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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
eligibility; AHCCCS
Purpose
Directs the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to annually renew on an automatic basis the eligibility of individuals that were in the custody of the Department of Child Safety (DCS) at the time of turning 18 years of age, without requiring additional information, until the individual reaches 26 years of age.
Background
AHCCCS contracts with health professionals to provide medically necessary health and medical services to eligible members, including individuals under 26 years of age who were in the custody of DCS at the time of their 18th birthday. Eligibility for these individuals must be redetermined on an annual basis (A.R.S. §§ 36-2901 and 36-2903.04).
At the time of eligibility renewal, AHCCCS must renew eligibility for qualified members without requiring additional information, if able to do so, based on reliable information available to AHCCCS, including through electronic data matching (A.A.C. § R9-22-306).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires AHCCCS or its designee, upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to annually renew on an automatic basis the eligibility of persons that were in the custody of DCS at the time of their 18th birthday without requiring additional information, until the age of 26, unless AHCCCS is notified that the person:
a) moved out of state; or
b) may qualify under a different category.
2. Stipulates that, if an applicable member's AHCCCS eligibility in a different category ends, AHCCCS must transfer the person back to the category for young adults that were under the custody of DCS upon their 18th birthday, without any disruption in medical coverage.
3. Allows AHCCCS or its designee to use available reliable information to determine a person's state residency, including through electronic data matching.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Stipulates that, if an applicable member's AHCCCS eligibility in a different category ends, AHCCCS must transfer the person back to the category for young adults that were under the custody of DCS upon their 18th birthday, without any disruption in medical coverage.
2. Clarifies that AHCCCS must annually renew eligibility of applicable members on an automatic basis.
3. Makes a technical change.
House Action Senate Action
HHS 2/7/22 DP 9-0-0-0 HHS 3/9/22 DPA 7-0-1
3rd Read 2/17/22 49-10-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 16, 2022
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