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Connection Newsletter
By AzHHA Communications ● Oct. 9, 2025
Smart Brevity® count: 4 mins...1089 words
This week, read about:
- An update on the federal government shutdown.
- AzCHER mobilizing as Globe and Miami face severe flooding risks.
- Medicare Open Enrollment beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.
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Update: federal government shutdown
The federal government shutdown has stretched into its second week with no clear resolution in sight.
- On Wednesday, the Senate again failed to adopt the House-passed resolution or the competing bill backed by Senate Democrats.
- The House remains out of session as Speaker Mike Johnson continues to push for Senate passage of the GOP proposal.
- Tensions have grown as both parties trade blame and disagree over how to address key expiring healthcare programs, including Affordable Care Act enhanced premium subsidies.
- Republican leaders have insisted that discussions on those subsidies will take place only after the government reopens, while President Trump has claimed that healthcare talks between the parties are already underway.
A memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget has argued that furloughed federal employees are not automatically entitled to back pay, contending that Congress must explicitly appropriate funds for back pay in a funding bill.
Meanwhile, federal health operations are significantly impaired as approximately 41% of the Department of Health and Human Services’ 78,000 employees are furloughed, including the following:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has furloughed two-thirds of its workforce, maintaining only essential outbreak response while halting most research, surveillance and state guidance.
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has furloughed approximately half of its employees, pausing much of its oversight activity.
- Three-quarters of the National Institutes of Health workforce is furloughed, causing research and grant activity to be paused.
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AzCHER mobilizes as Globe and Miami face severe flooding risks
Severe flooding in Globe and Miami, Ariz., has led to road closures and property damage.
Why it matters: The flooding poses safety risks, with vehicles washed away, and propane tanks have exploded and floated along major corridors creating fire and hazardous material risks.
The big picture: Coordination, led by the Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER), is crucial for managing the crisis.
- AzCHER has maintained direct communications with Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center and county partners to assess impacts, verify status and coordinate response efforts.
What they’re saying: AzCHER would like to recognize Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center for its proactive mitigation efforts prior to the flood, including the timely installation of flood barriers and advance delivery of critical supplies.
- The strong situational awareness within the facility and effective communications with the coalition greatly contributed to their preparedness and overall response.
What's next: AzCHER will continue to:
- Monitor flood levels and access to Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center.
- Follow-up with long-term care and outpatient facilities.
- Support statewide coordination and resource tracking.
- Maintain situation awareness and prepare for escalation, if needed.
For real-time updates, please stay tuned to AzCHER communications channels.
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Medicare Open Enrollment begins Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025
Medicare’s annual open enrollment period — the time when individuals can review and make changes to their coverage — runs from Wednesday, Oct. 15 to Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.
Why it matters:
During this window, eligible individuals should evaluate their current Medicare plan to ensure it still meets their needs.
- This includes deciding between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
- Providers and family members may also want to support beneficiaries in making informed choices.
- Choosing Medicare Advantage (Part C) means replacing Original Medicare (Parts A & B).
- Coverage is provided through private insurers like UnitedHealthcare, Aetna or Humana — not the federal government.
Beneficiaries should weigh the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage versus Original Medicare:
- Provider networks under Medicare Advantage are often limited, which can be difficult for those who travel or prefer choosing their own providers.
- Original Medicare rarely requires prior authorization, while Medicare Advantage may delay or restrict access to care.
- Out-of-pocket limits are set under Medicare Advantage for hospital (Part A) and medical (Part B) services. However, costs under Medicare Advantage can be higher due to coverage denials or hidden fees.
- Extra benefits like vision, hearing and dental may be included in Medicare Advantage plans.
AzHHA members seeking more information or resources on Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare can contact [email protected].
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Fall Healthcare Leadership Summit explores important topics
Rural health nurse leaders Deb Aders, R.N., M.S., CENP, vice president, patient care services and CNO, Onvida Health, and Joy Peery, R.N., BSN, CNO, Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, along with Karen Ofafa, vice president of care improvement at AzHHA (pictured above), had the opportunity to attend the Healthcare Leadership Summit.
Why it matters: They were able to engage in conversations to explore national healthcare trends, healthcare policy shifts and workforce redesign.
- The summit was facilitated by Health Carousel and led by the Advisory Board.
Thank you to Deb, Joy and Karen for participating in this important summit.
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Spotlight: Vicki Buchda receives Leadership in Action Award
The Arizona Organization for Nurse Leaders (AzONL) presented their Leadership in Action Award to Vicki Buchda, M.S., R.N., NEA-BC, senior vice president of care improvement at AzHHA.
Why it matters: She was honored in the Practice Transformation Nurse Leader (Outpatient) category for her visionary leadership, collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to improving healthcare across Arizona.
The big picture: Vicki’s work has transformed patient safety, rural health access, maternal care and more, making a lasting impact on communities statewide.
Please join us in congratulating Vicki on this tremendous achievement!
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Oct. 28-29 - Medical Leadership in Disaster Preparedness and Response Conference
This free, virtual event will help AzCHER members strengthen emergency readiness, enhance leadership skills and apply best practices to improve healthcare response across Arizona. 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.
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