AHCCCS News & Updates

• Public Input Meetings
• AHCCCS Update Regarding Health Care Reform
  • Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan Begins On July 1, 2010
  • Mandates and Maintenance of Effort Requirements
  • Impact on the KidsCare Program
  • Medicaid Provisions
• KidsCare Renewal Activity
• Updated GME Funding Opportunities

Looking for a previous story? Information previously located on this page has been placed in either the State Legislative Budget Activities pages or the Federal Activities page.

Note: Information provided in PDF files, unless otherwise noted.

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Public Input Meetings

AHCCCS will be hosting two public input meetings to provide the public with the opportunity to review and comment on major updates from Arizona's Medicaid program. The link below has more information:

Public Input Meetings

AHCCCS Update Regarding Health Care Reform

More information from the Department of Health and Human Services is available at: www.healthreform.gov

1.  Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan Begins On July 1, 2010

   Fri Jul 2, 2010
   The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) was established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The PCIP offers health coverage through 2014 to qualified individuals who can not get health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition. After 2014, insurers will be required to provide access to more affordable private insurance via the new Exchanges as described in the Affordable Care Act. Applicants in Arizona will be linked directly to the federal application page since the HHS is running the PCIP for Arizona. More information about the PCIP and how to apply is available at: www.HealthCare.gov.

   PCIP Pamphlet [354KB]

2. Mandates and Maintenance of Effort Requirements

   Thu Jul 1, 2010
   Governor Brewer issued the following correspondence to all members of Arizona’s congressional delegation regarding unfunded healthcare mandates and maintenance of effort requirements. For previous letters from Governor Brewer to Congress and the President, see the Federal Activities page.

   Governor Brewer's Letter to AZ Congressional Delegation - 6/30/10 [134KB]

3. Impact on the KidsCare Program

   Mon Jun 28, 2010
   AHCCCS has received guidance from CMS regarding the impact of federal health care reform on the KidsCare program.

   • CMS acknowledgement of AHCCCS withdrawal of KidsCare termination request - 6/24/10 [979KB]
   • CMS Clarification re Enrollment Freeze - 5/17/10 [964KB]
   • AHCCCS Withdrawal of KidsCare Termination Request - 5/12/10 [26KB]
   • AHCCCS Letter to CMS Regarding KidsCare Enrollment Cap - 4/1/10 [31KB]
   • CMS Response to KidsCare Termination Letter of 3/18/10 (see below) - 4/1/10 [1.23MB]
   • AHCCCS Notice to CMS Regarding KidsCare Termination - 3/18/10 [28KB]
   
   
4. Medicaid Provisions

   Mon Apr 19, 2010
   AHCCCS has summarized the various Medicaid provisions of health care reform from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA - PL 111-148) and accompanying Reconciliation bill (PL 111-152). Please note, other sections not included in the matrix may be added at a later date. Information will be updated as it is available.

   Health Care Reform Matrix [99KB]

   
   

KidsCare Renewal Activity

Mon June 21, 2010
AHCCCS has posted renewal activity for the KidsCare program for the period of January - March 2010. All KidsCare applications are now being processed for Medicaid at the Department of Economic Security before being placed on the KidsCare wait list. AHCCCS will continue to update this information quarterly.

KidsCare Renewal Activity Summary [18KB]

Updated GME Funding Opportunities

AHCCCS has posted information about opportunities to fund Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments.
For more information visit the GME page.

Additional information about federal health care reform can be found on the Federal Activities page.