Hobbs Implements State Agency Hiring Freeze via a ‘Head Count Cap’

Governor Hobbs has ordered a hiring freeze for new state employees and instructed her department heads to send her a plan this week to cut $1.2 billion in spending out of their current and coming year budgets. That’s a 4% cut for the remainder of this fiscal year and a 2% reduction for next year.

The letter reportedly sets out a “headcount cap” for agencies like the Ducey administration did that will allow agencies to replace employee losses but not to fill currently vacant posts.

It’s unclear at this point how strict the hiring freeze will be and how easy it will be to get exemptions.

Editorial Note: ADHS desperately needs exemptions from the new policy for their licensing division, which is responsible for ensuring quality care in assisted living, skilled nursing, behavioral health facilities and the like. We have written extensively about the poor history the agency had during Christ and Herrington’s tenure – with a core reason for the poor performance the lack of inspectors. A hiring freeze would devastate their efforts to get licensing back on track.

Same goes for staffing at the Arizona State Hospital.

I’ll give another week or two to the administration before we begin advocacy to protect licensing and the state hospital from this new hiring freeze which would definitely jeopardize care at the Arizona State Hospital damage the Department’s ability to improve their licensing division’s performance.

See: Licensing & Regulating Care Facilities: A Root Cause Analysis of Arizona’s Failure to Protect Vulnerable Persons & Pathway to Redemption


More oversight is needed at the Arizona State Hospital, critics say

How The Republic reported on resident harm in senior living facilities

Report: The Arizona State Hospital lacking staff, treatment options

The AZ Corporation Commission & Public Health (Part II): Clean Energy

At first glance, the Arizona Corporation Commission might seem like it has pretty much nothing to do with public health. But when you scratch the surface just a little, you’ll discover that the Commission does in fact influence public health in important ways.

Last week we covered how the Commissioners have been using their authority to regulate electricity monopolies and how those decisions affect the social determinants of health.  This week we’ll cover how Commissioners decisions impact Arizona’s ability to limit carbon emissions.

Commissioners Set Stage Slash Rooftop Solar Buyback Rates

The “Value of Solar” rates set by the Corp Comm back in 2017 determine how much APS needs to pay home-based rooftop solar generators for their extra electricity. Those criteria were carefully set in 2017 after a multi-year evaluation by commissioners and staff.

Since then, folks have been using that formula to figure out what the return on their investment for the power they generate on their house.

That is all up in the air now that the Commission is reevaluating those rates – most likely to reduce them.

Back in October 2023 the Corp Comm voted (3-2) to open a new legal case to re-evaluate rooftop solar export rates – setting the stage for a future reduction in buyback rates. 

Commissioners Nick Myers, Jim O’Connor and Kevin Thompson voted to open the Value of Solar docket. Lea Márquez Peterson and Anna Tovar against the move.

Central to the issue is the 10% annual reduction in how much utility companies must pay residential solar panel owners for extra energy produced by their home system that is then returned to the grid and sold to other customers.

The decision also reopens discussions about the 10-year export rate effective period and a grandfathering policy for net metering customers.’  Corporation Commission reopens debate over rooftop solar buyback rates

The Commissioners haven’t yet cut the export rates for current and future solar producing customers, but the stage is now set for the newly elected commission in 2025 to decide whether to slash existing and future solar customer export rates.

Note: the Value of Solar agreement in 2017 included very bad provisions like the elimination of ‘net metering’ of APS customers.

Rate Increases for Solar Power Generating Homeowners

Back in February, the Commission rubber stamped APS’ request to add a monthly charge of $2.50 to $3 for residential customers with rooftop solar systems, reducing the incentives for folks to install rooftop solar systems on their houses.

After pushback from consumers and rooftop solar advocates the Corp Comm recently granted a rehearing on whether an APS rate hike that included an added fee for solar customers is “just and reasonable”.

Attorney General Mayes also stepped in and argued the added charge on solar customers was “discriminatory” given both solar and non-solar customers receive power uniformly, and the decision generally violated customers’ due process rights.

“In this rate case, APS did not request an additional charge for residential solar customers at any point, nor did any party propose one,. No party had any reason to introduce evidence to refute the factual basis for the surcharge because no party had requested, briefed, or discussed the possibility of such a charge at any time prior to the close of the administrative record.”

The Corp Comm says the upcoming rehearing would be limited to “whether the rate should be higher or lower; whether the GAC rate constitutes an alleged discriminatory fee to solar customers and whether omission of the GAC is discriminatory to non-solar customers.”

Grid Access Charge Rate Schedules: Fixing a Just and Reasonable Rate of Return

Commissioners Scrap Clean Energy Standards

The Arizona Corporation Commission also killed carbon-free energy rules that were under consideration for years after watering down the plan which would have incentivized solar, energy efficiency and other clean power sources.

The changes that weakened what had been the requirements for electric companies to meet clean energy standards – turning them into “goals” rather than mandates.

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After you scratch the surface, it’s easy to see that who you vote for in the upcoming Corporation Commission race can have a big impact on policies to encourage more solar investment in Arizona… with the stage now set for an even more hostile policy environment.

Note: Three of the five Arizona Corporation Commission seats are up for election in November — those of Republicans Jim O’Connor and Lea Marquez Peterson and Democrat Tovar, who has announced she will not run again.

Last week we saw how the Corporation Commission impacts the social determinants of health by how they use their authority to scrutinize monopoly utilities electricity rate increases: Corporation Commission reopens debate over rooftop solar buyback rates

This week we covered how they can use their authority to either encourage or discourage carbon emission reductions (discourage mostly).

Next week we’ll look at the way the Corporation Commission has been rubber-stamping rate increases for another monopoly utility (and harming the social determinants of health): Southwest Gas.

Valleywise Health’s Dr. Michael White Honored by Becker’s Hospital Review

AzPHA member and Valleywise Health Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Michael White has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review in its 2024 national list of “180 Hospital and Health Systems Chief Medical Officers to Know.” He was one of 2 Arizona chief medical officers recognized.

Dr. White is Chair of the Governing Board of the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance, a partnership that includes Valleywise Health, District Medical Group, and Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. White is a practicing interventional cardiologist, using his top-tier medical credentials as a senior member of the cardiology team at Valleywise Health.

Dr. White is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular diseases, and interventional cardiology. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Creighton University. Dr. White received his medical degree from the Creighton University School of Medicine, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease.

He completed a fellowship in interventional cardiology at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. White earned his MBA degree from Creighton University in 2019.

Abortion Care Cessation Date in AZ: June 8

From the Arizona Republic’s Stephanie Innes: When does Arizona’s abortion ban take effect? Here’s what to know

“The earliest that Arizona’s 1864 near-total abortion ban could take effect is June 8, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote Friday in a letter to medical providers.

Healthcare providers may continue providing abortions under the current law at least until June 8, Mayes wrote. Current law allows abortions up until 15 weeks gestation and makes an exception for medical emergencies.

The 1864 law, which the Arizona Supreme Court upheld on April 9, is a near-total ban that prohibits abortions in all circumstances, including rape and incest, with the only exception being to save the life of the mother.

“Absent any additional litigation or action by the legislature, the status quo remains in place concerning abortion law in our state until June 8,” Mayes said in a written statement. “My office continues to explore all legal options available to prevent the 1864 near-total abortion ban from taking effect.”

AZAG Mayes’ April 18 Letter to Providers Regarding the Legality of Abortion Care

The State of Adolescent Health in Arizona: A Status Report

As part of its commitment to lead the charge of advocating for youth, the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health developed this comprehensive report – The State of Adolescent Health in Arizona: A Status Report. Crucial data indicators across Health & Wellness, Education & Workforce Development, Environment & Climate, Economic Wellbeing, and Family & Community, describe the state of adolescent health in Arizona. 

The array of indicators in this report provides a unique snapshot of the health status of Arizona’s youth. Additionally, they offer a mechanism to track changes, which aids in policy and program planning, analysis, and evaluation. The aim of this report is to inform and guide initiatives that will contribute to positive and fair outcomes for all youth across the state. View the report here.

Click here for more information on The Alliance and how to become a member. You can view the report in its entirety below. To receive a printed copy, click below and fill in your mailing address. To receive an electronic copy, click below and fill in your email.

Get a Printed Copy

Get an Electronic Copy

Cochise County Healthcare Workforce Community Forum

Cochise County Healthcare Workforce Community Forum Tickets, Fri, May 3, 2024 at 8:30 AM | Eventbrite

The Regional Healthcare Workforce Community Forum brings together healthcare professionals, educators, industry leaders, workforce professionals, and economic development teams to discuss and strategize solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare industry, with a particular focus on training and development and educational programs and pathways.

Objectives/Outcomes

Develop and grow a regional healthcare workforce coalition that can find assets and solve complex issues through collaboration.

Audience

  • Healthcare Employers/Professionals
  • Educational Institutions/Programs
  • Community Organizations with training and development programs
  • Workforce Development Programs
  • Economic Development Entities

Event Schedule

Friday, May 3rd, 2024

  • Continental Breakfast and Registration: 8:30 am – 9:00 am
  • Regional Healthcare Workforce Community Forum: 9:00 am -1:00 pm
  • Networking Lunch: 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

Location

Cochise College, Douglas Campus, Room #101 in the 100 Building

4190 Az 80 Douglas, AZ 85607

Maricopa County Public Health Fellowship Opportunities & Pima County Public Health Internships

Maricopa County Public Health Accepting 2-Year Paid Fellowship Applications

Maricopa County Department of Public Health is now accepting applications for their paid Fellowship Program! This two-year program provides recent graduates with advanced degrees an opportunity for a hands-on learning experience in a diverse and thriving public health environment.

Public Health Fellows will work with MCDPH teams to address the emerging needs of Maricopa County residents. Fellows can expect to gain exposure to county operations, actively contribute to impactful and evidence-based initiatives, receive personalized mentorship, and take part in ongoing professional development.

Applications can be found at Public Health Internships and Fellowship | Maricopa County, AZ.

Fellows:

  • Receive full pay & benefits;
  • Work with internal projects to execute initiatives aimed at current public health issues in our communities;
  • Receive continuous support and mentorship from Fellowship Coordinator and Project Point of Contact;
  • Be a part of a fellowship cohort; and
  • Transition to Senior status in year two when new Junior Fellows join the program.

Candidates are encouraged to apply soon as this application will be open for a limited time. You can contact MCDPH Fellowship Coordinator Lisa Polovin at  Lisa.Polovin@Maricopa.gov  with questions.

Apply Here

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Pima County Health Department Internships

Pima County Health Department has 10 paid summer internship positions open in Epidemiology, Consumer Health Vector; Clinical Services; Community Mental Health, Addiction, and Injury; Policy, Equity and Resilience; Cross Functional Operations & the Director’s Office.

Please use the link below to apply.  These internships require a commitment of 400 hours minimum from May 28, 2024 – August 2, 2024. 

Pima County Job Opportunities | Departments: Health | Sorted by Posting Date descending | Current Job Opportunities (governmentjobs.com)

The AZ Corporation Commission & Public Health (Part I): Rubber Stamping Rate Increases & the Social Determinants of Health

At first glance, the Arizona Corporation Commission might seem like it has pretty much nothing to do with public health. But when you scratch the surface, you’ll discover that the Commission does in fact influence public health in important ways.

This week we’ll cover the Commission’s regulation of monopoly electricity utilities and how that impacts the social determinants of health.

Disposable income is a primary driver of the social determinants of health. The Corporation Commission can have a big impact on family budgets depending on whether they listen to the well-heeled utility executives & lobbyists or ordinary working Arizonans.

The average annual residential utility bill in Arizona is more than $2,200 per year (1,201 kWh * 15 ¢/kWh). That means between 4 and 10% of a low income’s total household budget goes toward electricity.

That’s a big chunk out of a working family’s household budget, restricting the choices families can make to keep their family members healthy.

The current Commission has developed a well-founded reputation of taking utility rate increases at face value and pretty much approving anything the utilities want – to the detriment of low-income households (well, really all ratepayers, but rate increases hit low-income folks the hardest).

For example, a couple of months ago the Corporation Commission approved APS’ proposed 8% rate increase. The four Republicans on the Commission approved the rate hike. The only Democrat on the Commission, Anna Tovar, voted no. The rate hike approved by the Commission infuses APS with a net $253 million or so in increased annual revenue.

Pinnacle West (APS’ parent company) in February reported net income of $501 million for 2023, up from $483M in 2022 (attributable, in part, to the Commission’s 2022 rubber stamping an 8% price boost to “cover the rising cost of methane” last year – that’s on top of the 2024 8% increase).

The Commission also recently rubber-stamped APS’ request to set their future ‘return on investment’ to 9.55%, up from the previous 8.9%… paving the way for even more future rate increases.

In a March 4 investor presentation APS even bragged that they enjoy a “supportive regulatory environment” (their words) that envisions ‘more constructive and consistent outcomes’.

In other words, “we’re not getting any pushback from the Commission“.

After you scratch the surface, it’s easy to see that who you vote for in the upcoming Corporation Commission race can have a big impact on the social determinants of health for working families.

Note: Three of the five Arizona Corporation Commission seats are up for election in November — those of Republicans Jim O’Connor and Lea Marquez Peterson and Democrat Tovar, who has announced she will not run again.

Next week we’ll cover how the Corporation Commissioners can have a good or bad impact on Arizona meeting goals to limit carbon emissions.

USDA Updates Foods Provided Via WIC

USDA updated the list and amounts of foods eligible for purchase by WIC this week and outlined how the additional $1B that was added to the WIC program in the last national budget bill will be used.

WIC is very different from SNAP (aka food stamps). SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that allows folks to buy virtually any food. By contrast, WIC provides prescribed foods specifically designed to supplement the foods and beverages participants already consume and fill in key nutritional gaps to support healthy growth and development.

The big change USDA made this week is to increase the amount and variety of healthy foods available for purchase, providing participants with up to four times the amount they would otherwise receive for some kinds of healthy foods.

Other enhancements include:

  • Expanding whole grain options to include foods like quinoa, blue cornmeal;
  • Providing more convenience and options within the dairy category, including flexibility on package sizes and non-dairy substitution options;
  • Including canned fish in more food packages; and
  • Adding more flexibility for infant formula provided to partially breastfed infants to support moms’ individual breastfeeding goals.

The changes will provide participants with a wider variety of foods to support healthy dietary patterns and allow WIC state agencies more flexibility to tailor the food packages to accommodate personal and cultural food preferences and special dietary needs – making the program more appealing for current and potential participants.

WIC is a federally funded program that supplies important nutritional services and support for eligible pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children until age 5. WIC uses nutritional education, breastfeeding support, nutrition help, and referrals to more services as mechanisms to improve the health of the low-income individuals it serves.

Family income needs to be below 185% of the federal poverty limit in order to qualify (slightly more generous than AZ’s Medicaid participation standard). WIC money goes to states who further manage the overall program. ADHS mostly distributes the money to the county health departments and federally qualified health centers to implement WIC programming.

ADHS will have two years to implement these changes, allowing time to engage with key partners on how best to tailor the new food packages to meet the needs of participants.

WIC – Building Healthy Foundations Infographic

Studies suggest that every $1 spent on WIC results in up to a $3.13 reduction in spending for Medicaid programs. This is particularly pertinent given the large overlap between WIC and Medicaid recipients. Reductions in poor health outcomes because of nutrition aid programs such as WIC are also expected to save significant amounts in private healthcare as well.

WIC at a Glance