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AHCCCS Highlights Accomplishments, Changes in 2023

One year ago, Cabinet Executive Officer Carmen Heredia took the helm of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency, and guided the agency through an extraordinary year of accomplishments and change.

“In 2023, AHCCCS faced challenges head-on, made significant progress, and achieved remarkable milestones because of our employees’ unwavering dedication to the members we serve,” Heredia said. “Our accomplishments stand as a testament to our adaptability, innovation, and unyielding resolve in the face of turbulent times.”

Some of those successes and operational enhancements are highlighted below; see the full list in the 2023 Year in Review document. They include the return to regular renewal processes, covered service enhancements, protecting members and taxpayers, investing in Arizona’s communities, building the health care workforce, and more.

1.4 Million Arizonans Have Maintained Medicaid Coverage Since Renewals Began Last April

Since AHCCCS returned to the regular Medicaid renewal processes last April, 1.4 million Arizonans have maintained coverage and 18%, or 457,753, have been discontinued.

“Making sure Arizonans have health care coverage, whether that be through Medicaid, an employer, or from the Healthcare.gov marketplace, has always been our goal through the return to regular Medicaid renewals,” Carmen Heredia, AHCCCS Cabinet Executive Officer, said. “Because of our team’s well-planned approach and tireless efforts, AHCCCS has met the requirements to determine eligibility for everyone who had been continued during the pandemic, and has done so with utmost efficiency.”

Find the renewals dashboard on the AHCCCS Return to Regular Renewals web page.

AHCCCS Announces Preliminary Public Notice of Differential Adjusted Payments

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) has posted preliminary public notice for the Contract Year End (CYE) 2025 Differential Adjusted Payments (DAP) on the Differential Adjusted Payment (DAP) web page and is accepting public comments. 

The Differential Adjusted Payment (DAP) is a positive adjustment to the AHCCCS Fee-for-Service (FFS) rates to distinguish providers who have committed to supporting designated actions that improve patients’ care experience, improve members’ health, and reduce cost of care. AHCCCS health plans are required to pass through DAP increases to their contracted rates to match the corresponding AHCCCS Fee-For-Service rate increase percentages. 

The posted DAP rates will be effective for dates of service beginning October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. The notice is separated into provider type and by DAP. 

Public comments will be accepted through March 1, 2024 by email to AHCCCSDAP@azahcccs.gov.

Subscribe to DAP email alerts to receive notifications and updates.
Empower Your Staff With Health Care Education
Community College Scholarships in Health Care Courses Available

AHCCCS and Arizona’s community colleges are building the health care workforce to meet growing demand.

Two scholarships—the Behavioral Health Scholarship and the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Career Education and Training Scholarship—are available at six community colleges to equip students to make a difference in their communities through health professions and community-based services.
Please make your staff aware of these college scholarships available for the 2024 spring, summer, and fall semesters. 
Find a variety of certificate and degree programs in behavioral science, health science, and education. AHCCCS scholarships cover the cost of tuition, course fees, books, and other needed resources. Requirements apply.

Earn a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelors at one of the participating colleges:
 
 
AHCCCS Participates in Maricopa Point in Time Survey

A dozen AHCCCS employees showed up before dawn on a rainy January morning to participate in the 2024 Maricopa Point in Time (PIT) homeless count conducted by the Maricopa Association of Governments. Results of the PIT count will be released in April. The AHCCCS Housing Program uses state funding to provide supportive housing to approximately 3,000 AHCCCS members who live with a Serious Mental Illness designation.
Jacob’s Law Training 
Thurs., Feb. 22, 1:00 — 3:00 p.m., 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. Training length is two (2) hours. Certificates and two (2) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available upon request after attending the full presentation.

Hot Topics 
Mon., Feb. 12, 11:00 — 11:30 a.m., online on Zoom
Join us in February to learn more about and provide your input on the AHCCCS Quality Strategy, which is one of the primary ways AHCCCS evaluates and documents its quality-based initiatives and activities, including quality of care and services for AHCCCS members. 

OIFA Health Care Navigation
Tues., Feb. 27, noon—12:30 p.m., online on Zoom
Join us to learn about Quality of Care Concerns (QOC). A QOC is a referral you can file when you believe that the health care you received (or lack thereof) caused harm or could have caused you harm. You may also file a QOC referral if you have concerns that a larger or widespread problem in getting health care may cause harm to others.

Office of Human Rights Training Session
Thurs., Feb. 22, 1:00 — 2:30 p.m.
Learn about the rights of individuals living with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and how to navigate those rights in the Arizona behavioral health delivery system.

Tribal Consultation
Thurs., Feb. 21, 8:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
The Quarterly Tribal Consultation will be both in-person and virtual. In-person spots are reserved for tribal leaders and members while the virutal option is open to all registrants.

Professional Development Course for I/DD Coordinators and Staff
Mon., March 4, 2:30 — 4:15 p.m.
The National Center for START Services offers a six-week course for care coordinators and care managers designed to increase knowledge of how to support children and adults with IDD and mental health service needs and their families. Speakers will include family members and people with lived experiences along with experts in the field. AHCCCS will cover the cost of training for contracted health plans and their contracted providers, stakeholders, advocates, and members/family members. Use the registration code AZACCC2024S.

See the AHCCCS Calendar for more scheduled events.