Comments being due on Sept. 22 for ADHS’s proposed licensing fee increase.
Registration and room block information for the 2025 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference.
How the AHA is urging an antitrust probe into drugmakers’ 340B rebate models.
Comments on ADHS's proposed licensing fee increase due Sept. 22
Comments on the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to increase the licensing fees for all healthcare institutions by 32% are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
The hearing on the proposed rule will take place on the same day at 1 p.m.
ADHS states that the proposed base fee increase will generate approximately $900,000 in revenue, with about $815,000 going to the agency and $90,000 going to the State General Fund.
According to ADHS, the fee increase is necessary because current revenue from licensing fees no longer covers the department’s costs to ensure health and safety.
The agency expects the additional revenue to enable it to fund compliance officer positions previously covered by the State General Fund, expand IT support for better data reporting, and enhance community outreach, compliance and enforcement efforts.
Registration and room block information: 2025 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference
This educational event is dedicated to supporting a vibrant healthcare delivery system, including a robust network of acute care, critical access, specialty, behavioral health and post-acute care hospitals.
What you need to know:
📢A little over a month left to register! Deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. Register today!
⌛Time is running out to reserve your room at a discounted rate. The deadline is Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Book now.
The big picture:
📅Oct. 29-31, 2025
📍Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson
The bottom line: In addition to inspiring keynote speakers and panels, we’re also proud to present sessions in key areas of interest:
AHA urges antitrust probe into drugmakers’ 340B rebate models
The battle over the future of the federal 340B Drug Discount Program intensified this week as the American Hospital Association (AHA) called on federal antitrust regulators to investigate drugmakers’ push to replace upfront discounts with rebate models.
In a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson and Department of Justice Antitrust Division Head Gail Slater, AHA General Counsel Chad Golder argued that pharmaceutical companies are engaging in “parallel conduct” reminiscent of past anticompetitive behavior, forcing safety-net hospitals to effectively extend interest-free loans to some of the world’s largest corporations.
The AHA warned that such a shift would undermine the 340B program’s core mission of supporting hospitals that care for low-income communities.
On Capitol Hill, a bipartisan group of 166 lawmakers sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging him to halt or at least heavily restrict the Health Resources and Services Administration’s proposed 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program.
This coalition of lawmakers cautioned that an unchecked rebate model would dismantle the program Congress designed to stretch scarce federal resources for vulnerable patients.
At the same time, the Congressional Budget Office added fuel to the debate, releasing a report concluding that 340B can drive up overall taxpayer costs by incentivizing hospitals to prescribe higher-priced drugs, eroding insurer rebates and accelerating vertical consolidation.
Together, the AHA’s antitrust claims, the bipartisan congressional pushback and the CBO’s fiscal critique underscore the growing tension between hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers over the future design and purpose of 340B.
MAHA strategy highlights research over regulation
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled the long-awaited “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report this week.
Why it matters: It is a 20-page plan intended to tackle chronic disease in children while balancing the demands of the Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) movement and the interests of powerful agribusiness allies.
The strategy stops short of imposing new regulations on pesticides, vaccines or food manufacturers – industries Secretary Kennedy has long criticized.
It includes a set of 130 recommendations that call for further studies, working groups and interagency collaboration.
The strategy emphasizes improving nutrition and school lunch programs, reevaluating prescribing patterns of behavioral health drugs for children and streamlining federal research on chronic illness.
Critics argue that by postponing decisions on vaccines, pesticides and other chemical regulations, the plan signals a retreat from Secretary Kennedy’s earlier promises to crack down on powerful corporations.
Key differences in care settings: HOPDs vs. independent physician offices
A recent analysis by the American Hospital Association (AHA) highlights significant differences in the patient populations served by hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) compared to independent physician offices (IPOs).
The findings, based on data from 2019 to 2024, raise important considerations for policymakers evaluating site-neutral payment proposals.
Medicare beneficiaries treated in HOPDs are more likely to:
Be under age 65 and disabled.
Be dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
Live in lower-income communities and rural counties.
Have more severe chronic conditions and a history of higher utilization of hospitals and emergency departments.
These differences suggest that HOPDs serve a more medically complex and socioeconomically vulnerable population.
Patients with higher complexity often require more intensive care and resources.
The report warns that site-neutral payment policies—which reimburse HOPDs and IPOs at the same rate—may not account for these differences.
As a result, such policies could:
Undermine access to care for high-need patients.
Disincentivize hospitals from serving complex populations.
Widen disparities in care availability, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Annual HVA/RGA survey - we need your participation!
The Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER) has launched its annual Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) and Resource Gap Analysis (RGA) survey.
Why it matters: This vital tool helps identify risks, uncover gaps and strengthen emergency preparedness across Arizona’s healthcare system.
The survey link was sent to AzCHER members on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, and will remain open until Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.
We need broad participation—your input directly contributes to statewide readiness and helps protect patients, staff and communities.
Spotlight: Kathy Roat’s mentoring experience with the Arizona Transition to Practice Program
Kathy Roat, MSN-PH, RN-BC, CHPN, director of education for Hospice of the Valley, has nearly two decades of experience in nursing which includes bedside care and leadership positions.
She joined the nursing profession after spending time as a preschool and elementary school teacher.
Now, Kathy’s able to combine her passion of teaching and mentoring with her love of the nursing profession.
The big picture: Mentoring provides many benefits to new graduate nurses by providing an additional layer of support to help them be successful in their new roles.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, Sept. 16 - National Voter Registration Day Help those in your community get #VoteReady for upcoming state and local elections. Check out voter registration resources including how to register to vote/check registration, steps to get ready for the 2025 elections and more.
Wednesday, Sept. 24 - 12th Annual Tribal Summit Join Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice for an in-person event in Flagstaff, Ariz., focused on understanding tribal health, building stronger partnerships and supporting culturally informed care across Arizona. This one-day, free summit will bring together Tribal and non-Tribal healthcare providers, Tribal leaders and community organizations to discuss pressing health topics. Register here.
Friday, Sept. 26 - Arizona Bioethics Network 13th Annual Conference This hybrid event will bring together scholars from various disciplines to explore the ethical questions that shape health in a global context. This year’s conference theme is “The Interconnected World: The Ethics of Global Health Policy.” Learn more and register.
Wednesday, Oct. 1 - Introduction to POLST Join physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) paradigm for their one-hour virtual workshops equipping healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources to begin using POLST in Arizona. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 2 - careLearning CMS webinar for AzHHA members AzHHA members are invited to participate in a live product information webinar at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 to learn about careLearning’s Learning Management System (LMS). The LMS offers cost-effective eLearning solutions, regulatory compliance tracking and healthcare-related courses. Members can access exclusive discounts and fee waivers. To register, email careLearning’s Derrick Stowers directly.
Oct. 29-31 – 2025 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference The 2025 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference will be held at the exquisite Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson on Oct. 29-31. This will be an inspirational gathering of more than 200 hospital and healthcare executives seeking opportunities for continuing education, meaningful discussion and relationship building. Register now.
Friday, Nov. 7 - Peer support training for health professionals The Wellbeing Collaborative is offering a powerful in-person training for healthcare professionals interested in building or strengthening peer support programs in their organizations. This interactive training includes real-world strategies, hands-on practice and expert guidance to promote connection, resilience and psychological safety across teams. Learn more and register.
