• Key legislation that was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
• The continuing congressional debate over Medicaid cuts.
• The recognition ceremony for cohort one of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program.

• Budget discussions remain behind closed doors, and the Legislature has focused much of its attention over the last few weeks on advancing bills through the opposite chamber.

• HB2173 – Mental health inquiry prohibition
  • This bill prohibits health profession regulatory boards and licensing authorities from asking applicants about their history of seeking mental health assistance, diagnoses or treatment.
  • AzHHA strongly supports this bill as part of our ongoing efforts to remove barriers to entry for healthcare professionals—especially amid the state's ongoing staffing crisis.
  • ✅ Passed unanimously (6-0) in Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday.
• HB2180 – Acute Care Services Pilot Program
  • This bill extends the repeal date for the Acute Care at Home Pilot Program administered by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), allowing licensed hospitals to continue providing acute care services in patients’ homes.
  • AzHHA supports this bill as it enables Mayo Clinic to continue its successful program and allows other hospitals to participate in the future.
  • ✅ Passed unanimously (6-0) in Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday.
• HB2332 – Postpartum depression treatment & insurers
  • This bill directs ADHS to compile and distribute educational materials on maternal mental health conditions, including postpartum depression, to healthcare professionals and patients.
  • AzHHA strongly supports this bill, following an amendment requested by AzHHA and adopted by Representative Julie Willoughby (R-Dist.13), which creates and ensures that the OBGYN advisory committee for rural Arizona includes the right mix of professionals to deliver meaningful recommendations.
  • ✅ Passed unanimously (6-0) in Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday.

• This bill is a top priority for AzHHA members, aiming to reduce provider credentialing timeframes with commercial insurers while ensuring providers can receive retroactive payment for services delivered while awaiting credentialing.
• AzHHA will testify to support this bill alongside other provider advocacy groups. We encourage members to tune in on Monday afternoon to hear the discussion.

• Although President Trump has assured the public that he will protect Medicare and Medicaid, cuts well beyond targeting waste, fraud and abuse will be needed under the current budget resolution.
• Additional analyses have found that adding Medicaid mandatory work requirements also would be insufficient to produce the needed savings.

• Furthermore, 60% of Republicans believe that Medicaid is “very important” to their local community and only 33% favor cuts to the program.
• Voting in favor of Medicaid cuts is therefore politically perilous for Congressional Republicans, contributing to the deliberation.

• The House and Senate have passed different budget resolutions, and they must negotiate and vote on the same bill before they can take the next step toward passing a budget-reconciliation package.
• It is expected that the Senate will not vote on the House budget resolution until late March at the earliest.

I’m so proud of each and every one of our new graduate nurses for their commitment to this program and seeing them complete the work. I’d also like to acknowledge our site champions, preceptors and mentors for their outstanding efforts. The Arizona Transition to Practice Program is made possible by funding and support provided by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Governor’s Office. We are grateful for their backing so we can tackle this important work.

-Karen Ofafa, EdD, MPH, BSN, RN, director, Transition to Practice Program

• This conference will provide inspiration, connection and support.

• Chief human resources officers and human resources directors of AzHHA member hospitals are invited to an HR Roundtable from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at AzHHA’s office in downtown Phoenix.

• Roundtable discussions of pertinent topics, such as recruitment, benefits and staff burnout.
• A presentation and group brainstorming on innovation in staff resource sharing.
• Ogletree Deakins attorney, Tracy Miller, will present on current topics in employment law. Matt McElrath, CHRO at Onvida Health, will facilitate the discussion.

• Sponsored by Adaptive Workforce Solutions, there is no registration fee.
• Lunch and parking will be complimentary.
• Questions? Email [email protected].