Section 2. A. To preserve the freedom of Arizonans to provide
for their health care:
1. A law or rule shall not compel, directly or indirectly, any person,
employer or health care provider to participate in any health care system.
2. A person or employer may pay directly for lawful health care
services and shall not be required to pay penalties or fines for paying
directly for lawful health care services. A health care provider may accept
direct payment for lawful health care services and shall not be required to
pay penalties or fines for accepting direct payment from a person or employer
for lawful health care services.
B. Subject to reasonable and necessary rules that do not substantially
limit a person's options, the purchase or sale of health insurance in private
health care systems shall not be prohibited by law or rule.
C. This section does not:
1. Affect which health care services a health care provider or hospital
is required to perform or provide.
2. Affect which health care services are permitted by law.
3. Prohibit care provided pursuant to article XVIII, section 8 of this
constitution or any statutes enacted by the legislature relating to worker's
compensation.
4. Affect laws or rules in effect as of January 1, 2009.
5. Affect the terms or conditions of any health care system to the
extent that those terms and conditions do not have the effect of punishing a
person or employer for paying directly for lawful health care services or a
health care provider or hospital for accepting direct payment from a person or
employer for lawful health care services.
D. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Compel" includes penalties or fines.
2. "Direct payment or pay directly" means payment for lawful health
care services without a public or private third party, not including an
employer, paying for any portion of the service.
3. "Health care system" means any public or private entity whose
function or purpose is the management of, processing of, enrollment of
individuals for or payment for, in full or in part, health care services or
health care data or health care information for its participants.
4. "Lawful health care services" means any health-related service or
treatment to the extent that the service or treatment is permitted or not
prohibited by law or regulation that may be provided by persons or businesses
otherwise permitted to offer such services.
5. "Penalties or fines" means any civil or criminal penalty or fine,
tax, salary or wage withholding or surcharge or any named fee with a similar
effect established by law or rule by a government established, created or
controlled agency that is used to punish or discourage the exercise of rights
protected under this section.