ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: HHS DP 7-0-1-0 | 3^rd Read 29-0-1-0 House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0

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SB 1094: substance abuse treatment; AHCCCS

Sponsor:  Senator Pace, LD  25

Caucus & Cow

Overview

Transfers the administrative responsibility of the Arizona Families in Recovery Succeeding Together (F.I.R.S.T.) Program from the Department of Health Services (DHS) to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).

History

Established in 2000, the Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. (AFF) Program provides communities in Arizona with substance abuse treatment and support services to help individuals whose substance abuse proves to be a barrier to family reunification and self-sufficiency. Under current law, the Department of Child Safety (DCS) works in partnership with DHS to administer the AFF Program to: 1) determine eligibility and develop a screening process; 2) determine training and technical assistance that is to be provided to community programs; 3) work in collaboration with public and private agencies, programs and service providers; 4) coordinate and integrate funding sources for services; 5) determine the scope of family-centered services that are to be provided; and 6) develop procedures for sharing information (A.R.S. § 8-882). DCS and DHS must also jointly develop requirements for contractors who provide prevention and substance abuse treatment and prescribe program evaluation standards that are consistent with increasing the availability, timeliness and accessibility of substance abuse treatment (A.R.S. §§ 8-883 and 8-884).

Established in 1981, AHCCCS is Arizona’s Medicaid program that oversees contracted health plans to coordinated and provide physical and behavioral health care to individuals and families who qualify for Medicaid and other medical assistance programs. Laws 2015, Chapter 19 transferred the administration of behavioral health services under the Division of Behavioral Health Services from DHS to AHCCCS, excluding the Arizona State Hospital.

Provisions

1. Transfers the administrative responsibility of the AFF Program from DHS to AHCCCS in partnership with DCS. (Sec. 1-3)

2. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1-3)

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6.                   SB 1094

7. Initials EB/SF        Page 0 Caucus & COW

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