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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AHCCCS; dual enrollment; notice
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), contingent on available data and federal approval, to conduct a monthly review to ensure that individuals enrolled in a health insurance plan sold on the Federally Facilitated Exchange (FFE) under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) are not also enrolled in AHCCCS and notify individuals found to be enrolled in both programs of the potential consequences of dual enrollment.
Background
The ACA, enacted as part of the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, established the FFE, through which eligible individuals may purchase subsidized private health insurance. Eligible individuals must have a household income between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). In states where it has been adopted, the ACA expanded the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138 percent of the FPL (U.S. HHS). AHCCCS serves as Arizona's Medicaid agency, which offers qualifying Arizona residents access to healthcare programs. AHCCCS contracts with health professionals to provide medically necessary health and medical services to members who meet outlined income criteria and is authorized to take actions necessary to maintain the integrity of the program, including establishing fraud prevention systems, eligibility determination and enrollment oversight (A.R.S. §§ 1-271 and 36-2903).
The Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) is a federal and state partnership administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's (U.S. HHS's) Administration for Children and Families, which is a data matching service that matches recipients of public assistance to check if the recipients receive duplicate benefits in two or more states to identify improper payments and minimize fraud and abuse (ACF).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires AHCCCS, contingent on the availability of PARIS data and approval by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to conduct a monthly review to ensure that persons who are enrolled in a health insurance plan sold on the FFE are not also enrolled in AHCCCS.
2. Requires AHCCCS to notify persons found to be enrolled in both programs of the potential risks, consequences and liabilities associated with simultaneous enrollment.
3. Defines ACA.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 23, 2026
MM/SDR/hk