals reporting increased bed capacity, Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order Wednesday that removes restrictions on conducting elective surgeries for hospitals, health care facilities and providers that meet certain preparedness criteria.
Under the new order, hospitals, dental offices and other health facilities can...Arizona News
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's Emergency Declaration on March 11 provides the state with tools to combat the spread of the coronavirus and the Executive Order is designed to protect Arizona's high-risk population. Arizona lawmakers also approved $55 million to ADHS and the Centers for Disease Control pledged $12.4 million to support...Arizona News
Keith Schraad left the director's post at the Arizona Department of Insurance February 13 for a job in the private sector.
According to The Associated Press, Ducey named Corieri, his a senior policy adviser on health and human services, during a national search for a permanent leader.
The Arizona DOI and Department of...Arizona News
On Monday, the Phoenix New Times published an article detailing the experiences of patients who rely on the Developmental Disabilities Department (DDD) of the long-fraught Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). The story highlights problems faced by those with developmental disabilities who recently have found it difficult or...Arizona News
Five years after a settlement was reached, Judge Roslyn Silver is ordering the Arizona Department of Corrections (DOC) to act, presenting three options: comply with the settlement, create a new settlement, or go to trial. Both parties were given until Oct. 23 to decide and inform the court.
Silver's order follows a recent report...Arizona News
Arizona will receive $2.1 million annually for the next five years to facilitate improved access to care for pregnant and postpartum women living in areas considered maternity care deserts because of the OB-GYN shortage.
Phoenix is ranked 14th for most at risk of an obstetrician and gynecologist (OB-GYN) shortage with a concerning...Arizona News
Public health groups and stakeholders are concerned that many healthcare related priorities are being left out of the budget in Arizona. This includes funding of Graduate Medical Education (GME) which, in a nail biter, was included in the final budget.
POST UPDATED: Reporting from Arizona Central confirmed that...Arizona News
Saying Arizona is a "Pro-Vaccine State", Ducey said he would not sign any bills that could decrease vaccinations. In a rare statement on pending legislation, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey told reporters that because it involves public health, he is letting the people of Arizona that Arizona is "pro-vaccination". This comes after three...Arizona News
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Garcia sat down with Maria Polletta, Arizona Republic reporter, on Thursday for a live interview to help Arizonans gain better insight on Garcia's policies and what his administration would look like if voted into office.
Running up against Republican incumbent Gov. Doug Ducey, the...Arizona News
Governor Doug Ducey proposes to limit opioid prescriptions to no more than five days, Rep. Jay Lawrence wants to make it illegal for any state or local government or agency to limit the amount of regulated painkillers that physicians can prescribe at any one time.
State health Director Cara Christ said earlier this year she would...