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Arizona's Medicaid program gets approval to ease access during virus outbreak

Posted at 8:00 AM, Mar 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-28 11:00:12-04

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which is Arizona's version of Medicaid, received federal approval to make it easier for its enrollees to get health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arizona was one of the first states in the nation to request approval to address the COVID-19 outbreak, said Heidi Capriotti, public information officer for AHCCCS, which is the state's largest insurer covering 1.9 million members.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, is allowing AHCCCS to strengthen its provider workforce, remove barriers to care for its members, enhance services and support for vulnerable members and remove burdensome cost-sharing and other administrative requirements, she said.

This gives broad authority to tailor changes to best serve its 1.9 million members, she said.

Read more from the Phoenix Business Journal.