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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
AHCCCS; redeterminations; eligibility verification; report
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to determine the continued eligibility of adults who are at least 21 years old at least once every six months and prescribes related reporting requirements.
Background
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) administers Arizona’s Medicaid program and determines eligibility for coverage based on federal and state requirements. AHCCCS is responsible for verifying applicant information, enrolling eligible individuals and periodically redetermining member eligibility to ensure continued compliance with program criteria (A.R.S. § 36-2903).
Under federal law, state Medicaid agencies must renew eligibility for most beneficiaries at least once every 12 months and may not conduct renewals more frequently than that interval except in limited circumstances. States must attempt to verify eligibility using available data sources before requesting information from the beneficiary and must redetermine eligibility whenever they receive information indicating a potential change in circumstances that could affect eligibility (42 C.F.R. § 435.916).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires AHCCCS, beginning January 1, 2027, to redetermine the eligibility of any adult member who is at least 21 years old at least every six months.
2. Requires AHCCCS, by December 1 of each year, to report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives (House) and members of the Senate and House Health and Human Services Committees, or their successor committees, all of the following:
a) the number of new eligibility applications for enrollment received in the previous contract year;
b) the number of eligibility verifications completed in the previous contract year;
c) the number of applications received in the previous contract year for enrollment in an AHCCCS program that requires asset verification as part of the eligibility process; and
d) the number of asset verifications completed in the previous contract year.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Makes technical changes.
Senate Action
HHS 2/19/26 DPA 4-3-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 20, 2026
MM/SDR/hk