AHCCCS is in the process of requesting an amendment to Arizona’s 1115 “Research and Demonstration Waiver” to enhance and expand housing services and interventions for AHCCCS members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The goals are to:
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Increase positive health and wellbeing outcomes for target populations including the stabilization of members’ mental health conditions, reduction in substance use, improvement in the utilization of primary care and prevention services, and increased member satisfaction,
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Reduce the cost of care for individuals successfully housed through decreased utilization of crisis services, emergency department utilization, and inpatient hospitalization, and
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Reduce homelessness and improve skills to maintain housing stability.
The waiver is too involved to summarize here, but you can read the full draft proposal on the AHCCCS website. I just submitted AzPHA’s support for the waiver. You can read our support letter here.
The proposal is thoughtful and evidence-based. In our letter, we commended the AHCCCS leadership team for embracing new opportunities to improve the health of your members.
