Executive Summary
Dear Hospital and Healthcare Members and Leadership,
As of 12:58 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, the Arizona Legislature formally adjourned. Of the 1,318 bills introduced this session, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) actively engaged on 94 of them.
Thanks to our truly collaborative partnership with member hospitals and healthcare partners, and AzHHA’s daily tenacity, networking and influence at the State Capitol, we were able to make great strides in advancing policies that will improve the healthcare and health for the patients and communities of Arizona.
Here, I’d like to touch on just four of the 94 measures that certainly affect our vision of making Arizona the Healthiest State in the Nation:
Healthcare Directives Registry (SB1352). This bill improves provider access to healthcare advance directives, by moving the registry to Health Current, Arizona’s Health Information Exchange.
- KidsCare (Included in Budget: HB2427 and HB2754). AzHHA fought long and hard to support working families, particularly women and children, by eliminating the budgetary freeze on KidsCare healthcare coverage.
- Physician Shortage (HB2747). First steps were taken to combat the state’s physician shortage by funding $9M for Graduate Medical Education, $8M to the UofA School of Medicine, and $750,000 to the State Loan Repayment Program.
- Telemedicine (SB1089). Commercial health insurers will now be required to provide coverage for all healthcare services received through telemedicine so long as the plan would cover the same services in person.
On behalf of our mission to build better healthcare and health for the patients, people and communities of Arizona, our purpose has been well-served this legislative session! Be sure to join us in setting the legislative priorities for the 2019-20 year, and together we will continue to ensure our impact is manifested in our influence.
In health and service,
Ann-Marie Alameddin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association