Signed by Governor Jan Brewer

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that would request a waiver from the federal requirement to maintain current eligibility for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), commonly known as Medicaid.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the administration of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to request a waiver from the federal requirement to maintain current Medicaid eligibility (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the administration of the AHCCCS to reduce current eligibility levels, if the waiver is granted, by excluding populations whose coverage was previously optional and is now mandatory under provisions of national health care reform (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the administration of the AHCCCS to adopt rules regarding standards, methods and procedures for determining eligibility, if the waiver is granted (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the administration of the AHCCCS to implement its programs using funds from various sources including, but not limited to, the Arizona tobacco litigation settlement fund (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the administration of the AHCCCS, with the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to suspend programs or eligibility for any persons or categories of persons if funds are not sufficient (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the administration of the AHCCCS will be exempt from various rule-making requirements for 2 years after the effective date of this act including, but not limited to (Sec. 2):
• The requirement to maintain a current, public rule-making docket; and -The requirement to allow any member of the public to submit written or oral testimony regarding a proposed rule.

• Specifies that the waiver, if approved, will be effective until January 1, 2014 (Sec. 1). -Specifies that this act is an emergency measure and will be operative immediately (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text