President Trump’s healthcare message focusing on prescription drug costs.
Registration for the 2026 AzCHER conference.
Crossover week at the Arizona Legislature
The Arizona Legislature has reached the crossover deadline, one of the most significant milestones of the session.
As of last Friday, bills must have been heard in their originating chamber committees to remain viable. While a few measures can still be revived through procedural maneuvers, the practical likelihood of survival drops sharply after this point.
Session by the numbers: While the volume of bill introductions remains high, the number of measures that have successfully moved through both chambers remains limited at this stage of the session.
Days of session: 46
Bills posted: 1,966
Bills passed: 14
Bills vetoed: 11
Bills signed: 3
To wrap up last week, both the Senate and House Health and Human Services committees held additional meetings on Thursday to finalize agendas before the Friday deadline:
This week, we are seeing extended floor sessions, with rumors of a goal to hear up to 100 bills per day. Our team is closely monitoring the Committees of the Whole and Third Read calendars in both chambers as measures move quickly toward final votes.
Several priority policies for AzHHA have made progress:
Go deeper: You can watch live floor sessions in both chambers here. Calendars and agendas are also available here.
As bills advance rapidly, we remain engaged with legislators, agency partners and stakeholders to protect hospital priorities and ensure sound health policy.
Please feel free to reach out to Damien Johnson with any questions about our advocacy efforts.
President Trump’s healthcare message focuses on prescription drug costs, offers few details
In his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, President Trump’s healthcare message centered on costs.
He briefly advocated for his Great Healthcare Plan as a way to redirect government payments “directly to the people” and called for “maximum price transparency.”
The President emphasized lowering prescription drug prices, stating that “Americans…will now pay the lowest price anywhere in the world for drugs.” He touted his most-favored-nation drug-price deals with manufacturers, which he urged Congress to codify, and directed viewers to TrumpRx.gov as a mechanism for discounts.
Just as notable was what the President did not address.
The speech offered few specifics on how his healthcare plan would operate and did not present a fully-formed legislative roadmap.
He largely sidestepped politically fraught or complex issues such as Medicaid policy changes, vaccine recommendation shifts and research funding cuts.
In doing so, the President signaled a healthcare agenda centered on consumer costs, particularly for prescription drugs, rather than structural coverage changes or programmatic reforms.
This year’s AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference will be held June 9-10 at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
This year’s theme is “Many voices, one mission: Advancing healthcare preparedness together.”
Why it matters: This year’s one-and-a-half-day conference features sessions shaped by member feedback and brings together experts across healthcare, public health and emergency management.
Topics include workplace violence, behavioral threat assessment, regulatory updates, lessons learned and coordinated response.
Day two offers in-depth workplace violence and active-shooter preparedness training, including targeted instruction and hands-on exercise development to strengthen prevention, response and recovery in healthcare settings.
Kathleen Duffy, CEO of AzHHA’s affiliated partner Duffy Group, explores pay transparency and recruiting top talent for the Forbes Human Resources Council.
Why it matters: Pay transparency is no longer an abstract policy conversation. As select states adopt disclosure requirements, it is beginning to reshape real hiring decisions, and many organizations are learning that publishing a salary range is only the starting point.
Transparency can build trust, but without strategy behind it, it can also skew expectations, speed candidates toward surface-level decisions and pull focus away from long-term fit.
She examines how open compensation practices influence candidate behavior and why salary works best when it is positioned within a broader total rewards story that includes growth opportunity, development, purpose and well-being.
“Pay transparency can have a positive impact on hiring and retaining top talent. The key is taking a thoughtful approach and implementing a detailed implementation plan that covers every aspect of the process.”
-Kathleen Duffy, CEO, Duffy Group
AzHHA releases DataGen reports
In relationship with DataGen, AzHHA distributes reports to hospitals based on information submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DataGen generates hospital-specific reports which are sent to AzHHA hospital members as part of their membership.
Why it matters: This data helps hospitals understand the financial impact of proposed changes and annual updates.
The reports can also assist in preparing budgets or benchmarking results with other similar organizations.
The below report was recently sent to members:
Medicare Hospital FFY 2027 Wage Index and Occupational Data Mix Analysis (sent Friday, Feb. 6, 2026)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 - Current measles statistics & resources for infection preventionists Join the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Grand Canyon Chapter and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) for a free hybrid event from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, to learn about current statistics and resources for infection preventionists regarding measles. Access the virtual event here (password: APIC4U) or visit this page for more information.
Friday, May 1, 2026 - From Crisis to Care: Improving Outcomes in Arizona’s Behavioral Health System The Arizona Public Health Association’s 98th Annual Conference will focus on strengthening Arizona’s behavioral health system and improving outcomes for people with mental and behavioral health needs. This year’s conference will highlight innovative strategies, evidence-based practices and policy approaches that move the system beyond crisis response and toward sustainable, person-centered care. Learn more and register.
June 9-10, 2026 - 2026 AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference This year’s theme is “Many voices, one mission: Advancing healthcare preparedness together.” This year’s one-and-a-half-day conference features sessions shaped by member feedback and brings together experts across healthcare, public health and emergency management. Register now.
Save the Date: 2026 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference Mark your calendar for the AzHHA Foundation’s 2026 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference, taking place Oct. 21–23 at the El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort. This annual gathering brings together hospital and healthcare leaders from across the state for engaging discussions, networking and forward‑focused learning. Additional details, registration information and sponsorship opportunities will be shared in the coming months. Questions may be directed to communications@azhha.org.
