Maricopa Community College Scholarships Available for Health Care Students
Did you know that new scholarship opportunities are available to Maricopa County Community College students who enroll in various behavioral health and long-term care certificate and degree programs? Using ARP funds, the AHCCCS scholarships will cover tuition, books, and other fees for students in more than 30 behavioral health and long-term care health care programs.
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AHCCCS Releases Updated Provider Payment Suspension Fact Sheet
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AHCCCS Improves Community Assistor Search Features to Help Arizonans Apply for Medicaid, SNAP, and Cash Assistance
AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) have upgraded search features on Health-e-Arizona Plus, the enrollment and eligibility website (www.healthearizonaplus.gov) for Medicaid, SNAP, and Cash Assistance applicants and enrollees.
Now users can search for Community Assistors, organizations and individuals who help Arizonans enroll in benefit programs, by zip code or full or partial address. The new “Locate Me” feature returns geolocated results without the user having to input anything. The upgrade also allows users to search by radius and proximity to find assistors up to 50 miles away.
Each returned result provides information about the assistor organization, the full address, a link to a Google map, the assistor agency’s contact information, hours of operation, and other services they may provide.
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AHCCCS Administers Federal Funding to Community Colleges to Address Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) will receive federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, administered by AHCCCS, to address behavioral health workforce shortages.
House Bill 2691, signed during this year’s legislative session, created behavioral health workforce development programs at two community college systems, MCCCD and Northland Pioneer College. Collectively, approximately $9 million in American Rescue Plan funds will be distributed by Sept. 30, 2024, with another $4.5 million possible, depending on legislative action.
“Building more opportunities for students to earn behavioral health degrees and credentials will create a larger and better prepared pool of candidates for critical behavioral health jobs,” said Bill Kennard, AHCCCS Workforce Development Administrator. “Better prepared candidates enable providers to streamline the onboarding process for new workers, and ensure members receive care more quickly. Offering substantive, pre-service education and training for aspiring behavioral health workers is one step that will help Arizona meet its growing behavioral health care demands.”
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AHCCCS Releases Request for Proposal from Managed Care Organizations for the ALTCS-EPD Program
AHCCCS has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit participation by Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to provide health care services to members of the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) who are elderly and/or who have a physical disability (EPD).
As of July 1, 2023, approximately 28,000 Arizonans are enrolled in the ALTCS-EPD program. AHCCCS began developing this RFP in 2021 and committed to a thoughtful approach that involved robust stakeholder engagement, feedback forums to collect input from members, providers, and health plans, all of which informed its design.
Proposals are due on October 2, 2023 by 3:00 p.m., with awards expected to be announced December 13, 2023. The new contracts will be effective October 1, 2024, for a contract term of three years with options to extend up to an additional four years.
See more information, including major decisions and the full schedule, in the Bidder’s Library.
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AHCCCS ARP Program Award Releases Almost $17 Million in Funding to Providers of Home and Community Based Services in Arizona
AHCCCS released $16.9 million in funding to providers of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) throughout Arizona as part of the first round of the AHCCCS American Rescue Plan (ARP) Program Award. With these funds, HCBS providers can enhance the health, safety, and member experience of children, the elderly, people with disabilities, people living with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) designation, and anyone else receiving HCBS in the state.
“We are so pleased to be able to use this one-time funding to strengthen the infrastructure and programs within the HCBS system,” said Carmen Heredia, AHCCCS director. “These projects will help 61 AHCCCS providers to make upgrades to their facilities and infrastructure to promote access, streamline service delivery, and augment their specific community’s services. Collectively, these projects will help AHCCCS members lead self-directed lives, engage in activities that promote wellbeing, and integrate into their communities through employment, transportation, social engagement.”
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Helping Members Enroll and Renew
Stopping Provider Fraud and Protecting Members
Connecting People in Crisis
Addressing Healthcare Workforce Needs
(Arizona Capitol Times Op-ed)
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AHCCCS Public Forum: Review of Final Parents as Paid Caregivers Waiver Amendment Proposal
Sept. 6, 1—2 p.m., online on Zoom
At this community forum, AHCCCS will present the changes to the Parents as Paid Caregivers amendment proposal made as a result of the public comment received.
AHCCCS Hot Topics: Overview and Upcoming Initiatives of the AHCCCS 1115 Demonstration Waiver
Sept. 18, 11—11:30 a.m., online on Zoom
Join us to learn more about Arizona’s comprehensive 1115 Waiver including its history, current initiatives, and potential future programs.
Jacob’s Law Training
Sept. 21, 10:00 a.m.— noon, online on Zoom
This training will cover Jacob’s law, review and use of the DCS placement packet, legal rights and protections of children and resource parents, and covered services.
OIFA Health Care Navigation: Justice System Reach-In (Care Coordination) for Arizonans Leaving Jails or Prisons
Sept. 26, noon—12:30 p.m., online on Zoom
Learn about the Care Coordination available upon release that can help connect individuals to medical care, transportation, employment services, and other medically necessary services.
Office of Human Rights Training: Inpatient Treatment and Discharge Planning for Individuals Living with Serious Mental Illness
Sept. 26, 10:30 a.m.—11:50 a.m., online on Zoom
Join us to learn more about the Inpatient Treatment and Discharge Planning (ITDP) as it pertains to individuals living with a SMI.
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