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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
medicaid;
dental benefit study committee
(NOW: hospital; nurse anesthetist; subscription contract)
As passed by the Senate, S.B. 1372 established the Medicaid Adult Comprehensive Dental Benefit Study Committee to evaluate the feasibility, cost, long-term fiscal impacts and public health outcomes associated with expanding Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System coverage to include comprehensive dental care.
The House of Representatives adopted a strike-everything amendment that does the following:
Purpose
Prohibits a health insurer that issues, amends or renews a subscription contract from imposing a reimbursement rate for a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) that differs from the reimbursement rate for a physician.
Background
The Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) regulates policies, certificates, evidences of coverage and contracts of insurance (insurance policies) issued or delivered by insurers. Every insurer that offers individual health insurance coverage in the individual market in Arizona must provide guaranteed availability of coverage to eligible individuals who desire to enroll in individual health insurance coverage (A.R.S. § 20-1379).
A CRNA is an advanced practice registered nurse who is authorized to administer anesthetics under the direction of and in the presence of a physician or surgeon under specified circumstances. A CRNA may issue medication orders, assess a patient's risk of anesthetic treatment, obtain informed consent, order and evaluate laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging, develop and implement anesthetic care plans, respond to emergency situations and perform therapeutic procedures (A.R.S. § 32-1634.04).
If limiting a health insurer's ability to reimburse CRNAs at a different rate than physicians changes reimbursement amounts for services covered under the state health plan, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a health insurer that issues, amends or renews a subscription contract from imposing a reimbursement rate for a CRNA that differs from the reimbursement rate for a licensed medical or osteopathic physician.
2. Specifies that a health insurer is not prevented from establishing variable reimbursement rates that are based on quality or performance-based measures.
3. Specifies that the reimbursement rate restriction does not apply to a CRNA who is employed by a practice that is owned by private equity.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
· Adopted the strike-everything amendment relating to CRNA reimbursement rates.
Senate Action House Action
HHS 2/18/26 DP 6-0-1 HHS 3/23/26 DPA/SE 9-2-0-1
3rd Read 3/3/26 27-3-0 3rd Read 4/9/26 33-20-7
Prepared by Senate Research
April 9, 2026
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