Your ballot is in the mail. Here's how to get it back.
Early ballots for the Nov. 3 General Election went out on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.
If you're on the Active Early Voting List, yours is on the way.
Why it matters: Most Arizonans vote by mail. If you're working a 12-hour shift on Nov. 3, vote early or use an early voting location to ensure your ballot is counted.
How to return it:
By mail: Send it by Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Postmarks don't count. Your ballot must arrive by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Mailing early ensures your vote is counted without worry.
Drop box: Use any official ballot drop box in your county.
Voting location: Drop it off at any early voting site or vote center in your county, up to 7 p.m. on Election Day. This flexibility helps you vote on your schedule.
What's new: Bring your sealed ballot and a valid ID to any voting location.
Once your ID is verified, your ballot skips signature verification and gets processed faster.
On Election Day, it can be tabulated on the spot.
Don't skip these:
Sign the green envelope. Your signature confirms your participation and helps ensure your ballot is counted. An unsigned ballot can only be fixed until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Watch your phone. If your county can't match your signature, it will contact you, often by text. You have until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, to fix it.
Track it. Sign up for text or email ballot alerts at Arizona.Vote.
No ballot after a week? Call your county recorder’s office to request a replacement or vote in person at your local voting site.
Key dates:
Wednesday, Oct. 7: Early ballots mailed; in-person early voting begins
Friday, Oct. 23: Last day to request a mail ballot
Tuesday, Oct. 27: Recommended last day to mail your ballot
Friday, Oct. 30: In-person early voting ends
Friday, Oct. 30 (5 p.m.) to Monday, Nov. 2 (5 p.m.): Emergency voting for those who can't vote on Election Day
Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day - polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The big picture: You may have seen national headlines about mail ballots counted after Election Day.
That ruling doesn't apply here.
Arizona only counts the ballots that are received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
The bottom line: Sign it, send it early, track it. Ballots returned before Election Day are verified first and counted first.
Medicaid Fraud Control Units face growing scrutiny
Why it matters: Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) are a critical line of defense against Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse, helping protect taxpayer dollars and vulnerable patients.
As federal leaders intensify efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse, these agencies are receiving increased oversight and accountability reviews.
These units investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud, as well as abuse and neglect in Medicaid-funded healthcare settings.
They operate independently from state Medicaid agencies and are primarily funded through federal grants.
By the numbers:
MFCUs had 15,810 open investigations nationwide at the end of FY 2025.
They secured 1,180 criminal convictions and 661 civil settlements or judgments during FY 2025.
MFCUs recovered $1.97 billion in FY 2025 and have averaged more than $1 billion annually over the past decade.
What’s happening now: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) has increased scrutiny of state MFCUs.
In 2026, Hawaii and New York lost federal recertification and funding after regulators cited insufficient case outcomes and recoveries.
Several other states have received conditional recertifications that require corrective actions.
What to watch: While MFCUs recover significant funds and play a key enforcement role, recovery totals alone do not fully measure success.
Experts note that fraud prevention, early detection and deterrence efforts often produce benefits that are difficult to quantify.
As oversight expands, states may face growing pressure to demonstrate measurable results while maintaining strong program integrity safeguards.
The bottom line: MFCUs remain a cornerstone of Medicaid program integrity, but heightened federal scrutiny signals a new era of performance expectations and accountability.
Help shape Arizona's healthcare preparedness priorities
The Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER) has launched the 2026-2027 Hazard Vulnerability Assessment and Resource Gap Analysis (HVA/RGA), a critical statewide assessment that helps identify risks, resource needs and preparedness priorities across Arizona's healthcare system.
The big picture: Hospital participation is essential.
AzCHER encourages healthcare leaders to ensure their emergency manager or preparedness lead completes the HVA/RGA on behalf of their organization.
The results help guide preparedness planning, resource allocation, training priorities and statewide initiatives that strengthen healthcare readiness and response capabilities.
Your organization's input helps build a more resilient healthcare system prepared to protect patients, staff and communities during emergencies.
Medicare Part D premium changes create winners and losers in 2027
Why it matters: While federal officials are highlighting stability in the Medicare Part D market for 2027, premium changes will vary significantly depending on a beneficiary’s current prescription drug plan.
Many enrollees will see modest increases or even lower premiums, but others could face much higher costs if they do not review and switch plans during open enrollment.
The big picture: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates the average monthly stand-alone Part D premium will increase only slightly, from $35 to $36 in 2027.
However, a KFF analysis found that these averages mask substantial differences among individual plans and states.
By the numbers:
The average number of stand-alone Part D plans available to beneficiaries will decline from 11 plans in 2026 to nine plans in 2027, marking the fourth consecutive year of reduced plan choice.
More than four million beneficiaries who paid no monthly premium in 2026 will lose access to zero-premium stand-alone drug plans in 2027.
56% of all Part D enrollees receive coverage through Medicare Advantage drug plans and generally will not be affected by these stand-alone drug plan premium changes.
Who benefits: Centene's Wellcare plans continue to offer some of the lowest premiums nationwide.
In many states, beneficiaries enrolled in Wellcare Value Script or Wellcare Classic plans will see either small increases or premium reductions if they remain enrolled.
Who may pay more: Beneficiaries enrolled in UnitedHealthcare's AARP-branded prescription drug plans could see some of the steepest premium hikes.
In many states, monthly premiums for AARP Medicare Rx Preferred and AARP Medicare Rx Saver plans are increasing by $50 or more, with some enrollees facing increases exceeding $100 per month if they do not switch plans.
What to watch: Experts note that many Medicare beneficiaries rarely compare plans or switch coverage during open enrollment, even when substantial savings opportunities exist.
With fewer plan choices and the elimination of zero-premium stand-alone plans, reviewing coverage options may be more important than ever for 2027.
Beneficiaries should evaluate not only premiums, but also formularies, deductibles, drug coverage and out-of-pocket costs before making a decision.
The bottom line: Medicare Part D remains relatively stable overall, but individual beneficiaries could experience dramatically different outcomes.
For some, costs will change little. For others, failing to shop around could result in significantly higher monthly premiums in 2027.
New toolkit for respiratory virus season
The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) has developed a variety of resources to support outreach efforts.
Why it matters: As respiratory virus season approaches, it is important that we continue spreading the message about staying up to date on recommended vaccines and other prevention measures.
Centered around the campaign message, This Season, Ask, the toolkit encourages individuals and families to have conversations with trusted healthcare providers about respiratory illnesses.
For support, customization or co-branding requests, please contact TapiAdmin@tapi.org.
Nebraska’s early Medicaid work requirement rollout offers preview of national changes
Why it matters: Nebraska is one of the first states to implement Medicaid work requirements ahead of a nationwide rollout scheduled for January, providing an early look at how these policies may affect beneficiaries, providers and state agencies.
The big picture: Supporters argue that work requirements can encourage employment and strengthen connections to workforce programs.
However, Nebraska’s early experience suggests implementation can be challenging, with providers and patient advocates reporting confusion among beneficiaries about new eligibility and reporting requirements.
What’s happening:
Nebraska began implementing Medicaid work requirements before the federal nationwide effective date.
Healthcare providers and advocacy groups say some Medicaid members are uncertain about what documentation is required and whether they qualify for exemptions.
Concerns have emerged that confusion could lead eligible individuals to lose coverage because of administrative hurdles rather than actual ineligibility.
Why stakeholders are watching: Nebraska’s experience is likely to serve as a case study for other states preparing for similar requirements.
State officials, health plans, providers and policymakers will be monitoring enrollment trends, compliance rates and coverage losses to determine whether the policy achieves its intended goals without creating unintended barriers to care.
Potential impact: Administrative requirements such as filing paperwork, documenting employment, volunteering, education or exemption status can increase the burden on both beneficiaries and state agencies.
Healthcare organizations worry that individuals who remain eligible may still struggle to navigate the new processes.
What to watch: As work requirements expand nationally in 2027, policymakers will closely examine Nebraska’s results, including enrollment changes, beneficiary compliance and whether coverage disruptions occur among eligible Medicaid recipients.
Early lessons could influence how other states design outreach, reporting systems and exemption processes.
The bottom line: Nebraska’s head start on Medicaid work requirements is highlighting the operational challenges that can accompany major eligibility changes.
The state’s experience may provide an important roadmap for the rest of the country as similar requirements take effect nationwide.
Medicare drug pricing rule scaled back, savings drop sharply
Why it matters: The Trump administration finalized a Medicare drug-pricing initiative intended to align certain U.S. drug prices with those paid in other wealthy countries.
However, significant changes to the policy mean it is now expected to generate far less savings than originally projected.
The big picture: The final Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) rule is one of two Medicare drug-pricing demonstration programs designed to lower costs for drugs administered in physician offices.
The approach is commonly referred to as “most-favored nation” pricing because it ties Medicare payments more closely to prices charged in other developed nations.
By the numbers:
Medicare actuaries initially estimated the proposed rule would save nearly $12 billion.
Under the final version, projected savings have fallen to approximately $440 million.
That represents roughly a 96% reduction in expected savings compared with the original proposal.
What changed: The final rule applies to only four pharmaceutical companies, dramatically narrowing its reach.
In addition, drug manufacturers that entered separate voluntary pricing agreements with the administration are exempt from the GLOBE program, further reducing the number of drugs and companies subject to the policy.
Why experts are paying attention: Critics argue the exemptions and narrower scope may weaken the government’s ability to reduce Medicare spending on high-cost drugs.
Supporters, however, contend that voluntary agreements can achieve lower prices with less disruption than broader mandatory price controls.
What’s next: A second Medicare drug-pricing pilot program, known as GUARD, remains in the proposal stage and could have a larger impact depending on its final design and implementation.
The bottom line: The administration’s final GLOBE rule preserves its effort to link Medicare drug prices to international benchmarks, but after significant revisions, the policy is expected to deliver only a fraction of the savings originally anticipated, raising questions about its ultimate impact on Medicare spending.
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 – APIC Grand Canyon Fall Conference Join infection prevention professionals and healthcare partners from across Arizona at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix for Mission Possible: Zero Harm. Whether you’re new to infection prevention (IP) or a seasoned IP, you’ll find practical takeaways, fresh perspectives and opportunities to learn from experts and colleagues across the state. Register now.
Oct 16-18 – AzAHQ Quality Journey Course Where are you on your quality journey? Have you thought about seeking certification in quality? This course is designed for healthcare professionals who are interested in learning more about healthcare quality and preparing for certification, and it will review key milestones in the quality journey. Register today.
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 Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 –Training Transformative Mental Healthcare Teams Conference This virtual session is designed for behavioral healthcare preceptors working with rural and underserved communities. The training will equip preceptors with effective strategies to strengthen the clinical competence, confidence and engagement of experiential learners in behavioral healthcare. Learn more and register.
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026 – Strengthening Rural Nursing Workforce: Transition to Practice as a Statewide Strategy webinar This webinar, hosted by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, will highlight the Arizona Transition to Practice Program. Karen Ofafa, EdD, MPH, BSN, R.N., vice president of Workforce and Clinical Excellence at AzHHA, will share implementation strategies, sustainability considerations and lessons learned that can inform broader efforts to strengthen the rural nursing workforce. Register now.
Save the date: Jan. 8-9, 2027 – 3rd National Pediatric Disaster Conference The conference, which will be held in Scottsdale, Ariz., will focus on pediatric mass casualty incidents and innovative approaches to strengthening preparedness, response and recovery efforts for children. AzCHER encourages members to save the date and take advantage of this opportunity to learn, connect and strengthen pediatric readiness. Registration details coming soon.
