Providers: August 3 is the Deadline to Apply for HHS Provider Relief Funds
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), extended the deadline for Medicaid and CHIP, including dental, providers to apply for Provider Relief Funds.
Eligible providers may receive a reimbursement up to 2% of their annual reported patient revenue.
AHCCCS has determined that some providers have submitted their Provider Relief Fund applications using the incorrect ID number. When submitting, providers are advised to use their Service/Rendering Provider NPI(s) (for example, the primary clinic ID) NOT their Billing Provider ID numbers. Using the Billing Provider ID could result in the application being denied.
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Arizona Receives $2.4 Million in Federal Suicide Prevention Emergency Grants
AHCCCS received an $800,000 emergency suicide prevention grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on July 20, 2020, one of three awardees of the federal emergencies dollars. SAMHSA awarded the same grant amount to EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center in Tempe and the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe in Southern Arizona, bringing an additional $2.4 million in suicide prevention services to Arizona.
AHCCCS, in partnership with Arizona Complete Health, the southern Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA); CODAC Health, Recovery & Wellness, Inc.; Community Bridges Inc. (CBI); and Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, will use the funds to bring together behavioral health and domestic violence services among those uninsured and underinsured individuals age 25 and older who live in Pima County. The program is a targeted effort with the goal of reaching those Southern Arizonans at higher risk of suicide.
The grant, the largest suicide prevention grant AHCCCS has received, will fund an 18-month program overseen by a dedicated program director.
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State Medicaid Advisory Committee Accepting Nominations
The State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC) is currently accepting nominations for the following open positions to serve Oct. 2020 through Sept. 2022:
- Five public member positions (e.g. a Medicaid recipient, a consumer advocate, a representative of a tribal community, or a representative of the educational community, etc.)
- Two professional member positions (e.g. health care providers or professionals with a direct interest in the AHCCCS program)
Nominations for the October 2020 assignments are due by September 18, 2020. If you would like to serve, or nominate someone to serve, on the SMAC, please follow the directions on the
SMAC web page.
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AHCCCS Receives Leadership in Policy Award for COVID-19 Response
In July, AHCCCS Director Jami Snyder accepted the 2020
Leadership in Policy Award from the ASU Center of Applied Behavioral Health Policy
on behalf of the agency, recognizing our response efforts over the course of the public health emergency.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, AHCCCS made two commitments,” Snyder said, accepting the award. “One, access to care for members, and two, ongoing viability of the provider network.” She credited AHCCCS employees with their ability to work quickly and collaboratively on behalf of members and providers.
Dr. Michael Franczak, Director of Population Health at Partners in Recovery, and Vicki Staples, Director Of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services at Valleywise Health, presented the award to the AHCCCS leadership team (who attended via webinar), specifically noting the extensive list of policy changes implemented to address the pandemic.
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AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal Launches August 31
As of August 31, 2020, all newly enrolling providers, as well as existing providers who need to update their accounts, will use the AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal (APEP). This online system eliminates paper-based applications and will streamline the enrollment process.
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Public Health Emergency Extended Through October
This month, HHS Secretary Alex Azar extended the public health emergency declaration through late October. This declaration continues many of the
programmatic flexibilities
that AHCCCS has been granted in recent months, as well as the 6.2 percentage point increase in the federal contribution to fund Arizona’s Medicaid program.
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Quarterly Tribal Consultation
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