Assigned to COMPS & APPROP FOR
COMMITTEE
Assigned to COMPS & APPROP FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
hyperbaric oxygen therapy; veterans; fund
Purpose
Establishes the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Military Veterans Fund (Fund) and its related advisory committee. Appropriates $25,000 to the Fund in FY 2019.
Background
According to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a treatment used to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood for healing (AHCCCS). Effective October 1, 2017, AHCCCS charges $42.95 per 30 minutes of hyperbaric oxygen under pressure in a full body chamber (AHCCCS).
There is a $25,000 impact to the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2019. That appropriation would be paid back to the state GF in FY 2023.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Fund consisting of private donations, grants, bequests and any other monies.
2. Appropriates $25,000 from the state GF to the Fund in FY 2019.
3. Appropriates $25,000 from the Fund to the state GF in FY 2023.
4. Requires the Department of Veteran's Services (DVS) to administer monies in the Fund.
5. Specifies that monies in the Fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from lapsing.
6. Requires that monies in the Fund be used to provide financial assistance to veterans for HBOT.
7. Allows DVS to seek reimbursement for funds if that portion of the person's payment for HBOT was fully or partially covered by private insurance or any other entity.
8. Establishes the HBOT for Military Veterans Advisory Committee (Committee), consisting of:
a) the Director or the Director's designee; and
b) four members appointed by the Governor who are either National Guard Unit Commanders, doctors, or active or retired military personnel.
9. Requires the Committee to:
a) determine how to award monies from the Fund;
b) establish and revise as necessary the application process for financial assistance; and
c) make other recommendations as necessary.
10. Requires the Committee to submit an annual report detailing the Fund's performance and the demographic information of the grant recipients.
11. Requires that the Committee send the annual report to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate.
12. Sunsets the Committee on July 1, 2026.
13. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
MVRA 2/12/2018 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/20/2018 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 1, 2018
CS/BR/lb