Bill > SB1611

This bill, effective October 1, 2027, requires the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) administration to contract with a qualified entity to manage administrative services, program integrity, and care management for members in the American Indian health program, which is a fee-for-service program for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native members. The administration will retain ultimate responsibility for the program, including setting rates and paying claims, and cannot eliminate the fee-for-service option. Before issuing a contract, AHCCCS must seek federal approval, present its procurement strategy and qualifications to legislative committees, and consider public and tribal government input. Legislative committee chairpersons can appoint non-voting observers to the evaluation committee, and AHCCCS must present a summary of evaluation results and award recommendations to the committees before finalizing any contract. The bill clarifies that this does not transfer contracting authority to the legislature and ensures compliance with procurement laws, while preserving the rights of American Indian and Alaska Native members to choose fee-for-service coverage, enroll in or disenroll from managed care organizations, and maintain protections for Indian health care providers. An "administrative services organization" is defined as a Medicaid managed care organization that performs administrative functions, and a "qualified contractor" or "other qualified entity" is one that meets all federal and state requirements to contract with AHCCCS. The legislature finds this act necessary for program integrity and care management for these members and declares it an emergency measure.

Health and Social Services

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85232