ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: HHS DP 8-0-0-0 | APPROP DP 10-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read 26-2-2-0

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SB1077: AHCCCS; chiropractic care; report

Sponsor: Senator Barto, LD 15

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Includes medically necessary chiropractic services, performed by a chiropractor and ordered by a primary care physician or practitioner as an Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) covered service.

History

Established in 1981, AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid program that oversees contracted health plans for the delivery of health care to individuals and families who qualify for Medicaid and other medical assistance programs. Through contracted health plans across the state, AHCCCS delivers health care to qualifying individuals including low-income adults, their children or people with certain disabilities.

Statute outlines the covered health and medical services offered to AHCCCS members, including: 1) inpatient hospital services; 2) outpatient health services; 3) laboratory and X-ray services; 4) prescription medications; 5) medical supplies, durable medical equipment, insulin pumps and prosthetic devices; 6) treatment of medical conditions of the eye; 7) early and periodic health screening and diagnostic services; 8) family planning services; 9) podiatry services; 10) nonexperimental transplants; 11) emergency dental care; 12) ambulance and nonambulance transportation; 13) hospice care; and 14) orthotics (A.R.S. § 36-2907).

Chiropractic services are only nonsurgical and noninvasive treatments of neck and back pain through physiotherapy, musculoskeletal manipulation and other physical corrections of musculoskeletal conditions within the scope of the chiropractic practice (A.R.S § 20-1057.03).

The AHCCCS Director administers the Hospital Assessment Fund which consists of monies collected from an assessment of hospital revenues, discharges or bed days for the purpose of supplementing AHCCCS funding from the Prop 204 protection account and the Arizona Tobacco Litigation Settlement Fund (A.R.S. §§ 36-2901.08 and 36-2901.09).

Provisions

1. Requires, subject to approval by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and rules adopted by AHCCCS, chiropractic services performed by a chiropractor and ordered by a primary care physician or primary care practitioner to be included as an AHCCCS covered service. (Sec. 1, 2)

2. Allows the primary care physician or primary care practitioner to initially order up to 20 visits annually that include treatment and request authorization for additional chiropractic services in the same year if medically necessary. (Sec. 1)

3. Forbids monies from the Hospital Assessment Fund to be used in providing chiropractic services. (Sec. 1)

4. Directs AHCCCS to prescribe qualifying conditions under which chiropractic services may be used, prescribe provider qualifications for chiropractic services and report on chiropractic service utilization and any identified cost savings. (Sec. 2)

5. Requires AHCCCS, by January 21, 2027, to submit a report of its findings regarding chiropractic services to the Governor, Legislature and a copy to the Secretary of State.       (Sec. 2)

6. Repeals the AHCCCS chiropractic reporting requirements on July 1, 2027. (Sec. 2)

7. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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11.                   SB 1077

12. Initials AG/BG       Page 0 Health & Human Services

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