AHCCCS Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) Demonstration

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is requesting an amendment to the 1115 Research and Demonstration Waiver to seek waiver and expenditure authority to implement the AHCCCS Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) demonstration. The goal of the AHCCCS H2O demonstration is to enhance and expand housing services and interventions for AHCCCS members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Under this demonstration proposal, the agency will seek to:

• Increase positive health and wellbeing outcomes for target populations including the stabilization of members’ mental health conditions, reduction in substance use, improvement in the utilization of primary care and prevention services, and increased member satisfaction,
• Reduce the cost of care for individuals successfully housed through decreased utilization of crisis services, emergency department utilization, and inpatient hospitalization, and
• Reduce homelessness and improve skills to maintain housing stability.

As described in the Protocol for Assessment of Beneficiary Eligibility and Needs and Provider Qualifications for H2O Services, AHCCCS plans to begin implementation with the most acute member population, inclusive of members who are experiencing homelessness, are living with an SMI designation, and are living with an active chronic health condition or are currently in a correctional facility with a release date scheduled within 90 days, or released from a correctional facility within the last 90 days.