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Connection Newsletter
By AzHHA Communications ● Feb. 27, 2025
Smart Brevity® count: 5 mins...1309 words
This week, read about:
- The House passing a budget framework that calls for $2 trillion in spending cuts.
- President Trump signing an executive order on healthcare price transparency.
- AHCCCS seeking public input on work requirements.
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House passes budget framework calling for $2 trillion in spending cuts
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a budget resolution in an initial step toward advancing President Trump’s domestic agenda through a reconciliation package.
- The budget bill passed 217-215, with only one Republican dissenting (Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky).
- The bill provides a framework for extending the 2017 tax cuts with up to $2 trillion in spending cuts as offsets.
Why it matters: The budget framework does not explicitly require Medicaid cuts but directs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid among other programs, to specify spending cuts totaling at least $880 billion over the next ten years.
- However, several Republican lawmakers, including Arizona Representative Juan Ciscomani, have expressed concerns about cutting Medicaid spending.
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This analysis by the Center for American Progress approximates the amount of potential Medicaid cuts by Congressional district if Medicaid is cut by $880 billion over ten years.
What’s next: To consider a reconciliation package, the House and Senate must first adopt identical budget resolutions.
- The Senate passed a significantly different budget resolution last week.
- The House and Senate will now attempt to reconcile the differences between the two budget frameworks, including resolving the debate over Medicaid cuts.
- If identical budget bills are passed, triggering the budget reconciliation process would allow Republicans to sidestep the Senate filibuster and pass a final bill along party lines.
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President Trump signs executive order on healthcare price transparency
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring the secretaries of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to enforce healthcare price transparency regulations.
Specifically, the order requires that within 90 days the secretaries:
- require the disclosure of the actual prices of items and services, not estimates;
- issue updated guidance or proposed regulatory action ensuring pricing information is standardized and easily comparable across hospitals and health plans; and
- issue guidance or proposed regulatory action updating enforcement policies designed to ensure compliance with the transparent reporting of complete, accurate and meaningful data.
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AHCCCS seeking public input on work requirements
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) opened public comments on a proposal to institute work reporting requirements as a condition of coverage.
- AHCCCS Works requires certain Medicaid participants to engage in at least 20 hours per week of employment or educational activities to remain eligible for coverage.
Why it matters: The public comment period is one of many steps that must be taken before AHCCCS Works can be implemented.
- Public comments will be submitted along with the agency’s submission to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The big picture: In 2015, SB1092 was passed into law by the Arizona legislature, requiring AHCCCS to ask the federal government for permission to carry out work reporting requirements and a five-year lifetime limit on participation in Medicaid services for certain adults, as well as cost-sharing requirements to discourage non-emergency use of emergency services.
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Arizona Transition to Practice Program starts fourth cohort
📢AzHHA is proud to announce the fourth cohort of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses commenced this past Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.
By the numbers: Get to know our February 2025 cohort:
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👩⚕21 new graduate nurses
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👩🏫41 preceptors and 20 mentors
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🏥Nine facilities participating in cohort four
The big picture: The Arizona Transition to Practice Program is made possible by funding and support provided by Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Governor’s Office.
- We are grateful for their backing so that we can tackle this important work.
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Member webinar: ADHS presents its 2024 State Health Assessment
AzHHA invites you to participate in a virtual member meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) for an exclusive look at the 2025 State Health Assessment.
Why it matters: This meeting provides a rare opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the strategic directions of Arizona's health initiatives. You will:
- Hear about key achievements and challenges faced by ADHS.
- Learn about the future plans for the Arizona Health Improvement Plan.
Speakers:
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Sheila Sjolander, deputy director of Public Health Services for ADHS
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Nicole Witt, assistant director of Public Health Preparedness for ADHS
What’s next: If you are interested in attending and haven’t received an invite, please email [email protected].
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AzHHA releases DataGen report
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 2026 Wage Index and Occupational Mix Data (sent Friday, Feb. 7, 2025)
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Member spotlight: Small hospitals, big impact
Through a partnership with the Diaper Bank of Arizona, Benson Hospital and Northern Cochise Community Hospital (NCCH) are addressing a basic yet critical need: access to diapers and incontinence supplies for families.
Why it matters: Access to basic health supplies is a key factor in well-being.
- Diaper insecurity affects physical health, emotional well-being and financial stability.
By the numbers:
- Benson Hospital launched its diaper bank in 2020, responding to a community health needs assessment that found one in five children in Cochise County lives in poverty.
- In 2024, NCCH opened two diaper banks:
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Willcox: Attendance grew from 17 participants to nearly 60 in just a few months.
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San Simon: Launched in October 2024, aligning with the community’s commodities distribution day to reach older residents in need.
- Collectively, both hospitals now distribute more than 7,000 diapers and related supplies each month.
The bottom line: Hospitals do more than treat patients—they serve their communities in vital ways.
- Through these programs, Benson Hospital and NCCH are ensuring that families—both parents of young children and adults with incontinence needs—have access to essential health products that improve quality of life.
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Wednesday, March 5 - AZ Community Grand Rounds
This session will enhance avian influenza A(H5N1) awareness and readiness among healthcare professionals. Expert panelists will discuss transmission, recent outbreaks and surveillance systems, including current and emerging trends in Arizona, key recommendations, clinical guidance and resources available to providers. Register here.
Tuesday, March 11 - Health Equity Roadmap Workshop: The Waypoint
The Institute for Diversity and Health Equity (IFDHE) will convene hospitals and health systems engaged in the Health Equity Roadmap. Attendees may earn one or two ACHE Qualified Education Hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation. Learn more and register.
Thursday, April 3 - AzPHA Annual Conference
This year’s conference theme is “building an innovative and inclusive infrastructure for the public health of the future” and will feature topics such as using AI to enhance public health practice and population outcomes, data infrastructure and informatics, public health workforce and engaging public health professionals. Register now.
April 15-16 - 2025 Arizona Immunization Conference
This one-of-a-kind event provides education and resources so you can better understand the challenges around vaccine confidence and leave the conference encouraged by the success stories from around the state. Join over 500 attendees at the 2025 conference. Register here.
May 4-6 - American Hospital Association Annual Membership Meeting
This event will feature insightful conversations with policymakers, legislators and thought leaders on our most pressing issues. You’ll connect with decision makers who create, shape and implement healthcare policy and influence the political landscape. Register now and save with early bird registration pricing until Monday, March 3, 2025.
Wednesday, May 28 - 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.
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