 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AHCCCS; speech therapy; cochlear implants
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to cover the costs of speech therapy and cochlear implants for eligible persons who are at least 21 years old.
Background
AHCCCS contracts
with health professionals to provide medically necessary health and medical
services to eligible members. Currently, AHCCCS contractors are required to
provide:
1) inpatient and outpatient hospital services, excluding speech therapy; 2)
laboratory and X-ray services; 3) prescription medications; 4) medical
supplies, durable medical equipment, insulin pumps and prosthetic devices; 5)
treatment of medical conditions of the eye; 6) early and periodic health
screening and diagnostic services; 7) family planning services; 8) podiatry
services;
9) nonexperimental transplants; 10) emergency dental care; 11) ambulance and
nonambulance transportation; 12) hospice care; 13) orthotics; and 14) diabetes
outpatient self-management training services (A.R.S.
§ 36-2907).
Speech therapy is the assessment, diagnoses and treatment, by a speech-language pathologist, of communication and swallowing disorders. Speech therapy helps persons develop and maintain the ability to speak more clearly, understand and express thoughts and feelings and eat and swallow safely (Mayo Clinic).
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that improves hearing. It can be an option for people who have severe hearing loss from inner-ear damage who are not able to hear well with hearing aids. A cochlear implant bypasses damaged portions of the ear to deliver sound signals to the hearing nerve (Mayo Clinic).
The Hospital
Assessment Fund consists of monies collected from an assessment of hospital
revenues, discharges or bed days for the purpose of supplementing AHCCCS
funding from the Proposition 204 Protection Account and Arizona Tobacco
Litigation Settlement Fund (A.R.S.
§ 36-2901.09).
If there is a cost associated with expanding AHCCCS services to provide speech therapy services and cochlear implants to persons over 21 years old, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Removes, from AHCCCS-covered health and medical services, the exclusion of speech therapy and cochlear implants for persons who are at least 21 years old.
2. Prohibits Hospital Assessment Fund monies from being used to provide speech therapy and cochlear implants to eligible persons who are at least 21 years old.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 27, 2025
MM/KS/slp