Advocacy
PURPOSE
Per A.R.S. 36-2902.01 the AACIHC is established…to give tribal governments, tribal organizations and urban Indian health care organizations in this state, representation in shaping Medicaid and health care policies and laws that impact the populations they serve.
2021 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Every year, the Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care (AACIHC) creates a legislative agenda comprising of priorities that will positively impact the Indian Health Care System. This year three priorities are being advocated for. Ensure you stay updated with our weekly updates and by signing up on the Request to Speak (RTS) system.
2021 AACIHC priorities:
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Creation of a 6th Area Health Education Center that Focuses on the Indian Health System
Summary of Bills: Creates a sixth Area Health Education Center (AHEC) that will focus on the Indian Health System. AHECs are committed to expanding the health care workforce while maximizing diversity and facilitating distribution, especially in rural and underserved communities and offer creative, hands-on and innovative health center curriculum for pre-college level students.
Bill #: SB 1301- Arizona health education centers; increase
Sponsor: Senator T.J. Shope
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Bill #: HB 2494- Arizona health education centers; increase.
Sponsor: Representative Jennifer Jermaine
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Exempting Indian Health Service/ tribal/ Urban Indian Health Facilities from the sliding fee scale requirement of the arizona state loan repayment programs (Azslrp)
Summary: Currently, the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal 638 facilities are not eligible sites for the Arizona Student Loan Repayment Program due to a requirement to implement a sliding-fee-scale for clients to pay based on their income. In federal law, Tribal and IHS facilities do not have this requirement because they do not charge IHS-eligible clients for health care services rendered.
Bill #: HB 2126- Rural providers; loan repayment program
Sponsor: Representative Joanne Osborne
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Creating an Uncapped dental benefit for pregnant women eligible for medicaid
Summary of Bills: Requires AHCCCS contractors to provide comprehensive dental care to eligible pregnant women and appropriates money to AHCCCS to provide the dental services.
Bill #: HB 2291- AHCCCS; pregnant women; dental care
Sponsor: Representative Joanne Osborne
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Bill #: HB 2102 - AHCCCS; pregnant women; dental care
Sponsor: Representative Jennifer Jermaine
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Bill #: HB 2275 - AHCCCS; dental care; pregnant women
Sponsor: Representative Kelly Butler
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expandng medicaid coverage for postpartum women from 2 months to 12 months
Summary: Extends Medicaid coverage to women who are less than one year postpartum whose family income is less than 150% of the FPL; appropriates $13M from the general fund and $900,000 from the Medicaid expenditure authority for FY22.
Bill #: HB 2101 - AHCCCS; postpartum care; appropriations
Sponsor: Representative Jennifer Jermaine
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expanding income eligibility of kidscare from 200% FPL to 300% FPL
Summary: Increases the cap for eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Program to those children with family income at or below 300% of the FPL
Bill #: HB 2273 - eligibility; children's health insurance program
Sponsor: Representative Kelly Butler
REQUEST TO SPEAK:
Ensure you stay updated by creating a Request to Speak (RTS) account. The RTS system is a program designed for the public (and lobbyists) to weigh in on legislation and if you wish, sign up to speak in committee. You can use the RTS system to support or oppose legislation and provide your reasons why. *New RTS system accounts are required to be activated in person at the Arizona State Legislature.*
Need and account? Create an RTS account
Already have an RTS account? Sign on the RTS
ARIZONA CAPITOL TELEVISION:
Arizona Capitol Television (ACTV) is the Arizona Legislature’s state-run cable channel, providing constant coverage of the legislative process. In addition to committee recordings, ACTV also produces a wide array of feature pieces related to Arizona and its lawmakers.
View live proceedings here.
