Attorney General Mayes suing the federal government over unlawful implementation of work requirements.
Registration opening for the 2026 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference.
AHA announcing the appointment of a new president and CEO.
Attorney General Mayes sues federal government over unlawful implementation of work requirements
On Monday, June 29, 2026, a coalition of 24 attorneys general and two governors, including Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, announced a lawsuit over the Trump Administration’s unlawful implementation of new Medicaid work requirements included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Specifically, the lawsuit challenges provisions of an interim final rule published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
What they’re saying:
“Medicaid exists to protect the most vulnerable Arizonans, and this interim final rule unlawfully undermines that protection. It ignores the law and puts medically frail people at risk of losing the healthcare they depend on. Arizonans otherwise eligible for coverage shouldn’t lose their access to their healthcare because of unnecessary red tape.”
The big picture: This will be an inspirational gathering of more than 200 hospital and healthcare executives seeking opportunities for continuing education, meaningful discussion and relationship building.
AHA announces appointment of new president and CEO
Steve Walsh (pictured above) was named president and CEO of AHA.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the American Hospital Association (AHA) announced the appointment of Steve Walsh as its next president and chief executive officer.
He will assume leadership of AHA this fall and brings more than two decades of experience advancing American healthcare.
The big picture: Steve has served as the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) since 2017.
During his time in this role, Steve has been a proven coalition builder and has broken boundaries between providers, payers, policymakers and others.
Valleywise Health Board of Directors announces selection of next president and CEO
Michael D. White, M.D., MBA, (pictured above) was named president and CEO of Valleywise Health.
On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors announced that it will appoint Michael D. White, M.D., MBA, as Valleywise Health’s next president and CEO at a special board meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Dr. White will assume the role on Aug. 1, 2026.
The big picture: Dr. White has served as executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Valleywise Health since 2019.
He helped lead the planning and execution of the move into the new medical center, drove the expansion of specialty and behavioral health services and oversaw the continued growth of graduate medical education programs.
Last chance to participate in the July 2026 cohort of the Clinical Leadership Certificate Program
AzHHA is partnering with Creighton University’s College of Professional and Continuing Education to offer a Clinical Leadership Certificate Program.
Why it matters: We’re proud to continue to help bolster leadership at healthcare organizations across Arizona.
This new iteration engages both nurses and other non-nursing clinical leaders.
The Clinical Leadership for Change & Culture Certificate, A Human-Centered Approach to Leading Teams, Systems and Change, is a 10-week online program designed for emerging clinical leaders ready to step into high-impact roles.
The big picture: The July 2026 cohort runs from Monday, July 6 to Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, with two hours of engagement each week and facilitator-led discussion boards weekly.
Note: The total time commitment is 16 hours, as two flex weeks are built into the cohort schedule.
The deadline to sign up for this cohort is the end of the day today, Thursday, July 2, 2026.
If you’re interested in signing up for the program or if you have additional questions, please email ttpprogram@azhha.org.
Why it matters: Key findings from the report include:
149 pregnancy-related deaths occurred during the five-year period — an average of 29.8 deaths annually.
Arizona’s pregnancy-related mortality ratio (PRMR) increased from 2018 to 2022.
American Indian/Alaska Native and Black/African American women experienced the highest burden of pregnancy-related mortality.
Women living in rural counties continued to experience higher maternal mortality than those in urban areas.
90.6% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.
Most preventable deaths occurred during the postpartum period.
Mental health conditions were the leading underlying cause of pregnancy-related deaths, followed by infection.
The big picture: The report also recommends priority actions to reduce preventable maternal deaths in Arizona, including strengthening clinical preparedness, expanding standardized screenings, implementing evidence-based clinical protocols and enhancing care coordination.
Through the Arizona Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Collaborative and other programs, AzHHA is committed to improving maternal health outcomes across the state.
Go deeper:Learn more about these maternal health initiatives.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, July 17, 2026 - 2026 Summer State of the State Registration is now open for The Hertel Report’s Summer State of the State, hosted this year at Summit Regional Medical Center in Show Low, with virtual attendance also available. The bi-annual conference will feature updates on Arizona’s healthcare market and insights on federal and state policy impacts, including Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, the Marketplace and value-based care trends. Discounted pricing is available for AzHHA members by using “azhha2026.” Register now.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 - Sidewalk to Bedside: Reimagining Care Through Street Medicine-Hospital Partnerships Symposium Join the University of Southern California for a free, in-person one-day symposium. This event brings together street medicine experts, hospital leaders, community organizations and health plans to explore how street medicine programs and hospitals can better partner to improve care before and after hospital discharge. Learn more and register.
Oct. 21-23 – 2026 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference The 2026 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference will be held at the El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort on Oct. 21-23. This will be an inspirational gathering of more than 200 hospital and healthcare executives seeking opportunities for continuing education, meaningful discussion and relationship building. Registerby Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, to receive the early bird discount.
