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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
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HB 2177: AHCCCS; waivers; American Indians; services
Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13
Committee on Health & Human Services
Overview
Grants the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) the authority to submit waivers and amendments to the current Section 1115 waiver to authorize payment of covered services provided to American Indian or Alaskan native members by Indian Health Services (IHS) facilities or participating tribal facilities that were eliminated, reduced or limited in the Medicaid State Plan in September 2010, including payments for medically necessary diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative dental services.
History
In 1975, the United States Congress enacted the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance (ISDEA) Act, Public Law 93-638, allowing Indian tribes to have greater autonomy and can assume the responsibility for programs and services administered to them on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior through contractual agreements. The law assures that Indian tribes have paramount involvement in the direction of services provided by the federal government to target the delivery of such services to the needs and desires of the local communities (DOI).
Founded in 1982, AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid program, a federal health care program jointly funded by the federal and state governments for individuals and families who qualify based on income level. AHCCCS is a program that operates under an integrated managed care model, through a Research and Demonstration 1115 Waiver. Contracted health plans coordinate and pay for physical and behavioral health care services delivered by more than 93,000 health care providers to more than 2.2 million Arizonans (AHCCCS).
Provisions
1. Requires the AHCCCS Director, annually by March 30, to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for waivers and amendments to the current Section 1115 waiver to authorize payments for covered services provided to American Indian or Alaskan native members by IHS facilities or participating tribal facilities operated under the ISDEA Act that were eliminated, reduced or limited in the state plan in September 2010, including payments for medically necessary diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative dental services. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires the AHCCCS Director, in any year, to apply only for those waivers and amendments that:
a. have not yet been approved; and
b. are not already in effect. (Sec. 1)
3. Allows AHCCCS, upon approval of CMS, to make payments for covered services that are provided to American Indian or Alaskan native members by IHS facilities or participating tribal facilities operated under the ISDEA Act that were eliminated, reduced or limited in the state plan in September 2010, including payments for medically necessary diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative dental services. (Sec. 2)
4. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 2)
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8. Initials AG HB 2177
9. 1/13/2026 Page 0 Health & Human Services
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